ANALYTICAL CH EM1S T R Y WALTER J. MURPHY, Editor
6. F. Smith-Research
Translator
great flexibility of the .4CS is its main strength. To the one division authorized in 1908 twenty more have been added, ANY years ago, G. Frederick Smith, as a Ph.D. subject, with the result that there are but very few fields of specializamade a study of the preparation and properties of pertion related in any way to chemistry that are not provided for chloric acid and its derivatives, particularly with respect to under the banner of the ACS. their applications to analytical chemistry. The results were If one stops for a moment to think about locd sections promising. .4t that time (1922), however, production of the of the Society, it immediately becomes evident that the vast acid was on the order of several hundred pounds a year. A majority of them in the make-up of membership duplicate the further problem was the difficulty of securing the compounds heterogeneity of interests a t the national level. Many local in a pure form. sections of the Society today have more members than the Many chemists, after completing their doctoral work, Society did in 1908 when the divisional pattern was dewould have dropped the matter and gone on with their veloped. Does it not follow logically that this pattern +I hlch careers in industry or academic life. Not so vith Smith. has worked so well a t the national level is a desirable one for He did go into university life a t the University of Illinois, large and even medium-sized local sections to follow? but he also decided to manufacture perchloric acid and reQuite a few sections already have found such a move the lated products. He established the G. Frederick Smith answer to many perplexing problems and we are particularly Chemical Co. a t Columbus, Ohio, for this purpose. Other proud to say that analysts in a number of instances have members of the family, including his brothers, A . H. Smith taken the lead by creating analytical subdivisions within and the late C. 31. Smith, Jr., joined in the venture. the operational structure of local sections. During the past three decades, Smith has followed the Perhaps the most notable instance was the return of the practice of translating research results into practical techPittsburgh analysts to the Pittsburgh Section, Analytical niques and products. The company has prospered and isubdivisions have been set up in several sections and in every now the manufacturer of other analytical reagents, including instance the plan has helped the analysts and has strengthceric compounds and those from periodic acid. ened the section. The latest and most highly satisfactory I n the past 30-odd years Smith has also continued his news is the reported agreement with The Anachems of triple careei as a stimulating teacher, skillful research cheniDetroit, whereby that long established group becomes ist, and successful businessman. He has made a success of affiliated with the Detroit Section but like its counterpart in all three. Pittsburgh retains its o m name and organizational structure. Bestowing of the 1954 Fisher Award in analytical chemistry It is our understanding that only one of the 14 largest ACS on Smith indicates the high regard in which he is held by his sections has failed to accept to some degree the divisional fellow analysts. pattern of the national Society. We hazard the guess that the next great forward movement of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETYwill be a major expansion of the divisional idea a t Anachems Unite with Detroit Section the local section level with provision for close cooperation NE OF the dominant characteristics of chemistry durand coordination of effort between the national divisions and ing the past half century is the degree of specialization the local section subdivisions. that has occurred. In this respect chemistry is no different This movement already has progressed sufficiently to indifrom any other fast-moving area of science. Specialization rate clearly that it is the practical answer to the problem of creates new problems and requires new operational facilities. how to build greater interest and enthusiasm a t the local As far back as the first decade of the present century, the section or grassroots level. ERICA AN CHEMICAL SOCIETY faced the problem of specializaObviously smaller sections cannot follow a subdivisional tion and solved it successfully by establishing scientific and program. Probably none is needed by such sections because technical divisions. The solution viewed from today’s usually there is a degree of homogeneity of interest in the perspective is a simple one. It is hard to believe that it took very small section that does not exist in the larger ones. more than 10 years filled with bickering before a satisfactory The subdivisional plan providing something for everybody solution was found and accepted. Relatively fen- ACS will attract to ACS membership and to local section activity members are aware that the Society came very close to disthousands of chemists and chemical engineers who are not memberment before the divisional setup was approved. now members of the Society. I n numbers there is strength The divisional plan saved the AMERICANCHEXICAL for the profession. A united profession can present a united SOCIETYand made possible an organization that includes front on matters of common concern to all the members of the in its membership more than 70,000 chemists and chemical profession. engineers engaged in a wide variety of heterogeneous proIt is plain, a t least t o us, that the subdivision program a t fessional activities. All the needs of specialized groups are the local section level has many advantages. K e may, in our provided for and yet the common interests of the chemical enthusiasm, lack complete objectivity, but we have not been profession are served by a strong central organization. The able to discover any disadvantages. 62 1
