GEORGE M. BROWNE J. W. NECKERS Southern Illinois State Teachers' College, Carbondale, Illinois
The accompanying article presents a review of the attainments of George M . Broume who has lately been giwen the rank of professor-emeritus at Southern Illinois State Teachers' College after having dmoted ower forty years to the teaching of chemistry. During the thirty years he spent at the aboue-named institution he succeeded i n building up a chemistry department which i s the equal of any i n a teachers' college i n this country.
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Most of his students entered the teaching profession. A large majority, of course, did not teach chemistry, but the introduction to the science which they obtained under him furnished a background of application in the various fields which they entered. Many of the chemistry majors did enter the field of chemical education and a considerable number of them, through their interest in the science as presented by their former teacher, felt impelled to continue their studies a t advanced schools. Their contributions may well be considered as an added, indirect effect of Mr. Browne's efforts. Mr. Browne is a Bay State ~ r o d u c t ,havinz been born in Dana, Massachusetts, on November 30, 1857. He received his first scholastic enlightenment in one of the "little red school houses" of that state, and continued a t New Salem Academy and the Massachusetts State Normal School at Westfield, graduating in 1881. From 1883 to 1885 he continued his studies in German, chemistry, and physics a t Harvard University. T h e following two years were spent in chemical research, in association with Arthur Michael, a t Tufts College, and the results of these investigations were reported in a number of publications in German periodicals. Deciding then that his choice of a career lay in the pedagogical field, he accepted his first teaching position a t the Cook County Normal School in Chicago. Two vears of ex~eriencein that position qualified him to >fill an opening a t the Wisconsin State Normal School in Oshkosh, where he taught chemistry and biology for eight years. At the end of that period, he was appointed associate in chemistry, biology, and geology a t this institution, and has continued here for the past thirty years. In 1913 a readjustment occurred, and a t that time he was appointed head of the newly organized department of chemistry, which position he held until shortly before his retirement.
HE first three decades of the twentieth century have witnessed an unprecedented development in this country in the field of chemistry. American research laboratories, as judged by both the quality and quantity of their contributions, have been conceded a foremost place in the scientific world, and the enormous output of chemical products places this science in a prominent position in the industrial world. A progress just as great, although not the object of so much attention, has been accomplished in the realm of the teaching of chemistry, and undoubtedly has done much to supply one prerequisite for the advances in other fields. One of the participants in this latter advance is Professor G. M. Browne, of this institution, who was r e t i r e d as professor-emeritus a t the close of the last summer session. H e has been in active service in the field of chemical education for over forty years, and has witnessed andkept pace with the phenomenal expansions which have characterized the years of his service. Mr. Browne is not a man of wide fame, but is rather one of excellent reputation in his own locality. Like many others, he did not choose to attain prominence in broader fields, but year after year has faithfully presented in his classroom the contributions and possibilities of chemistry. His students number into the thousands and it is impossible to estimate the results of his life work. 222
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In the years of his incumbency, he has witnessed, not modern chemical laboratories which easily accommoonly the twentieth-century advance of chemistry but date the three hundred forty-nine students who are also the rapid growth of the teachers' college in the taking chemistry a t the present time. His interest in chemistry as a science is attested by educational field. At first quantitative analysis was the most advanced college course offered in this college, the fact that he has long been a member of the American for twenty years ago only fourteen students above high- Chemical Society; his interest in the pedagogical possibilities of the science explains his being a charter school rank were registered. Through the succeeding years this number has multi- subscriber as well as a contributor to the JOURNAL OF plied many times, until last tenn sixteen hundred CHEMICALEDUCATION.His collection of current ninety-four students of college rank have been enrolled chemical literature is extensive; much of i t he donated here. Mr. Browne accommodated himself to the to the departmental library upon his retirement. Inconstant readjustment required by this growth, and cluded in this contribution was his complete set of the built up a department offering a full four-year course JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION, which remains a to meet the demands for more specialized instruction. constant reminder of the efforts and attainments of The fulfilment of his dreams was accomplished three Professor G. M. Browne, the first head of the chemistry years ago when the department moved into new, department a t Southern Illinois State Teachers' College.
