DECENNIAL MEETING, DIVISION OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION, AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY*
We have met today to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the formation of the Section of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society and to do honor to the memory of Dr. Edgar Fahs Smith who was so prominent in the organization of this Section and the Section of History of Chemistry. A decade is not a long period in the history of an organization, as organizations ordinarily go, but sometimes notable advances are made in the short period of ten years. This may be said to be true in the case of the Division of Chemical Education. We can justly point with pride to its notable achievements, praise its spirit of progress and predict continued usefulness with aggressive activity. This is not the oldest division of the Society but it has become one of the most active, and no other division can point to greater accomplishments. It is difficult to find the exact story of the beginning of an organization, such as this Division of Chemical Education, ten years after its organization. No doubt it had been in the minds of a number of chemistry teachers that the educators should appear more prominently on the programs of the meetings of the American Chemical Society, or should get together in some sort of an organization. The writer recalls a talk which he had with Dr. Charles H. Herty more than a quarter of a century ago in which the question was raised as to whether or not a teacher received benefit enough from the Society meetings to justify thi: expense of attending. Nothing was suggested about founding an organizatien and thus bettering conditions. The Society was small then and there was no call for multiplying divisions. One such discussion of the lack of educational matter was notable in that it had an influence in securing the organization later. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm Segerblom were visiting Dr. Edgar F. Smith in his library during the Philadelphia meeting of the Society in 1919. During this visit Mr. Segerblom suggested that something should be done to give more interest to teachers of chemistry at the meetings of the Society. Dr. Smith later referred to this friendly talk more than once as having enlisted his interest in the idea. No attempt a t initiating an organization was made a t that time. Dr. Edward Ellery gave a paper before the Division of Physical Chemistry a t the Rochester meeting in the spring of 1921 which attracted the attention of teachers of chemistry. Among those thus interested was Dr. Neil E. Gordon, and in June of that year Dr. Gordon wrote to Dr. Charles L. Parsons, the secretary of the Society, asking for an interview. The request was granted, and a t this interview Dr. Gordon urged that something be done toward scheduling more educational papers a t the meetings of the 'At Buffalo, New York, September, 1931.
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Society. Dr. Parsons said that if Dr. Gordon could find twenty members who were interested in this matter they might try having a Section of Chemical Education a t the next meeting. Dr. Gordon got the twenty names and he and Dr. Parsons appealed to Dr. Edgar F. Smith, then president of the Society, for approval of the movement. Dr. Smith heartily approved but cautioned them not to infringe in any way on the Section of History of Chemistry which was also just being formed. Dr. Parsons asked Dr. Smith to act as chairman of the Section and Dr. Gordon to act as secretary. Dr. Gordon at once actively entered upon securing a program of papers for the fall meeting of the Society in New York City. The Section of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society held its first meeting on Sept. 8, 1921, a t the New York meeting of the Society. The first sessions were held in a small room, but t h e attendance was so large that more commodious quarters had to be obtained. From the appearance on the program of the very first speaker, Dr. Edgar F. Smith, there was manifested a lively interest in the program and in the organization of the educational chemists. Dr. Edgar F. Smith presided a t all of the meetings for the three years of the life of the organization as a Section. There is no doubt that his influence had much to do with the interest in this new organization. He was a tower of strength to chemical education and a beloved companion of chemical educators. His interest in the history of chemistry and chemical education in America and his wonderful knowledge in regard to those who were early workers in this field in our country gave him a prestige that a t once helped establish the Section when he gave h& sanction to the organization and presided a t the first meeting. His helpful interest and active participation in all of the meetings until the time of his death did much to generate the enthusiasm which has permeated the Division throughout the decade. We all loved him and were pleased to be a part of an organization which was dear to him and in which he played so helpful a part. It is entirely appropriate that at this decennial celebration we give special honor to the memory and service of Dr. Edgar Fahs Smith, the first chairman of the Section and a prime mover in the development of the Division of Chemical Education. In the fall of 1923 a t the Milwaukee meeting of the Society the Section of Chemical Education was authorized to organize itself into a Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. This was accomplished and the first meeting as a Division of the Society was held a t Ithaca, N. Y., in the fall of 1924 with Neil E. Gordon as chairman and Wilhelm Segerblom as secretary. The Constitution and By-Laws of the new organization were approved by the Council a t the Ithaca meeting. Since the fall of 1921the Division of Chemical Education has been functioning regularly, with well-attended semi-annual meetings. There have been
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changes in the Constitution and By-Laws and a new Constitution and By-Laws were adopted a t the Minneapolis meeting in September, 1929. It is interesting to run over the list of those who have held official positions in the Section and Division, for it is a list of those who have given service and who have helped to make the organization worth while. The following men have served as chairmen of the organization. While it was a Section these were appointed and since it has been a Division they have been elected. F. SMITH EDGAR NEIL E. GORDON W. A. NOYES W. SEGERBLOM B. S. HOPKINS WM. MCPHERSON J. N. SWAN
Sept., 1921-April, 1924 April, 1924-Sept., 1924 Sept., 1924-Aug., 1925 A u ~ . ,192&Sept., 1926 Sept., 1926-April, 1928 April, 1928Sept., 1929 Sept., 1929-Sept., 1931*
The following men have served as secretaries: NEILE. GORDON W. SEGERBLOM B. S. H ~ P K I N S R. A. BAKER
Sept., 1921-April, 1924 April, 1924Sept., 1924 Sept., 1924-Sept., 1926 Sept., 1926-
The following have served as vice-chairmen:
T. G. THOMPSON
H. P. CADY
The following have served on the Executive Committee in addition to those who are ex-officiomembers:
J. H. HILDEBRAND H. R. SMITH L. W. MATTERN W. D. ENGLE WM.MCPHERSON
H. A. CARPENTER H. I. SCHLESINGER W. SEGERBL~M M. V. MCGILL B. S. HOPKINS
ERLE M. BILLINGSwas treasurer from September, 1924, to April, 1928, N. PARRfrom that time to date.** and MISS ROSALIE ERLE M. BILLINGSwas business manager from September, 1924, to October, 1927. In October, 1927, WM. W. BUFFUMwas made business EDUCATION and continues in that manager for the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL position. We should here list also those who have acted as local secretaries a t the meetings of the Division:
* At the Buffalo meeting OWENL. SAINNww elected chairman for 1932. ** At the Buffalo meeting VIRGINIA BARTOWww elected treasurer for 1932.
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0. E. MADISON L. J. WOOD A. W. TAYLOR JESSE E. DAY H. H. BARBER M. A. GAERTNER E. J. MORGAN JOHN R. KUEBLER JOHN RICHRLSON, JR.
Detroit St. Louis Swampscott Columbus Minneapolis Atlanta Cincinnati Indianapolis Buffalo
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Sept., ]!I27 April, I928 Sept., 1928 April, 1929 Sept., 1929 April, 1930 Sept., 1930 April, 1931 Sept., 1931
I n later years the Executive Committee has been able t o have a mid-year meeting about January first each year, due t o the help of The Chemical Foundation, Inc. At the Pittsburgh meeting in the fall of 1922 a Committee on Chemical Education was appointed by the Section. At the Milwaukee meeting, one year later-the meeting a t which the Section was authorized to organize itself into a Division-the Section asked that its Committee on Education be made a Committee of the Society, and the request was granted. At the next meeting which was held in Washington in the spring of 1924 this committee announced that it had undertaken three problems, Gz.: 1. The correlation of high-school and college chemistry. 2. The organization of associations of chemistry teachers in the various states. 3. The establishment of a JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION.
At the Washington meeting it was annoknced that the above program was well under way. A number of state organfiations had been started EDUCATION had already been and four issues of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL issued. This committee continued more or less active until the fall of 1929 a t the Minneapolis meeting when it was discontinued as a committee of the Society, the work having largely been taken over by committees of the Division devoted to special subjects. At the Los Angeles meeting in August, 1925, the Senate of Chemical Education was organized with the following objectives: 1. To permit each state and each phase of chemical education to have equal representation in all educational projects carried on by the American Chemical Society. 2. To decide upon what questions shall engage the concentrated attention and money of the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. 3. To keep the state organizations in tune with the national organizations. 4. To bring about closer coijperation between high schools, colleges, and industries and thereby unify the efiorts of all those interested in chemical education.
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5. To plan for the future development of chemical education in the country. It was voted a t this meeting that the chairman of the Committee of Chemical Education be or-officiochairman of the newly organized Senate. The members of the Senate were to be chosen by the several state orgauizations of chemical education. They were to consist of a high-school teacher of chemistry, a college or university teacher of chemistry, and an industrial chemist from each state. The Senate has continued to function up to the present time and holds a meeting during each meetihg of the Society for the purpose of discussing educational matters. Actions of the Senate are taken by letter ballots. At the present time the chairman and secretary of the Divisiou are exofficio the same officers in the Senate of Chemical Education. EDUCATION was As has been indicated, the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL started during the year 1923-24. Dr. Neil E. Gordon was made editor and has continued as editor until the present. It may be said that the wonderful success of the JOURNAL is due to the untiring service given by Dr. Gordon. In the early days of the JOURNAL Erle M. Billings handled its business. As was already indicated, the business of the JOURNAL was taken over by The Chemical Foundation, Inc., after October, 1827, and Mr. Wm. W. Buffum of that organization has been the efficient business manager since that date. While the editorial policy and the papers accepted for printing in the JOURNAL are under the control of the Division, financial matters are handled by The Chemical Foundation, Inc. In fact the JOUR3 NAL in its present form is possible only because of the generosity of this Foundation. In this connection we should mention The Chemistry Leuflet, a publication which was founded by Mrs. Pauline Beery Mack a t Pennsylvania State College. This publication made such appeal to The Chemical Foundation, Inc., that it took steps to have it taken over by the Division and made one of its publications. Mrs. Mack continues as editor of the Leaflet. These two publications are probably the outstanding accomplishments of the Divisiou a t the present time. The Division has coiiperated with the Committee of the American Chemical Society in conducting the Prize Essay Contest which was originated and has been financed by Mr. and Mrs. Francis P. Garvan. This contest continued for eight years and has done much to awaken interest in chemistry among high-school and college students, their parents, and their teachers. At the meeting in Richmond in April, 1927, the Senate recommended to the Council of the American Chemical Society that an Institutefor Chemical Education be established. It also recommended the support of the Institute of Chemistry a t Pennsylvania State College during the summer of 1927. The Institute of Chemistry was held a t Pennsylvania State College
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that summer, and another was held a t Northwestern University a t Evanston, Illinois, the next summer, but the idea of establishing a permanent institute was never adopted by the Society. The institutes which were held were apparently successful in every way except tinancially. The Section and Division of Chemical Education have held twenty meetings at which a total of 433 papers have been read by 310 different authors. The number of papers presented a t a given meeting has varied from 13 t o 30. During the history of the Division twenty-four symposia have been held, a t least one symposium being held a t each meeting except at the Washington meeting in April, 1924. The following is a list of the symposium subjects. 1. New York Meeting, Sept., 1921. The First Two Years of College Chemistry. 2. Birmingham Meeting, April, 1922. 1. An Ideal First-Year Course i n Chemistry. 2. Chemical Engineering Education. 3. Pittsburgh Meeting, Sept., 1922. 1. Correlation of High-School and College Chemistry. 2. What Chemistry Shall Be Taught i n Our Professional Schools? 3. College Chemktry versus Industrial Chemistry. 4. New Haven Meeting, April, 1923. 1. Research for Teachers of Chemistry. 2. Analytical Chemistry. 5. Milwaukee Meeting, Sept., 1923. 1. Methods of Teaching Chemistry. 2. Correlation of High-School and College Chemistry. 6. Washington Meeting, April, 1924. (No symposium a t this meeting.) 7. Ithaca Meetinn. S e ~ t.. .1924. Status of Chemical Education in This and Foreign Countries. I 8. Baltimore Meeting, April, 1925. The Electronin ChemicalEducation. 9. Los Angeles Meeting, August, 1925. What Are Our Objectives in Teaching Chemistry? 10. Tulsa Meeting, April, 1926. Orientation and Segregation as Afiplied to Chemical Education. 11. Philadelphia Meeting, Sept., 1926. International Chemical Education. 12. Richmond Meeting, April, 1927. The Introductory Course i n Organic Chemistry. 13. Detroit Meeting, Sept., 1927. The Popularization of Chemistry. 14. St. Louis Meeting, 1928. The Teachinx. o f Analytical - April, . Chemistry. 15. Swampscott Meeting, Sept., 1928. The Teaching of Physical Chemistry. 16. Columbus Meeting, April, 1929. Lecture Experimentation, with Sound-Film Lecture by Irying Langmuir. 17. Minneapolis Meeting, Sept., 1929. Selecting the Chemist-Elect. 18. Atlanta Meeting, April, 1930. The Relation of Cotton to Chemistry. 19. Cincinnati Meeting, Sept., 1930. The QualijZcations of Chemistry Teachers. 20. Indianapolis Meeting, April, 1931. Cooperation behoeen Industry and Chemical Education. u.
A
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At the present time the Division has the following committees which are, for the most part, doing aggressive work: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. G.
7. S.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
15.
Naming and Scope of Committees. Visual Aids in Chemical Education. Chemical Education of the Non-Collegiate Type. Chemical Education by Radio. Chemistry Libraries. Correlation of High-School and College Chemistry. Labels. Minimum Equipment for High-School Chemistry. Preparation of High-School Chemistry Teachers. Teacher Exchange. Teaching Load. Women's Club Study Course. Pre-Medical Requirements in Chemistry. Minimum Standards. Optimum Size of Chemistry Classes.
There has been no waning of interest in the work of the Division through all of the twenty meetings, and at present we have more committees actively at work than a t any previous time in the ten years of the history of the Division. Through the general organization and its committees the Division has helped to correlate high-school and college chemistry; to unify chemical nomenclature; to bring about a more logical arrangement of courses; to investigate methods of teaching, sizes of classes, and teaching loads; to I' popularize a knowledge of chemistry; to standardize laboratory apparatus; to further chemical interest by radio; to standardize requirements in chemistry for those entering professional schools; to interest high-school stndents in the science of chemistry and its applications; to establish excellent chemical publications; to establish state organizations of chemists; to give new life and interest to all those working along chemical lines., The Division is in the midst of active work and there is much yet to be aecomplished. With the continued good will and support of the chemists of the country still greater things are ahead.
