AMERICAN
CONTEMPORARIES Richard Fischer
PUPIL in a high school chemistry class •^taught by an elder brother, apprentice "•" in the drugstore of a friend of the family, assistant professor of practical pharmacy, chemist to the official food and drug law enforcing agency of a progressive midwest state, expert drafted to assist in the formulation of national food standards, consulting director of the chemical laboratory of the state in question, professor of chemistry in that state's highest institution of learning: these are the periods of activity—like Shakespeare's ages of man they are seven—in the scientific life of the subject of this sketch. Courage to pioneer on the part of the parents, loyalty to each other, and helpful cooperation in good Teutonic tradition on the part of their seven children : these are some of the traits which characterized the lives of the family of German-born Richard Fischer, senior, and his wife Anna G. Hollstein. From these facts there has been constructed the following account of the life, the activities, and the character of their sixth child. Nothing unusual seems to have characterized Richard Fischer's early boyhood. He was a mischievous youngster possessed of a jovial disposition. In physical strength and athletic skill as a gymnast he was superior to the other youths of the community. Expert with sling shot and gun, he was exceedingly fond of hunting and fishing, and these interests together with gardening—the record is not clear whether the last-named activity persists because of the care demanded by the family's vegetable and flower plot or in spite of it—continue to this day as his hobbies. After graduation from high school, where he had received instruction in chemistry from a brother, he served an apprenticeship in a local apothecary. Then, to cultivate that leaning towards science which seems to have been an inheritance from his father who had been always deeply interested in the writings of Justus von Liebig, he turned his steps from New Ulm, Minn., where the family had finally located after coming to America, and where he was born on November 18,1869, towards Ann Arbor that he might there matriculate in the alma mater of his former employer. In 1892 he received the degree of pharmaceutical chemist from the University of Michigan. An appointment as assistant in analytical chemistry followed, a position which enabled him to continue his studies for the bachelor of science degree awarded him in 1894. Edward Kremers, at that time head of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Wisconsin, then "discovered" him, and upon his invitation Richard Fischer accepted the position of instructor in pharmacy. Thus was begun an association with that university which has remained unbroken to date except for the two-year leave of absence ending in 1900 which he took to pursue graduate studies for the doctorate, in the order named, at the Universities of Berlin and Marburg. The beginning and end of his formal education was marked, significantly, by researches in the field of alkaloids; as an undergraduate at Michigan he studied those of sabadilla seed; as a more mature investigator at Marburg, those of the Papaveraceae. Immediately following acquisition of
ments) with the chairmanship of its Committee on Standards. The report of this committee forms the substance of Circular 19 from the Office of the Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture. It is a historic document in the annals of the movement for reform in the interstate traffic in foods in America. Of this original committee, which included William Frear of Pennsylvania, E. H. Jenkins of Connecticut, M. A. Scovill of Kentucky, H. A. Weber of Ohio, and Harvey W. Wiley, Dr. Fischer alone survives. Wisconsin's dairy industry has good reason to be grateful to Dr. Fischer for what he accomplished while associated with its Dairy and Food Commission. Housewives, too, have cause to give him thanks as the guardian of their the'doctor's degree came promotion to an tables, for it was his critical interpreassistant professorship and then, three tation of analytical results and his careyears later, an appointment as chemist to fully prepared and skillfully presented the Wisconsin Dairy and Food Commis- testimony as State's witness that brought sion which permitted him to continue his to a successful conclusion many a court instructional activities in the university. action arising from alleged violations of In due time (1909) he was named state the food laws. In a sense he was here chemist and director of chemical labora- playing the role of educator to quite a tory and then (1913) consulting director, different group than a student body, in a title which he held until 1930 or not that prosecution was the means neceslong after the merger of the commission sarily resorted to in driving home to some, with the Department of Agriculture and who had still to be made to understand, Markets. The year 1909 marked also the the significance of the new deal in foods severance of his connections with the as of the period 1907 et seq. Pharmacy Department and his elevation In his position as public servant workto a full professorship of chemistry in the ing with a food official conscientiously atChemistry Department. His coming to tempting to administer the laws, although this department, which was coincident held in high esteem by its citizens because with the establishment of its chemistry of it, Dr. Fischer was probably regarded course, gave added interest to the instruc- as something of a nemesis by the oleomartion offered in the chemistry of the detec- garine industry, against whose product tion of adulterants in foods, and in organic this dairy state was at that time laying the analysis in general. The next year he foundations of its present quarantine. succeeded to instruction in organic chem- In a now historic case (State vs. Meyer istry, to which he now devotes his entire and Novak) which was tried in February, time. 1907, the complaint rested upon the sale For 11 of the 15 years during which he of oleomargarine that had been made from was associated with Professor Kremers in fats so selected and apportioned that its the teaching of pharmacy, he was a color simulated that of yellow butter. member of the editorial board of the The Wisconsin statutes forbid the sale of Pharmaceutical Review. Although only an such an article. One element in the occasional contributor to the pages of its secret of the successful termination of this scientific section, he was very active in its case for the State was not only the cleverly presented testimony of Dr. Fischer, but behalf as a reviewer of scientific books. Pure food laws in Wisconsin date from also the expert assistance which he gave 1889. Some 14 years later when Dr. the State's special counsel. His logical, Fischer became chemical adviser to its crystal-clear exposition of the facts herein Dairy and Food Commissioner—fearless, involved—he was now back in the classconscientious, and impartial law enforcer room elucidating to his students an obJ. Q. Emery—Wisconsin's already well- scure point in organic chemistry—went established reputation for the manner far to convince the court and jury that in which it guarded the food supply of its the aim of the statute, quite apart from citizens was to rise to greater heights. the wisdom of the governmental policy Little wonder then that, when in anticipa- which prompted its enactment, was to tion of enactment of the Federal Food and forbid the coloring of oleomargarine either Drugs Act of June 30, 1906, Secretary of directly by the addition of a pigment or Agriculture James Wilson should turn to indirectly by building it up of such oils this state in seeking one qualified by ex- and fats as would make it yellow. perience and possessing the necessary Dr. Fischer's work in this case and in judicial temperament, acumen, and inde- another one in which was involved the pendence to serve with the Committee on same principle—in this instance it was the Food Standards of the Association of use of the words "corn sirup" as a synoOfficial Agricultural Chemists. This com- nym for commercial glucose—brought mittee had been commissioned "to establish forth the unsolicited compliment from standards of purity for food products one of the leaders of the Wisconsin bar and to determine what are regarded as who represented the State in both actions, adulterations therein." The choice of the that Dr. Fischer possesses the keenest Secretary was Dr. Fischer, already hon- legal mind of any one outside of the proored by his colleagues in the Interstate fession with whom he had had contacts. Food Commission (Association of State He would have graced the legal profession and National Food and Dairy Depart- equally as well as be reflects credit upon 307
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
308
his chosen field. H e has a judicial tem perament which is not moved b y personal considerations, a keen analytical mind, and an unusually retentive memory. I t is, apparently, these qualifications which some years a g o recommended him for the chairmanship of t h e university faculty's committee on student dishonesty. Upon the expiration of his term of office, this thankless job was passed o n t o others; but not for the reason, as h e jestingly averred, that he had secured too many con vict ions. Dr. Fischer has never married. Even as brother and sister helped each other in youth to start life's venture, so he later was t o find it a pleasant obligation to act as the helping, generous uncle t o nieces and nephews. His philanthropies have not been limited t o blood ties, however, and they have always been unostenta tiously made. He is now approaching that turn in his academic life, which the governing board of the University of Wisconsin has de creed shall be the Biblical three score and ten, when he will retire to a well-deserved rest. Then the State of Wisconsin will have lost the services of an adopted son who is a worthy representative of that solid Teutonic stock of which it numbers so many among its citizens, and who has served it faithfully, loyally, and well for some 45 years. H. A. SCHUETTE
only a work of art but an object of con siderable value. Wheeler MacMillen, president of the National Farm Chemurgic Council, made the speech of presentation which took Dr. Hale completely b y sur prise, though he managed t o make a really extemporaneous reply in accepting t h e honor. A s the author of the book "The Farm Chemurgic" and in that sense t h e author of chemurgy as well as one of the fathers of the movement, the award to Dr. Hale is regarded as quite fitting. Herty Medal Awarded to Charles E. Coates TΗE Herty Medal for 1938 was awarded
honors, was made t o F R A N K
T h e Pioneer C u p T THE Omaha meeting of the National Farm Chemurgic Council the Pioneer Cup was presented to William J. Hale for "distinguished service t o t h e American people through the Farm Chemurgic movement." A similar presentation was made t o L. H. Baekeland in 1936 and to Wirt Davis in 1937 by the late Francis P. Garvan. This year Mrs. Garvan very graciously provided this cup from the private collection left by Mr. Garvan. It is a masterpiece of an 18th century English silversmith, solid silver overlaid with gold, chased and embossed, and stands 15 inches in height. Unlike most pres entation cups, this Pioneer Cup is not
A
M A S O N have been promoted to asso ciate professors of chemistry a t the University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H. WILLETT L. HARDIN, editor of t h e World Affairs Interpreter, L o s Angeles, Calif., is t h e author of a book entitled "Democ racy. Its Problems and I t s Strength," which has just been published b y the University of Southern California. W. A. K A T E has left the laboratory of the Crown Zellerbach Corp. in order t o establish a consulting office and labora tory at 5 0 7 Mission S t . , San Francisco,
JOEL B. PETERSON has resigned his posi
ROGER ADAMS, a Past President of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, was one
of five recently made honorary fellows of the Chemical Society (London). The others were Karrer of Switzerland, Kubn of Heidelburg, Freundlich, now of London, and Bjerrum of Denmark. EDWARD R. ATKINSON, who obtained his
Fellowship i n Electrochemistry THE Electrochemical Society has J. awarded the tenth Weston Fellowship of $1000 t o V. D E NORA of Milan, Italy. Dr. D e Nora will continue his research at Columbia University, investigating the codeposition of metals in t h e ionic and colloidal states, and t h e application of t h e Faraday law. T h e work will be done under the direction of Colin G. Fink. The fellowship was founded by Edward Weston, a foremost pioneer in electro chemistry.
JAMES A. FUNKHOUSER AND CHARLES M.
J. to CHARLES E . COATES of Louisiana
BALDWIN
JEWETT, physicist, electrical engineer, and president of the Bell Telephone Labo ratories, Inc., at a dinner at the Palmer House, Chicago, on May 5. The award was made to Dr. Jewett for "inspiring and directing scientific research leading t o improvements in the art of communica tion." Dr. Jewett's address was entitled "The Engineer and Current Trends in Economic Thought."
entitled "Age-Hardening of Aluminum Alloys."
State University because of his distin S. J. MCGRATH, for the past 15 years tech guished research in sugar chemistry. T h e nical director of the Phelan-Faust Paint medal was presented b y t h e Department Mfg. Co. of St. Louis, has joined the of Chemistry of the Georgia State College Berry Bros. Varnish Co., Detroit, for Women, at Milledgeville, Ga., on May Mich., as technical director. 14. The exercises included afternoon tea HARVEY A. NEVILLE has been made at "Westover," the home of Dr. and Mrs. professor and head of the Department L. C. Lindsley, dinner in the banquet hall of Chemistry and Chemical Engineer of the old Executive Mansion, with Presi ing, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, dent and Mrs. Guy H . Wells, and the Pa., effective September, 1938. Dr. presentation of the medal in the evening, Neville h a s been with the Department when Dr. Coates gave an address on "The of Chemistry and Chemical Engineer Chemist and the State." ing since the fall of 1927. E D W I N R. T H E I S h a s been made professor of chemical engineering in the Depart ment of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethle hem, Pa.
Washington Award t o Frank Baldwin Jewett HE Washington Award for 1938, one of the most coveted of the engineering
T
VOL. 16. N O . 10
degree in organic chemistry a t the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1936, has been appointed assistant professor of organic chemistry. Dr. Atkinson has been instructor in chemis try at Trinity College since 1936. For his work on mass spectroscopy and mass analysis of the chemical elements, ARTHUR J. DEMPSTER, of the University
of Chicago, was awarded the John F. Lewis Prize of $300 and an illuminated diploma. This prize, which was t o go "to the American citizen who shall an nounce at any general o r special meet ing of the American Philosophical So ciety and publish among its papers some truth which the council of the society shall deem worthy of award," was presented b y Robert A. Millikan at the society's annual dinner. HERBERT A. E N D R E S resigned from the
Research and N e w Products Develop ment Division of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. on October 1, 1937, t o be come vice president of t h e N e w Hamp shire Diatomite Co., Portsmouth, Ν . Η. He has recently been made president of the company. W. L. FINK
and D .
W. SMITH of
the
Aluminum Research Laboratories have been given t h e annual award of the Institute of Metals Division of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers for their paper
tion in t h e Chemical Laboratory of the American Medical Association t o become director of chemical research for Frederick Stearns & Co., Detroit, Mich. S. P . L . SORENSEN h a s retired from his position a s director of the Chemical D e partment of the Carlsberg Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark, and has been succeeded by K. Linderstrom-Lang. Dr. Sorensen has been an honorary member
of the
AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SOCIETY since 1924.
H. E . STAVELY has resigned a s Cancer Research Fellow at t h e Sterling Chemis try Laboratory to become associated with the Chemistry Division of t h e E. R. Squibb & Sons Research Labora tory, N e w Brunswick, N. J. OTTO F . UNGNADE has established a con
sulting office and laboratory at 2212 Gay St., Fort Wayne, Ind. H e will specialize in vitamin determinations in foods a n d feeds. H e was formerly a member of the research division of the S. M . A. Corp., Cleveland, Ohio, and later an associate o f Nutritional Research Associates in South Whitley, Ind. Prior to his experience in t h e field of vitamin preparations he was internationally known in the field of dairy chemistry and technology. ROBERT YORK, J R . , h a s accepted an in-
structorship in chemical engineering a t the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. York will receive his P h . D . degree i n June from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ο. Τ . ZIMMERMAN, who obtained his de
gree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1934 and since t h a t time has been in charge of chemical engineering at t h e University of North Dakota a t Grand Forks, has been appointed associate professor of chemical engineering at t h e University of New Hampshire. Dr. Zimmerman will initiate and develop a chemical engineering option a s part of the chem istry curriculum n o w offered a t N e w Hampshire.
