ERNST BERL,TECHNISCHE HOCRSC~JLB, DARMSTADT, GERMANY, AND RALPH E. OESPER, UNIVERSITY OR CINCINNATI, CINCINNATI, OHIO
It is a remarkable coincidence that two of the greatest chemists of the 19th century were born within the bounds of a comparatively small city. Justus von Liebig and Friedrich August Kekul6 first saw the light of day in Darmstadt. Liebig was born on May 3, 1803. Numerous biographies have made the chemical world familiar with his life and works, but a valuable addition to this literature was the recent publication of a collection of newly found letters. Most of these were written while he was still a student and they afiord an intimate view into the process by which his genius was developed.' Kekul6 was born September 7, 1829, into a family prominent in official circles.? Liebig, his teacher, on the other hand sprang from a very simple family of trades people. At the great Benzol Fest held at Berlin, March 11,1890, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the publication of Kekule's benzene theory, its author recounted many of the salient features attendant upon his developme~t.~ The City of Darmstadt, in cooperation with the Vereinigung von Freunden der Technischen Hochschule and numerous patrons and benefactors, has set up a permanent memorial to Liebig in the form of the Liebig Haus, a reconstruction of the house in which he was born. The original building fell a prey to neglect and old age, became unsafe, and in 1920 was carefully dismantled. It has now been rebuilt, with much of the original material, and the old plans and dimensions have been faithfully followed in the reproduction. The Liebig Haus was dedicated on July 7,1928,'in connection with the centenary celebration of Wohler's synthesis of urea. Many of the rooms have been furnished with furniture of the period of 1800, while others have been utilized for museum purposes. I t is intended that the building shall not only serve as a visible example of a middle class dwelling of the time of Liebig's birth, but it is proposed to build up here a technical museum designed to demonstrate the development and far-reaching influences of Liebig's teachings. As funds become available more museum space will be added to house collections relating to agriculture, pharmacy, 1 "Justus Liebig, Briefe nach neuen Funden," Herausgegeben vou Emst Berl, Giessen: Liebig Museum; Darmstadt: Liebighaus Stiftung, 1928. 3 Biographical notes in recognition of the centenary of KekulPs birth may be found in Chem. and Ind., 48,870 (Sept. 6.1929) and Nature, 124,382 (Sept. 7,1929). Ber., 23,1302 (1890). See also: "August Kekul6," Ludwig Darmstaedter and R . E. Oesper, THISJOURNAL, 4, 697 (June, 1927). 4 2.angm. Ckem., 41,924 (1928).
nutrition, etc. Mementos of other eminent chemists will also he displayed in this planned a d d i t i ~ n . ~ Kekule's memory has been honored in the August KekulC Room a t the Technische Hochschule. Here, in the huildmg devoted to chemical technology and electrochemistry, are preserved and displayed the numerous mementos and souvenirs of this great man. Fortunately, contrary to the usual rule, much material properly a part of this collection is still in existence and is here given a worthy place and reverent care. The street known as the "Grosse Kaplaneigasse" traverses the oldest andmost closely built part of Darnstadt. Amid such surroundings stood Liebig's birth place, nor did i t possess any characteristics t o make it appear more luxurious than any of its modest neighbors. On entering the reconstructed house, we find ourselves in a narrow hallway leading to the little courtyard (Figure 1). T h r e e small rooms to the right of the passage are dedicated to the potash industry. This is ml,st appropriate, for Liebig's teachings are primarily responsible for the :recognition of the value 5 The pamphlet, "Justus von Liebigs Geburtshaus-Liebig-Museum," published by H. Hohmann, Darmstadt, contains exterior views and descriptions of Liebig's birthplace before it was rebuilt, as well as the plans for its reconstruction. One of these 6, 220 (Feb.. 1929) in the article by R . E. views was reproduced in THIS JOURNAL, Oesper, "What a Chemist May See in Europe."
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LIEBIGHOUSE AND KBKULB ROOM AT DARMSTADT
1871
of potassium salts in plant growth. Previously, these compounds were thrown away as worthless (ab~aunwalze)because the taste was not that of table salt, hut now they have become of immense value, and are sometimes called "noble salts." Figure 2 shows a section through a potash mine, a rock salt model of the church a t Stassfurt; a bust of Liebig; specimens of pure potassium salts; and pictures of some of those who have labored to lay the foundations of our scientific knowledge of the chemistry and technical applications of the potassium compounds. A narrow stairway leading to the second floor is adorned with a copy of
Trautschold's well-known portrait of Liehig (Figure 3). The rooms on this floor are rather small. Particularly interesting is the kitchen (Figures 4, 5) with its utensils and furnishings of about 1800. The greater part of the home life of the plebeian families of that period was enacted in kitchens of this type. Three small rooms display plain but substantial furniture, like that which Liebig used in his youth. On the walls are pictures of the master a t various ages, a copy of a picture of his parents and his younger sister (Figures 6 and 7) ; a copy of a picture of his wife (Figure 8) and engravings of his contemporaries (Figure 9). In these rooms are preserved the re-
1872
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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cently disclosed correspondence of Liebig and his patron Schleiermacher, as well as letters to and from other notables. Liebig's father manufactured certain chemical products on a small scale and consequently had frequent need for consulting the chemical books of the Court Library. Young Justus was often sent to borrow or return these books, and in his autobiographical notes he relatesa with what msto the 13-year old boy soon learned to read all the chemical works possessed by the library. These volumes have been transferred from the Court Library and are now displayed in these rooms of the Liebig Haus. The upper s t o r y contains three rooms which have also been devoted to the display of technical products. Figures 10 and 11 show the space arranged by the I. G. Farbenindustrie A. G. Wonderfully developed crystals of the salts used in fertilizers are a conspicuous feature. Liebig's researches on catalysis are recalled by exhibits of the products of the modem catalytic industries. The oresentFIGURE 3.-THE TRAUTSCHOLD PORTRAIT OF LIEBIGON day control of chemiSTAIRWAV TO SECOND FLOOR cal reactions is exemplified by an exhibit of the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide. In Figure 10, left, may be seen the first high pressure apparatus used by the Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrikfor the synthesis of ammonia by the Haber process.
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Liehig, "Eigenhiindige hiographische Aufieichnungen." Ber., 23, See also "Justus von Liebig--Student and Teacher," by R. E. Oesper, 4, 1461 (Dec., 1927).
817 (1890).
THISJOURNAL,
FIGURE 12.-TfiE
E. MERCKCOMPANYCOMMEMORATES ITS RELATIONSWITH LIEBIG
A second room has been fitted out by the E. Merck Company of Darmstadt (Figure 12). Liebig was closely connected with this organization. Facsimiles of his letters to the then owner of this concern are on display. Samples of the more important alkaloids are exhibited, as well as a portion of Wohler's oriqinal < s y n t h e t i c urea. A striking panorama of the present Merck plant occupies a large part of one wall. The adjoining room (Figure 12) presents the development of the Liebig meat extract industry in Fray Bentos. Here also are exhibited an interesting series of compounds prepared by catalytic hydrogenation. A view over Old FIGURE I.?.-VIEW OF OLDDARKSTADT, WITH THE COURT Darmstadt is shown LIBRARV IN TXE RACKGROUND
in Figure 13. In the background may be seen the Court Library. A bust of Liebig's intimate friend, Wohler, stands on this landing. Figures 14, 15, and 16 show views of the Kekul6 Room7a t the Technische Hochschule. Along the east wall are hung pictures of Kekule (then professor a t Ghent) and of his wife. Below to the left is the remarkable bust of Kekult, by Kuppers; to the right, a bust of Liebig by Wagmiiller. Between the busts is a large album containing the pictures of all the notable chemists of about 1881). This was presented to Kekuli. on his 60th birth-
FIGURE 16.-THE NORTHWALL OF THE KEKULBROOM
day. On the wall above is shown a beautiful engrossed memorial presented by the German Chemical Society a t the Benzol Fest. The opposite wall (Figure 15) is adorned with a caricature of Kekule (from his youthful Heidelberg period) surrounded by a large number of photographs of his intimates a t Ghent and Bonn. In Figure 16 are shown pictures of Adolf von Baeyer, Kekule's first pupil, and of Kekule's coworkers, Glaser and Brunck, later managing directors of the Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik. Valuable group pictures from Kekule's youth, An account of the dedication exercises, June 25, 1927, is contained in Niederschrifl iiber die neun* Houplwr.mmmlung d m Vweinigung Don Frelcndcn drr Technirchen Hochschde zu Dnrmstadt.
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LIEBIGHOUSEAND K E K U LROOM ~ AT DARMSTADT
1881
and also, quite fittingly, a likeness of Cannizzaro, are displayed. The cases contain personal mementos, his correspondence with eminent chemists and the extraordinarily beautiful drawings made while he was a young man. He was originally destined by his family for an architectual career. The planning, erection, and furnishing of museums such as the Liebig Haus and the KekulC Room are definite responsibilities of the successors of such masters. In our rapidly moving times, the triumphs of science are too quickly forgotten and we need constant reminders that the progress of mankind rests in great measure on the achievements of our great men of science. The support of these museums should come from industries and scientific institutions whose very existence is owing to the labors of those whose memory should thus be honored. To such organizations, and to the individual scientists of even moderate means, contributions to this worthy cause should be not only a pious duty but a pleasure.
The recently published volume of the letters of Liebig's student days, edited hy E. Berl, i s sold for $1. One of the treasures of the Kekuld Room is the notebook in which Kekuld wrote u p the lectures delivered by Liebig at Giessen. A limited number of exce$tionally fine photographic reproductions of this interesting record have been made, and are offered at $25.00. The proceeds from the sale of both these books will be applied to the funds of the Liebig Haus and to the sum being raised to finance the erection of a Liebig Technical Museum on the adjoining property. Orders should be sent to Vereinigung von Freunden der Technischen Hochschule z z ~Darmstadt, Ernst Ludwig Hochschulpesellschaff.
