James Curtis Booth, 1810-1888 (See page 315)
James Curtis Booth, Chemist, 1810-1888 EDGAR FAHS SMITH
Bwth is about 25 years old. He has fair attainments in m H E subiect of this sketch wasan earlv oresident of the chemical society, +dere are so chemistty, physics, and mineralogy. He cultivates chemistry largely from its theoretical aspects, but with an innate love for the many interesting facts 'Onnected with his life that science. Although he expects to become a teacher, I do not beVery chemists generally may be willing to hear them. lieve that because of his financial condition it is necessarv for him probably, on pronouncing his name, there will instantly to take such a position as a final goal. He has a right good head, come to mind a widely known f i w B o o t h , Garrett, but I do not think he will be productive or originate new or broad ideas. He is very industrious, scrupulously conscientious, and and Blair, which has stood for a very definite relation accurate. He came here deficient in manipulative skill and not between commerce and since its well grounded. I gulded and directed him accordingly and feel Booth was its founder and had a definite purpose in that in these particulars I can recommend him, as I can in every launching this undertaking. His first reason was that other way, with a good science. He is discreet, quiet, and cheerhe never forgotthe difficulty experienced in obtaining ful; withal a young fellow of culture. I n short-he will please instruction in that line of chemistry which he preferred. I n his student days in the University of Pennsylvania, To which Berzelius reolied: 1825' One would~havethought that where he be most welcome had I not found, As regards Bwth, he under Keating7 who then the chair of on the one hand, that my laboratory is too small and, on the and Mineralogy in the Collegiate Department, or other, that I am no longer disposed to supervise the work of under Robert Hare, in the Medical School, he would students and make communications from my own resources. A have had ample opportunity to acquire the knowledge student does not receive as much from me now as formerly, and wiU not be repaid in going from WBhler t o Berzelius. The he sought, Keating had received his training at the former is at his best, while the latter is rapidly approaching his Ecoze de Mines and was to sixties, islosing his powers, becomes daily more lazy, self satisfied, a laboratory Course in c h e m i ~ Wto such as a ~ ~ l i e d and . less energetic. In suite of mv best . iudement I have received " two natives kwedes) inio my ~adoratory,where they now are a t His knowle&e - of minerals, too, was excellent. H ~ at ~ this ~period, , was also extremely active, being work. I was induced to take them principally to escape the criticism that I was more partial t o foreign than t o students of my by a group of young men who own country, although I have never refused t o let a Swedish filled professorships in sister institutions with great chemist work with me. l-he presentstudents svanberg credit: but i t was said bv one that chemistrv had for (son of Professor Svanberg. in Upsala) and Berlin. The &st Booth a meaning quite apart from "the beauties of will make a chemist, but God only knows what the other will blackboard demonstrations and of symbolized re- become! Thank Booth for his kind thought of me, and tell him that I actions." His idea was that the laboratory should be no longerreceive students, because I am really too old to assume a miniature factory and the factory a mammoth labora- such responsibilities. tory. So determined was he to realize this conception Among Booth's associates it was common remark that having received his A.B. degree in 1829, he spent a that he was probably the first American student who year or more a t the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, had ventured into Germany for the purpose of pursuing gave an introductory course of lectures in chemistry a t Flushing, L. I., in the winter of 1831-32, and seeking analytical chemistry. Wohler's statement that Booth further light, he passed beyond the sea a t a time when had been a pupil of Siliman is evidently incorrect. Having failed to gain admission to the laboratory "fashion had not yet conceived the real or nominal of Berzelius, Booth repaired to Berlin for nine months virtues of an education abroad." As it happened he went to Frederick Wohler in the under Gustav Magnus and later attended other lecTechnical School a t Hesse-Cassel. There, in the tures in that city and in Vienna, and visited manufacorivate laboratory of the Professor he studied for a turing establishments both on the Continent and in period of nine months. I n the course he had pre- England. He returned to Philadelphia toward the close of viously planned there was included a sojourn with 1835 or in the early part of 1836 when he promptly Berzelius, clearly indicated in the following paramaohs: proceeded to organize his student laboratory. It was not his purpose to make this laboratory course usurp W6hler. writing to Berzelius in 1833 ("Briefwechsel zwischen the rightful position of the and the lecture; J. Berzelius and F. Wohler," 1901, Vol. I, p. 520), said: A young but he dismned a need of the scientific as well as of American ( ~ m t h ) a, pupil of Silliman, has been working ~ i t h me in my laboratory for several months. ~t is his purpose t o the commercial world, which he strove to inject into devote himself exclusively to chemistry. In time he may be- the new project, representing the foresight, the judgcame an exact analyst, but his mind appears to have very little of ment, the independence, and energy of a scientist as the originative type. well as that of a business man. The plan reminds one very much of what Fresenius did a t ~ i e s b a d e n . and on p. 550 continues: 315
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A number of men, later distinguished in chemistry, Professor of Chemistry Applied to the Arts in the received their education a t the hands of Booth and his Franklin Institute. During the nine successive winassociates. The list of those who regarded the old ters, 1836 to 1845, he delivered there three courses of laboratory as their Alma Mater was large, representing lectures, each course occupying three seasons, and from an influence that reached far. For instance, there was 1842 to 1845 he filled the Chair of Chemistry in the CenJohn Fries Frazer, who held the Chair of Chemistry tral High School of Philadelphia, while from 1851 to in the College of the University of Pennsylvania from 1855 he held the Chair of Chemistry Applied to the Arts 1844 to 1872, whose example led his son, Persifor in the University of Pennsylvania. During all this time Frazer, to pursue chemistry, obtaining the rank of he gave much attention to mineralogy and geology. In a Philadelphia publication, hearing the date Professor in the same institution; and, very likely, this same spirit was passed on to Dr. John Frazer, now June 1, 1844, there appeared an advertisement with a Professor of Chemistry in the same University, where the heading "Practical Chemistry" which read: he is also Dean of the Towne Scientific School. Robert The subscribers design commencing an October 1. 1844, a E. Rogers, who occupied the Chair of Chemistry in the course of lectures on Theoretical and Practical chemistry, with Medical School of the University from 1852 to 1877, special reference to its technical applications. They propose was another notable example; as was Richard S. Mc- also to connect with the lectures a series of Practical Exercises to performed by the student in making preparations of the greatest Culloh, of Columbia University from 1857 to 1863; be practical utility in Chemical Science and in the Arts. The usual and Thomas H. Garrett, who later became Booth's course in analytic chemistry will be continued. Apply to William partner; and Campbell and Clarence Morfit, as well Hamilton, Actuary for the Franklin Institute, or to the subscribas Dr. William Camac. Quite recently, through the ers, or by letter. (Signed) JAHES C. BOOTH graciousness of Dr. J. Edward Whitfield, the writer had M. H. BOY* the pleasure of scanning the pages of a "Record Book" kept by Booth. In it were entered the names of all The preceding paragraphs attest the earnest purhis pupils. In some instances a line or two was at- pose of Booth as a teacher of his favorite science. In tached to a name, showing that the master had evi- a certain sense it marks a creative period in his career, dently followed the careers of those who had gone from because it emphasized a technical education, which his laboratory. For example: Robert B. Potts (1844 aimed to make chemistry a factor in commerce and and 1845) became a manufacturing chemist, as did gained for the chemist a recognized place in the econCharles Hartshorne (1845). while William Hay (1846) omy of the world's work. developed into a glass manufacturer in New Jersey. Booth's knowledge of chemistry and geology led N. R. Davis (1849) was a Colonel in the Confederate him, even in the earliest period of his lahoratory venArmy and subsequently Professor of Chemistry in the ture, to accept an appointment on the first geological University of Virginia. Another, named Finch (1851), survey of Pennsylvania. Here he had as coworker pursued teaching and manufacturing, and it is recorded John Fries Frazer. These young men were under the that he was killed in 1861 by an explosion of his works Director of the Survey, Professor Henry D. Rogers, while engaged in the manufacture of percussion caps who credited them with having established a grand for Confederate use. Thus the story proceeds until column of paleozoic formation in Pennsylvania. At there appears (1852) the name of S. Weir Mitchell, re- the end of the year, however, these assistants resigned, nowned physician and novelist. I t will be remembered and Booth shortly thereafter became State Geologist that his father and grandfather had shown like fondness of Delaware. He made one report on its geology in an for chemistry. Other arresting names are those of octavo volume, now exceedingly rare. His first love Frank H. Rosengarten, who later studied under called so persistently that he practically abandoned Strecker a t Tiibingen, and J. William White, the emi- geology forever, although he occasionally rendered nent surgeon, who continued an interested student of opinions on mining projects. One of these related to the science through all his professional years a t the a mine of cobalt in the State of Missouri, from which a University of Pennsylvania. considerable amount of cobalt had been taken and The Booth School developed into a very excellent forwarded by him to England. However, the article training school of practical chemistry. England had proved to be so impure that the material was returned had several such schools. Perhaps this country has to Philadelphia. This induced Booth to prosecute not had another like it, at least, has not had one the with energy the work of acquiring a real knowledge of influence of which has been so wholesome and exten- the methods of refining cobalt. He took in charge the sive. For nine years Booth was assisted in this under- old chemical works of Uhler,' situated in the northern taking by Martin Boy6; in 1848 Thomas H. Garrett part of Philadelphia, and there made trial after trial became his associate, and in 1878 Andrew A. Blair until he had overcome the perplexing problem and entered the firm, which then assumed the title of Booth, mastered all difficulties. Garrett, and Blair, a name it holds today, and douhtHis Government frequently demanded his services. less will continue to hold forever, representing as it His studies on the nickel ores of Pennsylvania led, in does a company of analysts of high repute. 1 This was William M. Uhler, who had been with him in 1840. Although occupied with the laboratory, Booth had Under his name in the "Record Book" Booth wrote: "Old Mint sufficient leisure in 1836 to accept an appointment as Stick." a name given him by his fellow students.
1856. to the ado~tionof nickel as one of the com~onents the Mint beyond its capacity for bullion storage has been inin the coinage of the cent:Issue of creasingly weighing down my anxious thoughts for its safety, and the alloys you may add t o that the consciousness that I was personally rethat year. sponsible for every ounce of bullion received, and then you will There is another period in his life which deserves readilv ~ e r c sufficient d ~ ~ for a constant anxious care. which I consideration. In 1849 President Taylor appointed somet&es imagined to be as the square or cube of the &a quanhim Melter and Refiner of the Philadelphia Mint. tity of bullion continually pouring in. . . . . I t was that conM, ~ ~ ~ ~ was d i then t h secretary of the stant aud constantly augmenting ounce for ounce responsibility that finally affected my mind, and I rather think broke me down. Treasury the United States. He was I went home quite sick from the Mint early in April, and lay on acquainted with Booth, having been in college with my back for about three months. I suppose that such a statehim, and was doubtless instrumental in having this ment will be sufficient to explain my present position. I am glad important appointment given to his friend, hi^ to say that I had sufficient strength to resign from my place in the although no one is yet appointed to take my place. Howwhen the discovery Of gold in California was Mint, ever, I do not go more than once a week to the Mint, and shall be being discussed everywhere. glad when the string of union is severed. . . . From my age, over of
The gold reached the Mint for the most part in its native state, and reouired intricate and a t the same time accurate and . DromDt . metallurgic treatment to fit it for coinage. In one particular the Mint was ill prepared to sustain the pressure brought to bear upon it. The California gold being naturally alloyed with silver in excess of the amount admissible in the coinage, it was necessary to extract the superi3uous metal by chemical treatment. The appliances of the Mint, which had proved sufficient to treat bullion received anterior to the California discoveries, were quite inadequate thereafter. I t was necessary t o reconstruct the whole plan of the parting apparatus, and this work devolved upon Booth. Under his supervision a process which had before been little more than one of the laboratory expanded into that of a manufactory. To this work, as well as to all the other labors of his department, he brought the full knowledge of theory and practice derived from former professional experience, and further showed what is not always the case with chemists, a capacity to apply his knowledge in the larger way required for commercial results. Some little impatience a t the delay in introducing the needful changes had been exhibited by bullion dealers and others, ignorant of the obstacles attendant thereon; but all difficulties were overcome, and the parting (or refining) capacity of the Mint was soon,under Bwth's energetic and capable management, enlarged to meet promptly every demand. This time of trial, a t the very outset of his Mint career proved the man and the officer. There were naturally many trying times during the long years that followed the California gold discovery; there were periods of changes in the coinage, changes in method, changes in administration; there were periods of extraordinary losses through the nature of the bullion, as well as from other causes; there were the annual settlements, the annual trials of the pyx, and trials less than annual and more than annual of the nerves of the operative officers-trials such as only devoted servants of a soulless government can understand. But there were many matters of new interest, new study, new relations, new processes t o try, to lighten the burdens, relieve the tedium, and divert the mind from a wearying and exhausting sense of its peculiar responsibilities. A paragraph from Mr. W. E. Du Bois' sketch of Mr. Jacob R. Eckfeldt, then Chief Assayer, is in place here, as i t is an illustrative bit of history: The gold pressure continued for about five years, when it was relieved by the creation of a Government Assay Office in New York and a Branch Mint a t San Francisco. But directly sequent to this came the change of standard in silver coin, causing an immense recoinage in small pieces. Thus our daily assays continued to count by hundreds. This lasted for some years. When it began t o slacken off, a law was passed for calling in the large copper coins, and issuing in their stead pieces of copper-nickel alloy of much smaller size. After this came the substitution of the bronze alloy; and this called for another process of assay, and brought us a great deal of work. . . . ~
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seveuty years, I hardly expect restoration of full strength, and am satisfied with what Providence designs,
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And Booth himself wrote: The whole truth is, that the constantly increasing business of
The three grand projects, or perhaps achievements of Booth's life were: (1) the foundation of a great laboratory of practical chemistry; (2) his splendid contribution to the geology, not only of his native State, but to that of the State of Delaware; and (3) the most difficult of all, the conduct of the melting and refining at the Mint in Philadelphia. In this last undertaking every faculty possessed by him was called into requisition. The work was done virtually in retirement. It was not heralded to the world. It was one of those contributions which only the wellequipped, conscientious, self-sacrificing individual can make. Therefore, too much credit cannot be given to Booth for his admirable outlay of energy and thought, extending over many anxious years. But, despite the exacting character of his duties a t the Mint, he was busy in many other ways. For example, he prepared the Reports of the Franklin Institute Committee on Science and Arts, and a Report on Recent Improvements in the Chemical Arts, graciously published by the Smithsonian Institution, to which may be added the following communications: 1. On the Deutarseniuret of Nickel from Reichelsdorf in Hessia (1836); 2. Analysis of Various Ores of Lead, Silver, Copper, Zinc. Iron, etc., from King's Mine, Davidson County, N. C. (1841); 3. On Beet Sugar (1842); 4. Chrome Iron Analysis (1842); 5. Constitution of Glycerin and Oily Acids (1848): 6 . On ~emmingtonit;, a New cobalt Mine& (1'852);
and in conjunction with his able and tireless assistant, Martin H. Boy6, he published: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Analysis of Well Water in Philadelphia (1842); On the Extraction and Decolorization of Gelatin (1842); On the Preparation of Aluminous Mordants (1842); Conversion of Benzoic Acid in Hippuric Acid (1843).
When reading this last paper one should bear in mind its date. I t represents an early contribution in the field of organic chemistry. I t shows, too, the groping mind, eager to unravel a rather complex problem--complex for that period, hence it should be cherished by American chemists as evidence of the spirit of pure research.
5. Analysis of Three Kinds of Feldspar (1844); and on proceeding further we discover that with Thomas H. Garrett he issued Experiments on Illumination with Mineral Oils (1862);
while with Campbell Morfit, he published On the Analysisof Cast Iron (1853).
BoyC, both eminent for their skill, science, and accuracy as chemists. I shall recommend it to all my pupils who can afford the purchase.
And from Benjamin Silliman: We have no hesitation in giving this work the most unqualified recommendation and in affirming that i t will surpass everything in our knowledge of its kind, inasmuch as it draws largely on the resources of Continental Europe, which unfortunately have been too much overlooked by the English authors.
This record is inspiring and interesting, when Booth's other activities are recalled; and yet to them Even today the work under discussion appeals to must be added his edition of a translation of Regnault's the student. True, i t is out of date, but there are "Elements of Chemistry," two volumes, from the many important facts clearly presented, and the illusFrench in 1852. This was a favorite book in its day. trations of the various forms of chemical and metalIt won for itself many friends. It was proof additional lurgical apparatus are bound to win the attention of that while Booth emphasized the practical part of those who delight in following the gradual development chemistry, he was awake and alert to the theoretical of processes and methods of procedure through which side of the subject. There is, indeed, much in the book the science has passed. An hour or two given to its which will appeal to chemists generally. At present review would not be ill spent. one rarely sees a student text on chemistry with the Conscious of these many engagements of Booth, descriptive, the applied, and the analytical sections there arises a feeling of gratitude to him for what he did so thoroughly interwoven. It cannot be said of any for chemistry in the early and middle part of the ninemodern text that it bears the slightest resemblance to teenth century. This gratitude is intensified when i t Regnault's publication. The writer, while studying is remembered that as early as 1860, realizing the aid it, was surprised to observe that the copy used by him chemistry might be to the iron industries of his native was once the property of John Fries Frazer, a friend state, he sought to induce the iron masters of eastern and pupil of Booth, and one of the writer's own prede- Pennsylvania to contribute jointly the sum of 81200 to cessors in the Chair of Chemistry in the University have the ores used by them controlled by his analyses, of Pennsylvania. but in this plan he was unsuccessful. And further, But one of the finest literary contributions made that very probably he was the first chemist in America by Booth was his "Encyclopedia of Chemistry, Practi- to use the polariscope in the analysis of sugar and cal and Theoretical." It covered nearly 1000 pages, molasses. This was in 1842 and 1&1-3-t least twentyoctavo size, and appeared in 1850. A few sentences five years before this instrument was generally used in from the preface may interest the reader: this country.2 The "Encyclopedia of Chemistry." now offered to the puhlic, It is not difficult, therefore, to comprehend how the is designed t o present a view of the whole science with constant spirit of the great master should have permeated the references to its various applications-manufacturing. medical. pharmaceutical, and mineral. . . . When the present work was generations which have continued the work of the firm-Booth, Garrett, and Blair. Indeed, the admircommenced, i t was my intention to base it upon Ure's "Dictionary of Chemistry." modifying it in such a manner as to adapt i t to the able treatise of Andrew A. Blair on the "Chemical present state of the science, but a cursory glance a t it forced me Analysis of Iron," a volume which has passed through to the conclusion that the science had so entirely changed its features as t o render the work of no value. Nothing has, in conse- many editions, and regarded everywhere as authoritative, is an instance of the thought entertained by Booth quence, been taken from it. in the earliest years of his laboratory and which domiHe was assisted in the preparation of this volume a t nated him during the period when he was not only an various times by Martin H. Boy&, Campbell Morfit, experimenter and doer of things, but a teacher of hunand R. S. McCnlloh. The article on analysis, written dreds of young men who flocked about him. The by Boy&, impresses one with its thoroughness and Scientific American said: completeness, characteristics of all the work of this A course in his laboratory was considered necessary for the chemist. chemist of that time and was regarded of mare value than a colThe concluding sentence of the preface reads: lege diploma. His principal object has been the dissemination of sound, practical knowledge throughout the United States, whereby the chemical arts, which are most characteristic of civil life, may he established and conducted on rational principles.
That this voluminous contribution projected by Booth met with pretty general approval is shown, amone others. in a letter from Robert Hare. where the following language occurs:
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I avail myself of this opportunity t o applaud another work, "The Encyclopedia of Chemistry," edited by Booth and Martin
There were many who believed that Booth had few, if any, superiors as a teacher of practical chemistry. He kept abreast of the times by intimate contact with the best and latest publications. And this genuine pioneer of chemistry in all directions was much occupied in many other ways. For (Continued wn page 357) a U. S. Senate Documents3Oth Congress. 1st Session, pp. 34, 39, 44, 45, 46, etc.
JAMES CURTIS BOOTH, CHEMIST (Coniinucd from paze 318) example, he was a member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (1842), of the Academy of Natural Sciences (1852), of the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of Mechanic Arts (1853), of the Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture (1859), of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (1884), and President of the American Chemical Society in 1883 and 1883, declining reelection for the third term. I t will be noticed that his presidency fell in the dark days of the eighties, when the Society was losing its memhership rapidly because its activities were then too much localized in New York, and Dr. A. A. Breneman is authority for the statement that despite this discouraging outlook Booth, though past seventy years of age, regularly journeyed every month to preside over the 3 "What a hole in the wall it was in New York University where we met, that is, the New York Section. A basement room, with a d m and to its right two windows on the same side of the rwm. Ventilation there none except lurid remarks about its lack. Subsequently the Sectionmet in father's lecture room a t the City College in the 23rd Street building. I t was better but not ideal. These facts instigated the foundation of the Chemists' Club, and the lease of the Hall in 55th Street. From there we have moved t o 41st Street. . . ."-Chnrlef A . Doremur. Jan. 28, 1923 (Letter addressed to E. F. S.).
meetings, and the same authority adds that usually Booth first visited his laboratory, where the chemists dropped in, and from there adjourned to Siegortner's Restaurant in Lafayette Place for dinner, after which they walked across to Washington Square, where, in the rooms of New York University,s their meetings were held. Booth was Assistant Secretary of the Diocese of Pennsylvania from 1865 to 1871 and privately interested in many philanthropies. In 1867 the University of Lewisburg, now Bucknell University, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws and in 1884 the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute added the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. His native city was Philadelphia; the date of his hirth July 28, 1810, and his parents George Booth and Ann Bolton. In 1853 he was married to Margaret M. Cardeza. It was on May 21, 1888, that death struck Dr. Booth's name forever from the roll. Faith lightened the burden of the last days of a career that has left a name worthily interwoven with the great fabric of the world's onward and upward progress.
