AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES Albert Prescott Mathews IN THE fall of 1898 Albert Prescott Mathews began his career in medical teaching by becoming an assistant in the Physiology Department, Harvard Medical School, and an instructor in physiology in the Medical School of Tufts College. This unusual situation was objected to by William Townsend Porter, professor of physiology at Harvard, but in 1900 he appointed Dr. Mathews full-time instructor in his department. Albert Prescott Mathews was born in Chicago, Ill., on November 26, 1871. His boyhood was spent in his home town and he graduated from the Evanston High School in 1888. The same year young Mathews entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received the B.S. degree four years later. He apparently made a good impression upon his teacher, William Thompson Sedgwick, who appointed him assistant in biology for 1892-93. Mathews accepted an appointment as fellow in the Zoology Department at Columbia University for 1893-95. The following two years were spent in travel and graduate study at Cambridge, Naples, and Marburg. At the last-named place, he came under the influence of A. Kossel and devoted his investigative efforts to the chemical nature of the nucleus. Mathews has always been a staunch champion of Professor Kossel and has said that he had been a profound stimulus to him, particularly in respect to the formulation of physicochemical theories. It was during these years that Mathews became interested in the mechanism of pancreatic secretion and his findings were largely responsible for his changing to the related field of physiology and biochemistry. He was appointed an honorary fellow at Columbia University for 1897-98 and was awarded the Ph.D. degree at the end of that session. Dr. Mathews' teaching career has been continuous since he received his doctorate with the exception of a short period, August, 1917, to November, 1918, when he served as captain in the Quartermasters Corps. He was appointed professor of physiological chemistry, University of Chicago, in 1901, associate professor in 1904, and professor in 1905. He served as chairman of the Department of Physiology, University of Chicago, 1909-16, and at chairman of the Department of Physiological Chemis-
try, 1916-18. He resigned from the University of Chicago in 1918 to become head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cincinnati—a position he still holds. Dr. Mathews was in charge of the physiology course at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., for the summers of 1901-08, inclusive. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of this corporation since 1906. As a lecturer, Dr. Mathews is clear, alert, logical, and inspiring. He presents the works of others with as much enthusiasm as though they were the results of his own efforts. He is known for his investigations on parthenogenesis, the pharmacological action of various salts, the nature of molecular cohesion, bloodclotting studies, and for his textbooks on biochemistry. He was the first to report that artificial parthenogenesis of ripe starfish {Asierias forbuii) eggs had been produced by mechanic*1 agitation or shock. His papers on spontaneous oxidation of sugars and sulfur compounds are essentially pioneer work in the physicochemical studies of tissue oxidation. His publications number 103, in addition to his books. The textbook, "Physiological Chemistry", by Mathews appeared in 1915, and the sixth edition in 1939. Other books of which he is author are "The Nature of Matter, Gravitation, and Light", "Gravitation Space-Time and Matter", "Principlee of Biochemistry", and "Vitamins, Minerals, and Hormones". Dr. Mathews shows a constant and willing readiness to help young investigators. Unless he himself has taken ac
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active part in the investigation of a problem he will not allow his name to appear on the paper. If the student insists upon it, Dr. Mathews says: "Keep on producing or others will think that I did all of the work", or, "If you are productive, tliat will be my reward*'. Many graduate students have been attracted by Dr. Mathews to the last two educational institutions with which he has been associated. While he was head of the Physiological Chemistry Department at Chicago, six students received their M.S. degrees and eight their Ph.D. degrees in physiological chemistry. Since he went to the University of Cincinnati, 60 students have been awarded M.S. degrees and 36 have received Ph.D. degrees in the Department of Biochemistry. Among the number of his former students who have become nationally, and in some cases internationally, recognised are Fred Conrad Koch, Hugh McGuigan, Clarence Alonzo Mill*, Lloyd Kendrick Riggs, and Shiro Tashiro. On November 28, 1929, a testimonial dinner was given Dr. Mathews on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his professorship of biochemistry and his former students presented him with a bronze bust of himself A similar bust was presented to the University of Chicago. He holds membership in the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, American Physiologi-
cal Society, Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, American Society of Naturalists, Washington Academy of Science*, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Société de Chimie Biologique, Biochemical Society, Ecological Society, and foreign membership in Accademia Nationale dei Lincei, Rome. He was one of the founders of the American Society of Biological Chemists and served on the editorial hoard of its official journal. Journal of Biolcfunl Chemistry, 1905-20. He is a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon, Ph Chi, Alpha Omega Alpha, and Sigma Xi. His hobbies and favorite pastimes have been quite numerous, including such diversions as che*, handball, baseball, reading aloud, swimming, walking, and travel. Tea time is the familiar note that goes the rounds in Dr. Mathews' department at 4:00 P. M. each day during the school year. It is at these gatherings that staff
NEWS
360 members, graduate students, and inter ested medical students have the oppor tunity of entering into informal discus sions with Dr. Mathews. He has been a pioneer in both bio chemical research and the teaching of biochemistry in this country. His text books have stimulated teaching and re search in biochemistry, not only in this country but also in other parts of the world. His creative ability and origi nality have won for him the admiration of those who have had the good fortune to know him. We who have had the privi lege of working under Dr. Mathews have enjoyed the friendship of one of those kindly and inspiring men of whom even our colleges and universities have too few. He is a quiet man of the highest in tegrity who always takes the kinder of alternative points of view concerning his personal friends, students, and associates. His strong character, pcholarly attain ments, congenial personality, optimistie counsel, and inherent sympathy have been largely responsible for the continuous stream of graduate students that have elected to cast their lots with him. He is a faithful and true friend, and his many admirable qualities have endeared him to the hearts of all his disciples. EMMETT B. CARMICHAEL
Courses in Microchemistry INSTRUCTION in inorganic and organic microanalysis will be offered again this summer at New York University, Washington Square College, New York, N. Y. The course in qualitative in organic microanalysis will be givca from June 17 to July 6. Quantitative organic microanalysis will be given in two sessions, June 17 to July 6, and July 8 to July 27. Inquiries may be addressed to W. C. MacTavish, Department of Chemistry, Washington Square College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, Ν. Υ.
National Research Fellowships Six $2000 fellowships in chemistry, authorized by the National Research Council on March 16, have been awarded to Herbert I. Bernstein of Pennsylvania State, Richard W. Dodson of Johns Hop kins, Ralph S. Halford of California Uni versity, Walter J. Moore, Jr., of Princeton, Darrell W. Osborne of California Insti tute of Technology, and Stanley Wawsonek of Minnesota.
100 Per Cent Membership
EDITION
Vol. 18, No. 8
A . C. S. Student Membership Awards for 1940 DONOR
RECIPIENT
Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity, Iowa State College. This Art Wahl award is presented to highest ranking male senior student in chemical technology or chemical engineering. Baxter, Robert A· This is an award given on the basis Robert K. Johnston of meritorious work in chemistry, calculated on the Quality and quantity done in chemistry courses during the total attendance in -school. Delaware Section, American Chemical Society. The Arthur C. Huston recipient received this award of the Delaware Section because of his high scholastic attainments during his work at the University of Delaware. He had the highest standing in his class. Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemical Fraternity. These memberships are awarded annually by the fraternity to the most outstanding student in each chapter. Alpha Alpha Chapter, Davidson College Beta Beta Chapter, John B. Stetson University Iota Alpha Chapter, University of Chattanooga Lambda Alpha Chapter, Mississippi State College for Women Lambda Beta Chapter, University of Mississippi Theta Alpha Chapter, University of Wyoming Zeta Alpha Chapter, Georgetown College
Thomas H. Guion A. Richard Baldwin Eugene O. Scrudder Med Scott Brown Clarence Charles Harvey Elmer Raunio Mercer M. Peters
Garard, Ira D. Annual awards to the most outstanding RuthL. Pankopf senior and junior chemistry students at the New Elizabeth Bacbofner Jersey College for Women. Miss Pankopf is the senior recipient and Miss Bachofner, the junior. Hawaiian Section, American Chemical Society. An- Luther M. Foster nual award to the student majoring in chemistry and of senior standing at the University of Hawaii, based on the student's record at the University of Hawaii, with greater weight placed on the chemistry grades and on general aptitude towards the science of chemistry. Award consists of a junior membership in the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY and a subscription to
the Journal of the American Chemical Society and Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Also, the name of t! · candidate will be engraved on a plaque to be kept in the Department of Chemistry at the Universitv of Hawaii. Indiana Section, American Chemical Society. Mr. GlenHager I lager and Mr. Gutowsky presented in written form Herbert Gutowsky the best reasons why they should be members of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY and were also very high
in scholarship ratings. Lehigh Valley Section, American Chemical Society. These awards were made on selection by the chemical faculties of the colleges of the outstanding students in chemistry, based on their three and a half years of college work.
George Hurley, Albright College Jean Correll, Cedar Crest College James Bruise, Lafayette College James F. Ryan, Lehigh Earl A. Zettlemoyer, Muhlenberg College
Lind, Samuel Colville. This prise is a membership in
Asa Richard Larrick Archibald Paxton Stuart
the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY ofiered by Samuel
Colville Lind, B.A., 1899, to that candidate for B.S. in chemistry having the best standing in chemistry at the end of the first semester of his third or fourth year in chemistry. The prise for the session 1938-39 was awarded to both Mr. Stuart and Mr. Larrick. Louisiana Section, American Chemical Society. This Philip W. Bonne award is made each year by the Louisiana Section to the outstanding student in chemistry or chemical engineering at Tulane University. Silverman, Alexander. Annual award to the student Fred Thomas Fiedorek at the University of Pittsburgh who *s a candidate for the B.S. degree in chemistry, having the highest average rating for his first three years.
TΗE Department of Chemistry of St Norbert College, West De Père, I11., is the latest to be brought to our attention as belonging in the list of 100 per cent
South Carolina Section, American Chemical Society. Annual award of a membership in the AMERICAN
members of
Theta Chi Delta Fraternity. Mr. Spangler, senior Fred W. Spangler student at Carthage College, won this membership in a contest conducted by Theta Chi Delta,
the
AMERICAN CHEMICAL
SOCIETY. Its personnel consists of Peter P. Pritsl, Roger W. Paider, John E. Gajewski, and Lawrence Motiff.
G. A. Ropp
CHEMICAL SOCIETY determined by a competitive
examination and given under the auspices of the South Carolina Section.
