INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
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VOl. 18, No. 4
AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES James Lewis Howe
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AMES LEWIS HOWE was born a t Newburyport, Lee, Howe was the entire chemical force-from lecture room Mass., in 1859. He studied chemistry a t Amherst, to laboratory, and even to supply room-but what a force he Gottingen, and Berlin. In 1883, one year after returning was, investigator, teacher, and advisor. from Germany, he went to Central University in Kentucky, The old laboratory was hardly more than a single room, with and later to the Louisville Medical School as professor of chem- Howe’s office and a balance room partitioned off at one end and istry. During his stay of eleven years in a single research room a t the other. The Kentucky he became thoroughly identified dividing line in the laboratory between bewith the South, and in 1894 took the chair ginners and advanced students was purely of chemistry at Washington and Lee Unian imaginary one, but sharply defined by versity in Virginia, where he has remained certain prerogatives given the upper classfor thirty-one years as head of the departmen, s u c h as smoking and a close asment of chemistry. In 1921 he became sociation with Howhighly prized prividean of the School of Applied Science. lege. Since I was not a smoker it must have been the latter that attracted me to He early chose the platinum metals as a continue in chemistry. If, with the comfield of research and has become the world’s ing of a new laboratory occupying an entire foremost authority on ruthenium and its building, an adequate staff, and modern salts. During the war his wide knowledge facilities, any of this personal contact beof the platinum metals made him invaluatween Howe and his students has been ble as chairman of a special committee on sacrificed, they have suffered an irreparaplatinum of the National Research Council. ble loss. He was one of the earlier vice presidents of the AMERICANCHEMICAL SOCIETY, and From New England to a lifetime Virfor a number of years contributed his ginia professorship is not a frequent tranwe 11- known annual reviews of inorganic sition, but to know Howe is to understand chemistry. it. His universal interest in science, in After his scientific work, most outstandchurch, in humanity; his absolute lack of ing is his unswerving devotion and loyalty any petty qualities; his unfailing optimism to his post. To understand this fully it and unflagging energy; his ability to must be recalled that the Civil War left awaken enthusiasm in all of his hearers, t h e S o IIt h er n universities without the linked him indissolubly to students and colJ a m e s Lewis Howe means of keeping leagues alike. With him the sDirit of service - - -pace with the material advances in scientific laboratories. Just a t that period when has always been foremost. This has given t o the South for a in the North the change was being made from the old classical third of a century one of its most brilliant teachers of chemistry college to the university, Southern institutions were badly and has brought to Howe that satisfaction which comes when handicapped in acquiring the new facilities and equipment. well-rendered service meets its full share of appreciation. For the first half of the period of his service at Washington and S. C. LIND I
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