Mav. 1924
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMIXPRY
Harry Frederick Keller-Chemist,
529
Mineralogist, Educator
(1 861-1 9 24)
T
In the fall of 1890 he went t o Houghton, Mich., as professor H E 5th of February, 1924, marked the passing of one of Philadelphia’s best-known and most accomplished chem- of chemistry in the Michigan School of Mines. Here he became ists. While it is always difficult to be reconciled to the an expert in the analysis of copper, serving as analytical umpire death of one whom we have long known and valued as friend in the settlement of disputes between the Anaconda Copper Company and purchasers of their copper. and leader, the startling He was also much - suddenness of this blow caused it to ._ occupied with investigations in mineralogy fall upon his many friends and acquainand crystallography, discovering the mintances with stunning force. eral “lillianite” and determining the comDr. Keller’s life of sixty-three years is positions of a number of Chilean copper a continuous record of earnest endeavor minerals. and successful achievement. He had earned distinction as chemist, as minerIn 1892 he returned to Philadelphia t o alogist, and as educator. He was one of become professor of chemistry in the Centhose leaders t o whom we always turn tral High School. He became associated when we need a representative and a with his predecessor in this institution, spokesman. The dignity and impressiveWilliam H. Greene, in the revision of ness of his personality, his genial humor Greene’s “Lessons in Chemistry,’’ a pioand wealth of anecdote added luster to neer in high school texts in chemistry. many a gathering. We are made poorer Dr. Greene had also translated “Wurtz’s by his loss; we have none to fill his place. Modern Chemistry.’’ This book had gone through its first American edition and His parents lived in one of the fine old houses facing the east side of Franklin Dr. Keller collaborated with Dr. Greene Square, in Philadelphia, and here on Dein its revision. It passed through several cember 15,1861, he was born. His father, editions and was much used in the medical colleges of England. a well-known physician, who had devoted much time to the study of chemistry, was Despite the limited time a t his disan intimate friend of the famous analyst, posal, Dr. Keller found the opportunity Remigius Fresenius, of Wiesbaden. It to continue his research work. In comis not surprising, therefore, that the son pany with his colleagues a t the high school, H. F. KELLER developed a keen interest in things chemand especially with Professor Philip Maas, ical. Hi:; elementary education was obtained in the public he published a number of original papers. Among these may schools of his native city, to whose service, curiously enough, be mentioned “Dimethyl Racemic Acid, Its Synthesis and he brought the ripened wisdom and experience of the last thirtyDerivatives,” “A Method for the Determination of Sulphur in two years of his life. His secondary education was secured a t Roasted Sulphide Ores.” In mineralogy he published “A New the Gymnasium in Darmstadt. Returning to America he en- Variety of Chrysocolla from Chile.” He also cooperated with tered the University of Pennsylvania, where he came under an archeologist, Mr. Thomas, analyzing a number of copper and silver articles from Indian mounds. the influence of that master in chemical analysis, F. A. Genth. He was graduated in 1881 with the degree of bachelor of science. Upon the death of Dr. Holt, of the department of natural In 1915 his Alma Mater, recognizing his achievements in chem- science, Dr. Keller, who was then head of the department of istry and mineralogy as investigator and teacher, again placed physical science, became the head of the department of science the sign of her approval upon him by conferring the degree of of the Central High School. In 1915 he was elected principal doctor of science. of the newly established Germantown High School, where his Immediately following his graduation as baccalaureate recognized executive ability had a wider scope. Dr. Keller was a member of many scientific societies. Among chemist, he was associated with the Edgemoor Iron Works, these may be mentioned the Franklin Institute, of which he was of Chester, Pa. From 1883 to 1886 he was assistant in chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania. Then, continuing his pro- one of the board of managers. For a number of years he was fessional 1raining, he went to Wiesbaden, where he studied under chairman of the chemical section of the institute and chairman the elder Dr. Fresenius. Dr. Keller’s skill as an analyst was or member of many of its important committees. He was a member of the American Philosophical Society, and its secretary directly due to Genth and Fresenius, two analysts who probably had no siiperiors in the chemical world. From Wiesbaden he for the past five years. He was a member of the American went to Strassburg, where he studied organic chemistry also Chemical Society and of the German Chemical Society. In under a master, the famous Fittig. In 1888 the doctorate was 1913-14 he was chairman of the Philadelphia Section of the conferred on him, his inaugural dissertation being entitled American Chemical Society. He was interested in the German Society of Philadelphia and chairman of the Schleicher Scholar“Uber da.s Diacetyl.” Upon his return to his native city he was appointed instructor ship Committee of this body. He delivered a number of public in organic chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania under lectures, notably one on “The Gases of the Atmosphere” in the Professor Samuel P. Sadtler. At this time he became associated university extension course. A similar lecture was delivered with E. F. Smith in a number of scientific investigations. Their in German to the members of the German Chemical Society in determination of the atomic mass of palladium, in which pal- Philadelphia. With the placing of this brief recital and inadequate appreladammonium chloride in ammoniacal solution was electrolyzed in silver-coated platinum dishes, yielded the value 106.914, ciation of the events of his life in the annals of the American Chemical Society, we have paid a last tribute to the memory of and their work clearly showed the sources of error in the previously accepted lower values. These authors also produced an American chemist and mineralogist of rare ability and an Smith and Keller’s “Laboratory Experiments in General Chem- educator of the first rank. PHILIP MAAS istry,” the first laboratory guide of its kind. ABRAHAM HENWOOD
