Awards & Scholarships

The career of the seventeenth recipient of the James Douglas Medal, William Wraith, has been characterized by brilliant accomplishments, not only as a metallurgist in the beneficiation of nonferrous ores, but also as an able administrator in the field of copper production. He was born in England on November 23, 1872, and ten years later, came to the United States. From the Michigan College of Mining and Technology, he received an E.M. degree in 1894 and an honorary degree, Doctor of Engineering, in 1938. He entered the mining industry immediately after graduating from college, becoming Superintendent of the Washoe Smelter of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company in 1906 and Manager of the International Smelting and Refining Company, Salt Lake City, in 1913. In 1918, he was elected a Director of the Andes Copper Mining Company, becoming Executive Vice-President in 1940 and serving in New York City until his retirement about four years ago, since when he has lived in California. He has also been a Director of the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company and of the International Smelting and Refining Company, President of the Chile Steamship Company, and Vice-President and Director of the Greene Cananea Copper Company. He has been active in the AIME, serving on numerous committees and as a Director from 1931 to 1941.