Kovember. 1925
I.VD USTRIAJ! Ah-D E S G I S E E R I X G CHEMISTRY
1203
AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES Lucius L. Van Slyke
T
H E annual Christmas party for the members of the families his personal touch in their lives. But his many contributions to the literature of agricultural chemistry have made him known of the staff of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station was in progress. From behind the Christmas tree professionally to a host of scientific readers. Besides numercame the jingle of sleigh bells. Out popped a plump jolly ous bulletins of the station and articles in scientific journals, he Santa Claw with a natural gray beard which the older members is the author of books on “Modern Methods of Testing Milk and Milk Products;” “Science and Practice of Cheese-Making” of the staff recognized. But the children gazed in fascination (with C. A. Publow); and “Fertilizers and Crops;” and a contribwhile Santa proceeded to dance a gay jig in time with the music utor to Allen’s “Commercial Organic from a hidden victrola and then in wonder Analysis.” as the gray-bearded saint executed in Dr. Van Slyke has had charge of the rapid succession all of the “daily dozen” inspection analysis laboratories a t the stunts which keep one’s body vigorous station since their establishment. The and nimble in spite of advancing years. food analysis laboratories for New York Finally his peaked cap slipped a little are elsewhere, but all the analyses in to one side and one of the children cried connection with the operation and en-. “Why, it’s Doctor Van Slyke.” forcement of the state feeding stuffs, That is Dr. L. L. Van Slyke, sixtyfertilizer, and insecticide and fungicide five years young, as his friends a t the laws are made at the Experiment StaExperiment Station know him. Many tion. Dr. Van Slyke has had a large years ago, long before the idea that I part in the forming and interpreting of might ever be connected with the station these laws and has been continuously in had occurred to me, I called on Dr. Van charge of the analytical service necessary Slyke a t his laboratory. I was then a to their enforcement, and a large part young chemist and as a member of the of their success has been due to his painsstaff of a western experiment station taking and intelligent management of was beginning a series of studies of insecticides and fungicides. Dr. Van Slyke this part of the state’s activities. He has been an active member of the Asalready was interested in these problems sociation of Official Agricultural Chemand his kindly suggestions and ready ists, has served often as one of its refsympathy and advice were a great help erees, and once as its president. to me. But more than this, I came away Many of the leading agricultural chemfrom my visit with the impression that ists of the country have received trainresearch on economic problems such as ing and experience in research in Dr. these ought t o be based on sound underLucius L. Van Slyke Van Slyke’slaboratories. A list of former standing of the scientific principles inassistant chemists of this station includes volved. My association with Dr. Van the names of E. F. Ladd, A. L. Knisely, Slyke in recent years has confirmed my earlier impression that he represents the true scientist in the J. A . Le Clerc, Fred D. Fuller, E. B. Hart, A. J. Patten, C. W. Mudge, E. I,. Baker, A. W. Bosworth, W. E. Tottingham, service of agricultural and industrial development. Dr. Van Slyke is a native son of New York, having spent all and many others, who have carried the inspiration to careful and of his life in this state, except his undergraduate and graduate thorough scientific investigations from their contact with student days at the University of Michigan, and four years as Dr. Van Slyke to other laboratories. His clear thinking and a teacher and chemist in Honolulu, and one year as a lecturer high standards have been and are a constant help to his assoin chemistry a t Michigan. He received his A. B. degree from ciates in other fields of science a t this station. In their home and community life the Van Slykes have been Michigan in 1879, his A. M. in 1881, and his Ph. D. in 1882 from the same institution. Following his graduate study, he served widely known as lovers of flowers, music, and art, and as amas an assistant in the general chemistry laboratories of the uni- bitious for everything that is high and holy in human life. Dr. versity. In 1885 he accepted an appointment as professor Van Slyke is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of of chemistry in Oahu College and government chemist for the Geneva and is identified with every movement for the civic Hawaiian Islands. In 1888 he returned to the University and moral betterment of the city. of Michigan for one year on the faculty; and in 1890 was apDr. Van Slyke still spends his working hours a t the desk pointed chieF chemist at the PZew York State Agricultural which has been his for the past thirty-five years. His regular Experiment Station at Geneva, which position he still holds. physical exercise and his work in his flower and vegetable gardens Under the affiliation arrangement between the station and the keep him as strong and active as he was when I first knew him State College of Agriculture he was professor of dairy chemistry twenty years ago. It is hard to realize that he is nearing the of Cornel1 University from 1920 to 1923, and under the new time when the state retirement regulations will force him to drop administrative merger of the two institutions is a member his active connection with the chemical research work of the of the Graduate School faculty of the university. During station. We know that when that time comes there will be no the year preceding the appointment of Dr. W. H. Jordan as one who can do just what he has done, and that his iduence director of this station (1895-6), Dr. Van Slyke served as acting will be felt long after his active work is finished. Devotion to director and inaugurated many systems for clarifying and reg- chemistry for its scientific value as well as for its industrial ulating the business procedures. applications has marked his whole life-work, and his happiness in Since all his work in this country has been in research, Dr. it through these later years of service is a constant inspiration Van Slyke does not have a host of former students to remember to the younger members of the staff. R. W. THATCHER
