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INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Vol. 16, Yo. 8
AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES Abram Adam Breneman -
among other subjects, industrial chemistry was eliminated from the curriculum. Accordingly, the professor of industrial chemBRAM ADAM BRENEMANcomes fromafamilyof physiistry left in 1882, to the sincere regret of President White and the cians in Lamaster, Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1847. other members of the faculty. His forebears, originally Mennonites, came from SwitzerImmediately he was engaged as consultant in the manufacture of water gas in Yonkers. The following year, in 1883, he esland and the Palatinate in about 1720. Before his generation, tablished himself in his office and labohowever, both his father’s and mother’s ratory at 97 Water St., New York City, people had become Episcopalians and and there he remains to this day. The ceased to “dress plain.” His father died year before, in 1882, he joined the AMERIwhen he was an infant, and his mother brought up the family. He was sent to CAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, and in 1884 sucEpiscopal church schools a t Lancaster and ceeded Herman Endeman as editor of the later entered, first, the local high school which he carried journal of the SOCIETY, and afterwards a preparatory department on until 1893, when he was succeeded by of Franklin and Marshall College. One Prof. Edward Hart of Lafayette College. of his uncles had been a pupil of Robert It was hard to get papers in those days, Hare in Philadelphia, and an elder brother and the SOCIETY,for other reasons, was studied chemistry under Evan Pugh at not having an easy time of it. Jealousy Pennsylvania State College in 1861-2. prevailed, and the notion was current that Abram resolved also to be a chemist, and i t was distinctly a New York organization in 1864 entered the sophomore class in and therefore that chemists of other secPennsylvania State College, from which tions should not support it. To dispel this as a nahe was graduated in 1866. feeling, to establish the SOCIETY tional institution, and to have its meeting This was in the disturbed days after the held a t places away from New York for Civil War, and presidents and professors came and went in rapid succession. Young strategical reasons, Professor Breneman did Breneman, who had studied under Prof. yeoman’s work. During the formative period of the SOCIETYhe was a potent G. C. Caldwell, became his assistant in factor in its organization. As chairman of 1867, In ‘68 Professor Caldwell was called the committee of arrangements for various to Cornell, and Prof. A. P. S. Stuart was A. A. BRENEMAN meetings, he would go on, several days in engaged to succeed him. But Professor fix Stuart did not remain, so young Breneman, aged twenty, was advance-wherever these gatherings were to be held-and made professor of chemistry pro tem. In the meantime there had things up so that they would run smoothly. Disputes of those served as president of the college, following Dr. Evan Pugh, who days are things of the past, and Professor Breneman refuses to was a sound chemist and great teacher, first a Dr. Allen, then discuss them. In 1906 he was chairman of the New York Section. In 1889 he published an extensive article on the fixation of a Scotchman named Fraser, and by the end of 1868 Dr. Thomas H. Burroughs took the office. President Burroughs was a close nitrogen in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, which friend of Breneman’s grandfather, and he without further ado was widely quoted both here and abroad as the standard pubmade the temporary incumbent, who was then twenty-one years lication on the subject at the time. He contributed various articles on explosives and on water, to which subjects he especially old, full-fledged professor of the department of chemistry. Professor Breneman planned to spend his life in teaching. addressed himself during his later practice. He has also done Also, he had hoped to have the opportunity to do some special original work in ceramics, and invented a complete palette of work in Germany, but owing to frequent changes in the faculty color for salt-glazed stoneware. Another of his inventions is a he was kept under great pressure of duties. Indeed, two years black oxide coating for the protection of iron. These are but a after his appointment to full professorship he became senior few of the fruits of his activity during a long and busy life. I n 1896 he originated a plan for the organization of a chemists’ member of the faculty, and on one occasion served as acting president at twenty-three years of age. At this point he broke down club in New York, and three enthusiastic meetings were held, in health from heart trouble and for two years he had to give the conclusion being reached that one hundred charter members were needed to start it. He secured eighty-three but could not up all work. Two years later, his health being restored, he accepted Pro- get the hundred, and means were lacking to lease and furnish a house. Two years later The Chemists’ Club was founded. fessor Caldwell’s invitation to go to Cornell as his assistant. At the World’s Fairs in Chicago and St. Louis he was chairI n the second year there he became assistant professor of analytical chemistry, and the third year he undertook in addition man of the Committee on Mineral Waters. From 1906 to 1910 he was the expert member of the Municipal Explosives Coma lectureship in industrial chemistry. Then he went abroad to visit industrial plants, and in 1879 he was made professor of mission of New York, and while on this board he published imindustrial chemistry, while retaining his assistant professorship portant articles on explosions in sewers and electric subways. Professor Breneman is a bachelor, a loyal member of The in analysis. I n 1875 Caldwell and Brenernan’s “Introductory Chemists’ Club of New York, and is diligent in attendance at Laboratory Practise” was published. scientific meetings. At such he is keen in praise of able and For several years Breneman tried to get an appropriation granted for a museum of industrial chemistry, but in the mean- original work, and his participation in discussions which follow time Ezra Cornell died, the u‘iversity was pressed for funds, the reading of papers is illuminating and always interesting. ELLWOOD HENDRICK and the trustees undertook a process of pruning, in which,
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