FATHERS AND SONS
IN CHEMISTRY Harry N . Holmes and Richard Remsen Holmes r
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THE 32,000 members of the A. C. S. it is not news that the highest honor this group of chemists can bestow upon one of its members is to make him President
of
the
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SO-
CIETY—the largest specific scientific body in the world. But it may be news to some that President Harry Nicholls Holmes, whose term expires this month, is the product of and protagonist for the liberal arts college. Although repeatedly offered attractive positions in large universities and in industrial organizations, he has steadfastly but courteously refused them, preferring to remain in Oberlin College, where he has been head of the Department of Chemistry since 1914. There and at Earlham College, where he was head of the Department of Chemistry from 1907 to 1914, he has taught over 4,000 liberal arts college students and influenced more than 300 in becoming professional chemists. In view of his notable achievements and his valuable contributions, both in research and in scientific education, his lifetime association with liberal arts colleges needs added emphasis, particularly now, when many of the smaller colleges, though exceedingly eager and qualified to be of the utmost service, may be ignored or even denied the opportunity of helping t o train young people for the immediate demands of the national emergency. Dr. Holmes epitomizes the great contribution which the liberal arts colleges have made to the development of America and the democratic way of life. Born July 10, 1879, near New Castle, Penna., of Scotch-Irish-English parentage and constantly encouraged by his revered mother, who taught him perseverance and economy, he overcame the handicaps of meager funds and secured a college education at Westminster College (A.B. 1899, M.S. 1907, LL.D. 1941), and his first love for chemistry under the inspiring teacher, Charles C. Freeman. With the aid of funds saved while teaching at Gallia Academy, Gallipolis, Ohio, and at Dixon Academy, near New Orleans, he realized his ambition t o do graduate work at Johns Hopkins University (Ph.D. 1907). Here Ira Remsen, "the perfect teacher, taught him clearness in writing
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and thinking and a devotion to research", and did for Dr. Holmes what the latter has so freely passed on to his many students—helped him to secure subsequent positions. Two years after assuming his duties at Earlham College, Dr. Holmes married Mary V. Shiveley, of Richmond, Ind., the daughter of a lawyer prominent in the State of Indiana. They have two sons, Charles, instructor in English, Pomona College, and Richard Remsen, concerning whom more will be told. So versatile and vigorous has Dr. Holmes been that a cataloging of his activities resembles a listing of the achievements of "Superman": a basketball star and coach who introduced the game at Johns Hopkins, captained and coached the team, and twice produced the best college team in Indiana while coaching, on the side, at Earlham College; a golfer and instructor of his two sons, who now surpass him (he has been good enough to win a first prize in an A. C. S. tournament); a musician—not instrumental but vocal— member of Johns Hopkins Quartette, Glee Club, and several prominent choirs; an actor of no mean ability—he participated in numerous dramatic productions by the faculty at Oberlin; a handwriting expert, who has occasionally been expert witness in legal cases; a lover and grower of beautiful flowers, who knows just what fertilizers to use and proper pH of the soil for best results; an able administrator, who has given an international reputation to the Chemistry Department at Oberlin, as well as expanded it until every nook and cranny of the laboratory building is utilized; an organizer of regional groups of chemists in Ohio and surrounding states and one of the founders of Gamma Alpha Graduate Scientific Fraternity; the first editor of Gamma Alpha Record; a wide disseminator of science knowledge by means of air waves and talks before Service Clubs and P. T. A. groups; a research consultant to industrial organizations; the holder of several patents; a traveler, who made trips to Europe with his family in 1926 and 1934 (and as President of our SOCIETY has traveled over 25,000 miles!); a great exponent of vitamins,
2 4 » DECEMBER
2 5,
1942
particularly partial to vitamin C; the distinguished author of eleven books, concerning the third edition of whose book "Out of the Test Tube" one reviewer wrote: Fortunately for the public, there are a few consummate artists among those who write on scientific subjects. In the forefront of these stands Dr. Harry N. Holmes. Chemistry is fortunate to have in its ranks a spokesman with his literary talents. In a direct, honest, clear pictorial style he presents his science in a manner that is not only informative and educational but as entertaining as many books that are read for diversion. With "Out of the Test Tube'* and Dr. Holmes' latest textbook on chemistry under his arm, a high school or college student is prepared to learn chemistry and like it. While either of these volumes will stimulate his interest in the subject, there is grave peril that together they might be sufficient to make him want to be a chemist. a lecturer extraordinary ; an indefatigable investigator, who has published more than fifty research papers ; a great crusader for research in colleges, who has set the pace at Oberlin, since no other college in the United States equals that institution in published research; and an inspiring teacher, who has not only trained many who are now distinguished industrial chemists or widely known teachers, but has made chemistry an interesting and exciting subject to English, Latin, economics, and history majors. Possibly the accomplishments listed above could be achieved by a man who i s indifferent to others, though this is not probable. However, a recital of his many accomplishments does not reveal the real man and his warmth of friendship nor his deep personal interest in his students, past and present. H e is always on the lookout for good positions for them—not for just one or two particular favorites, but for all whom he can wholeheartedly recommend. He is not senti mental, but his love for and devotion to his students are genuine. This has its own reward, for his students reciprocate this love and loyalty (look in on an Oberlin breakfast a t any of the A. C. S. meetings). On the occasion of the completion of 25 years as head of the Department of Chemistry at Ober-
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lin College, his students gave a dinner in his honor at t h e A. C. S. meeting in Boston, September 1939. T h e eagerness of all to have a part in this celebration and tribute to a great teacher a n d friend was over whelming. They presented him with a beautiful gold watch, appropriately enengraved, and a handsomely bound book of letters of appreciation. Possibly in no more fitting way could this tribute t o a great scientist, teacher, and friend be con cluded than by quoting a paragraph from one of his former students: Although I did not major in chemistry, nor do graduate work under Dr. Holmes, the lectures a n d demonstrations in his elementary chemistry class are among the m o s t vivid a n d pleasant recollections of my undergraduate career and I still re gard the course I took with him us one of the most profitable and illuminating academic experiences I have ever had. T h e fact t h a t a m a n of his specialized training and national reputation should have made t h e elementary class of his d e p a r t m e n t one of his chief interests h a s always seemed to me to be the best evi dence of his sincere interest in teaching. It has also marked him for m e as a truly reat scientist, one who realizes t h a t his d u t y is not merely to advance science's frontiers but also to give intelligent lavmen, and possibly laymen not too intelli gent, some inkling of the methods a n d discipline of science and of its promise t o civilization.
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worked with his father on "Pencillin", an extraordinarily difficult problem. Dick modestly thinks he d i d little, b u t his father insists he showed the originality and accuracy of a first-class graduate stu dent. Naturally, he took his father's course in colloid chemistry as well as some of his vitamin C. After the war Dick plans to go on for his P h . D . , probably in t h e field of organic or biochemistry, since these are his favorites. P A U L H.
FALL
JOSIAH Κ L u . Y, chairman of the board of Eli Lilly and Co., received the Rem ington Medal for distinguished work in pharmacy at a meeting in New York on December 10. T h e medal was presented by Curt P. Wimmer, vice president of t h e New York branch of the American Pharmaceutical Association, which spon sored t h e event. More than four hun dred leaders of the industry were present.
George M . Bramann has resigned a s assist a n t to t h e sales manager of the Niacet Chemical Corp. and accepted t h e posi tion of p l a n t investment engineer with the Magnesium Plant, Mathieson Alkali Works, Lake Charles, La. Harold W . Coles, formerly of Mellon in stitute, has joined t h e research staff of t h e B a u s c h & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester, N . Y., where h e will be in charge of t h e new Organic Chemistry Department. Charles A . Cook, formerly senior biochem ist at t h e Experimental Research Labo ratories, Burroughs Wellcome a n d Co. (U. S. Α.), is now in charge of t h e de p a r t m e n t of medical a n d biological chemistry a t the Research Laboratories of the Lambert Pharmacal C o . , St. Louis, Mo.
NEWS-MAKERS
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Edward J . Barta, ordered to active duty December 30, 1940, a s Chemical War fare Officer, Armored Force Board, Fort Knox, Ky., was promoted to major on July 2 5 , 1941, and to lieutenant colonel on August 3 1 , 1941. He h a s now been relieved from duty a t F o r t Knox and assigned to Headquarters II Armored Corps a s Corps Chemical Officer, Camp Young, Calif.
Remington M e d a l Presentation
Richard Remsen H o l m e s Born August 21, 1920, in Oberlin, Ohio, he was n a m e d for t h e m a n whom his father so greatly admired—Ira Remsen. W h e n Dick was about seven years old Remsen visited Oberlin a n d his eyes twinkled as he watched his " g r a n d - p u p i l " and namesake. Dick attended Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Mass., a n d then returned to Oberlin College, completing work for graduation, with honors in chemistry, in September 1942. At once (October 15, 1942) he b e gan work as junior chemist with t h e Shell Oil Development Co., Emeryville, Calif., taking with him his wife, Virginia ShawHolmes, whom he married before com pleting t h e requirements for graduation. T h i s required special permission, accord ing t o regulations of Oberlin College. I n 1942 Dick won the golf champion ship of t h e Ohio College Conference. In 1940 he pushed the finalist winner of t h e Cleveland District Junior Championship to t h e 36th hole. From reliable sources it is reported t h a t Dick's father brought no pressure on his younger son t o become a chemist, b u t there was paternal delight when Dick indi cated his desire to follow in his father's footsteps. N o r in any way did Dick seek a n y favoritism because of his relationship to t h e head of the d e p a r t m e n t . Appar e n t l y b o t h he and his father leaned over backwards in this respect, t h u s forming a V for Victory. For his senior honors thesis Dick
sional organization of controllers de voted t o improvement of controllership procedure.
Mildred Adams, who for several years h a s been in t h e chemical research division of t h e National Institute of Health, Washington, D. C , h a s taken a position with Takamine Laboratories at Clifton, N. J. Adrian G. Allison, former ceramic engi neer of the Electro Refractories & Al loys Corp., Buffalo, Ν . Υ., has been appointed t o t h e research staff of t h e Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, and assigned t o the Division of Ceramic Research. William T. Anderson, J r . , for nearly 20 years director of the radiation research laboratory of t h e Hanovia Chemical and Manufacturing C o . , Newark, N . J., has been granted a leave of absence t o accept a commission a s a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve. J a m e s R . Arthur, assistant to comptroller of the Tobacco By-Products & Chemical Corp., Louisville, Ky., and Charles M . Timblin, auditor of Charles Pfizer & Co., Inc., New York, have been elected to membership in the Controllers Insti tute of America, a technical and profes
CHEMICAL
Ned H . Dearborn, executive vice president of the National Safety Council, Philip Drinker, H a r v a r d School of Public Health, Lieut. Col. A. J. Lanza, chief, Occupational Hygiene Branch, U. S. Army, a n d C. D. Selby, General Motors Corp., h a v e been elected t o the board of trustees of t h e Industrial Hygiene Foundation. Ogden FitzSimons has joined the General Engineering Department of Monsanto Chemical C o . and will b e located in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. FitzSimons was formerly with T h e B a r r e t t Division, Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. Thomas S . Gardner, duPont Postdoctoral Fellow in Cellulose, 1941-42, Massa chusetts Institute of Technology, Cam bridge, Mass., h a s joined the staff of the Tennessee E a s t m a n Corp., Kingsport, Tenn., as a research chemist. Esther Griffith, formerly on the teaching staff of Texas State College for Women a t Denton, Tex., has t a k e n a position in industrial research with Devoe and Raynolds Co., Louisville, K y .
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
