Born in Hanover in 1866; getting 
his earlier education in the Hanover
 Gymnasium and Technical School; 
 later attending the Universities of
 Strassburg, Berlin and Marburg; by 
the last in 1892 appointed to the Doc
torate; and in the same year coming 
to America, Karl Eugen Guthe be
came a teacher of Physics in the Uni
versitiy of Michigan in 1893 and
 from that time, except for an absence
 of six years, faithfully served the University until his death last September. 
 For the last six years he had been
 Professor of Physics and for the last 
three Dean of the Graduate School. 
In 1903 he went to Washington as Associate Physicist in the Bureau of
 Standards and in 1905 to the University of Iowa as Professor of Physics. 
His service was not only through his 
profession and his administrative of face but also through his character and
 personality. 


As a teacher of Physics he was 
faithful and inspiring, sympathetic
 with his students and loyal to the best 
ideals, adding to his teacher's unusual
 equipment and ability an enthusiasm
 for original investigation. His pub
lications, including many technical ar
ticles and several books, of course 
show the productivity of his mind, but 
the influence he had on his students
 was and must long remain a very significant part of his contribution to 
science and the values of science. 


As Dean of the Graduate School he 
rendered his most notable service. For 
many years the School was only a bu
reau within the College of Literature, 
 Science and the Arts, but in 1912 it
 was made a distinct department, in its 
organization related on terms of equality to all the colleges and schools of 
the University. This change stands
 out as one of the most important
 events in the University's whole history, setting up as it did an open and
 permanent challenge to all parts of
 the University in general for a living 
interest in something beyond mere 
technical requirements and in particular for advanced studies and for ac
tive research and speculation independently of professional demands
 and rewards; and so important a 
change, affecting such vital interests, 
made selection of the first dean as 
difficult as it was critical. Dr. Guthe
 was chosen and the testimony is gen
eral that he filled the important office
 well, applying his fine idealism and his 
skill as an administrator effectively 
and so doing his leader's part in giv
ing the School its excellent founda
tion. 


But with the teacher and the ad
ministrator there was always the man. 
Generous, genial, of positive integrity, 
 with control and fairness in judgment, 
independent but incapable of offensive 
partisanship, he was certainly superior 
to most men in what makes strong 
character and lovable personality. 
 Those who knew him found in him, 
 not only the true scholar and the faith
ful and efficient officer, but also the
 most genial friend. It is indeed the 
lot of few to serve time and place well 
in the three ways of profession, office, 
 and personal character