Kresge-Hooker Scientific Library NEIL E. G O R D O N , Wayne University, Detroit, Mich. * 4 Λ Ν Υ questions have been asked about ™ * the Kresge-Hooker Scientific Li brary. An attempt will be made here to give a brief outline of the history of the library from its beginning t o the present. The original collection was made by Samuel Cox Hooker, whose complete biog raphy has been written by C. A. Browne ( / ). Dr. Hooker was a native of England, received his P h . D . degree from the Univer sity of Munich, and came to America with the hope of securing a university position. Disappointed in his efforts, he accepted a position with the Franklin Sugar Refining Co. and thereby became a sugar chemist in 1885. After 30 years of outstanding scien tific, technical, and financial success in that field, h e retired at the age of 51 to devote the remainder of his life t o private research and the building of a worldfamous library. During the next 20 years Dr. Hooker had representatives in the various foreign countries to help him build what was known in 1935 as the most com plete chemical library in the world. At his death in 1935, the library was catalogued and offered for ' sale. The author first heard of this a t the Kansas City meeting of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL
SOCIETY, when it was announced by Charles L. Parsons in the Council meeting. Since the author was to take a position at Central College, where library facilities were inadequate, he felt that it presented an opportunity. Sidney W . Davidson, 2 Wall St., New York, executor for the estate, stated that the Hooker Library would not be broken. He had had three offers of $100,000 each for the entire library from industries, but it had been Dr. Hooker's request that it g o to some college or university, if possible, and preferably in the West. T h e author was able t o get a 24-hour option for Cen tral College. In order that Dr. Hooker's request might be fulfilled, the heirs of the Hooker estate contributed $30,000, and G. A. Pfeiffer and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pfeiffer of William R. Warner & Co., Inc., contributed the other $70,000 for the pur chase of the library. The Chemical Foundation paid for moving the library from N e w York t o Central College. Central College accepted the gift with out ascertaining the exact cost of main taining such a library, which proved greater than the college could afford. I n view of this, i n the fall of 1939 the author organized the Friends of the Hooker Scien tific Library: first, to create an endow ment fund for keeping t h e library up t o date; secondly, t o form an organization through which t h e library might have a greater function than serving a small d e nominational college. In the fail of 1940 Julian F . Smith, of D u Pont, was obtained
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to help make the library more serviceable. The service consisted of translations, ab stract work, searches, photocopies, etc. This organization continued until the spring of 1942 when the author accepted the chairmanship of the Department of Chemistry a t Wayne University, Detroit, Mich., on condition that he be permitted to try t o bring the Hooker Scientific Li brary t o Wayne University. In order to ascertain t h e feasibility of bringing the library to Detroit a committee was ap pointed by R. D . Hummel, Chairman of the Detroit Section of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY:
A. Edward Remick,
Chairman; R. B. Bennett, Edward Lyons, Lynne Merritt, A . H. Smith, L. A. Sweet, and T . H. Vaughn. After careful con sideration, this committee recommended (2) that if t h e chemists of Detroit were to spend $100,000 for a library, it be spent on a modern library. While reconsidering the proposition, the author obtained an option on t h e library from Central College until January 1, 1944, and established a branch of t h e Hooker Scientific Library at Wayne University. Since the emphasis of the report was that t h e library was not up to date, the author suggested a revised plan—that 3200,000 b e raised, the first $100,000 for purchasing the library, and the second $100,000 for bringing it up t o date and adding to i t , to make it once more the most complete chemical library in the world. The revised plan called for the library to be maintained by t h e university where it was located (5). This general plan was specifi cally presented t o some industries outside Detroit as well as in Detroit, with the result that $5,000 donations were quickly obtained from William R . Warner & Co., Inc., Hercules Powder Co., General Motors Corp., Ethyl Corp., and t h e Miner Estate of Detroit, with the provision that the total of $200,000 had t o be raised. During the summer of 1943 Central Col lege had t w o other offers of $100,000 each for t h e library, and i t was agreed t o try to close the option on October 20, 1943. T h e library committee, appointed by Mr. Hummel, accepted the revised plan and was unofficially enlarged t o include T. A. Boyd, S . M. Cadwell, G. Calingaert, S. E. Fox, C . E. Heussner, Mrs. Icie Macy Hoobler, O . Kamm* Harvey M. Merker, W. P . Putnam, G. F. Taylor, and C. R. Wiley. T h e author takes this opportunity to express his deepest appreciation to each of these members, through whose coopera tion the donations increased during September to $65,000. Since i t was evident* that larger dona tions than $5,000 were necessary, on Octo ber 2 , t h e author called o n the Kresge Foundation, and presented the matter t o
CHEMICAL
Stanley S. Kresge, w h o at once caught the vision of the possibilities of such a national library in Detroit. He took the matter up with his board, which authorized the gift of $100,000 on October 19 t o purchase the Hooker Scientific Library. This enabled the author to reach Central College on October 2 0 to draw up the contract. Since the Kresge Foundation had made a re markable gift a t such a strategic time, donors were unanimous in requesting that Kresge be included in the name of the library. Hence t h e library is known as the Kresge-Hooker Scientific Library. The names of the companies and indi viduals contributing the $200,000 are: AMERICAN CHEMICAL
SOCIETY
(Detroit
Local Section) Barnes» Gibson, and Raymond Bellfy, N . J . Bennett, R. B. Bird, E . J. Boyd, T. A. Breckel, A. H. Bundy Tubing Co. Burroughs Adding Machine Co. Cadwell, S. M. Car bol oy Co., Inc. Chrysler Corp.1 Commonwealth In dustries Dawson, F. G. Dearborn Chemical Co. DeNavarre, M. G. Detroit Edison Co. Detroit Harvester Co. Difco Laboratories, Inc. Donnelly, H. G. 1 Dow Chemical Co. Eberbach and Co. Ethyl Corp.» Evans Products Farrell, L. G. Federal Mogul Corp. Ferro Stamping Co. Gelatin Products Co.» General 1 Motors Corp. Hayes, W. G. Hercules Powder Co.* Hnizda, V. Hodge, E. S. Hoobler, Mrs. Icie Macy Hoobler, Dr. and Mrs. Sibley Houdaille - Herahey Corp. Jacobs, L. W. Jahoda, E. 1
Jamieson, C. E.„ and Co. Jarvis, W. B., Co. Jasper, Grace L. Jasper, J. J. Koehl, Eleanor Krauel, Kathryn E.1 Kresge Foundation Kumins, Charles A. Lamb, Frances W. Lyons, Edward Marce, R. E. McLouth Steel Corp. Merker, H. M. Michigan Bell Tele phone Co. Michigan Die Cast ing Co. Michigan Steel Cast ings Co. Miner Estate Nankervis, G. L., Co. Neilson Chemical Co. Parke, Davio & Co.1 Parker Rustproof Co. Remick, A. E. Roberta, James B. Rogers, Don Roser, W. Schaffer, C. F. Schelling, Victor Thompson, P. W. Tiffany, Β. Ε. Trivich, Dan Udylite Corp. United Chromium, Inc. United Platers, Inc. United States Rub ber Co. Wagner, A. T. C. Wandruff, Benjamin Warner, W. R., & Co., Inc.1 Weston, Β. Μ. Wojtowics, W. J. White Star Gasoline (Socony) Wyandotte 1 Chem icals Corp·
Gave $5,000 or more.
Plans are already made for housing t h e library, adding t o its holdings, and i n creasing its service. OONTUfUXD ON PAOI 9 7 8
A N D ENGINEERING
NEWS
(Situation» Wanted Continued) SALES or TECHNICAL SERVICE ENGINEER: 35 years old. Ch.E. degree. Back ground in organic chemicals, petroleum refining and process equipment. Desires position of real executive responsibility in sales or development work. New York vicinity preferred. Bos 94-Ν-Θ. Chem. Λ Eng. News, Easton, Pa. CHEMIST: 3 years' experience in inorganic laboratory and plant production work. Desires position in production or development. Capable and energetic. Location immaterial. Available because of decreased production, 26. 2-B. Bo» 95- Ν -6. Chem. & Eng. News, Easton. Pa. ORGANIC CHEMIST: Ph.D.. 1924. Two years' poet-doctorate training European univer sities. Eighteen year»* highly varied industrial research and development work, involving ex perience in planning, supervision, direction and patent prosecution: starch, cellulose, sugars, pro teins, bgnin, furfural, plywood, resins, rubber, coatings, adhesives. hydrogénation, complex organic synthesis, x-ray analysis. Capable of independent direction of pragmatic investigation along either fundamental or practical lines. Especially able in handling difficult personnel. Age 44. Married. Health excellent. Protestant, but without prejudice as to religion or race. Now employed but desire change. Will consider any suitable situation whether domestic or foreign. B o x 9 6 - N β, Chem. & Eng. News. Easton. Pa. ORGANIC CHEMIST: Chemical microscopist. Minor, physical. Taught university & col lege fifteen years. M.Sc, some work toward doctorate. Now employed, but not at highest •kill. Desire teaching, research, development. Midwest, South. Others considered. Box 106-N-6. Chem. & Kng. News. Easton, Pa. PROGRESSIVE FOOD MANUFACTURER, here is your research and development chemist. Permanent position wanted with Middle Western Firm that means business! Dry cereals, flour milling, baking, prepared mixes, new food de velopment and processing experience. Draft deferred, married. Box 120-N-6. Chem. & Eng. New». Easton. Pa. PHYSICAL CHEMIST: Ph.D.. with good knowledge of organic chemistry, former assistant of W. Nernst. over ten years of industrial and re search experience, experience in developing new processes from laboratory to production and of directing research program, various publications and patents, first class references, also familiar with Dandling of commercial problems, at ore resent engaged | _ τ- on research work desires responsible . 8 posi tion ui essential industry. Box 134-Ν-0. Chem. & Eng. News, Easton, Pa. PHYSICAL-ORGANIC CHEMIST: Proved record of ability in industrial research. Experi ence in plastics, drying oils and organic solvents; patents and processes developed. Want more responsible position. East or West coast, willing to go abroad. Present salary S5000. Young. Ph.D. Box 109-N-6, Chem. & Eng. News, Easton, Pa. MARKET RESEARCH: Physical chemist. Ph.D. 1940. Experienced in compounding syn thetic rubber. Limited experience in paint and heavy chemicals. Desires change to market development or technical service. Available June 15. Age 30. 2-B. Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma
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Box 114-N-6. Chem. & Eng. News, Easton, Pa. RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT CHEM IST: Ph.D.. 1940. Experience includes research in dyestuffs, intermediates and pharmaceuticals with specialisation in semi-plant work, full-scale processin ring and supervision. East coast area preferred. Box 122-N-6. Chem. & Eng. Newa. Easton. Pa. ORGANIC CHEMIST: Ph.D. in near future. Excellent scholastic record, proved research ability. Energetic, congenial. Desire position doing research in East. Draft 4-F. Age 23. Sigma Xi. Box 123-N-6. Chem. & Eng. News. Easton. Pa. CHEMIST SEEKING EXECUTIVE highestekill position in Application Research or Develop ment with moderate sise, established company doing 100% war work. Coatings, adhesives. sealing materials, rubber, plastics fabrication. Pilot plant and production supervision. Em* 'éd. M.S., some credits Ph.D. 2-A. 36, marploye ried. $5-6.000. Box 126-N-6. Chem. Φ Eng. Newa, Easton, Pa. ORGANIC CHEMIST: Ph.D.. 5 years' in dustrial experience; extensive work with fate and derivatives. Thorough background and experi ence in synthetic organic chemistry. Patenta and publications. Desires position in essential industry with post-war opportunities. Age 34. family, 2-A. location immaterial. Box 127-N-6. Chem. ât Eng. News, Easton, Pa. CHEMIST: B.S., 1941, 2Vt years* Chemical Warfare Service. Organic and inorganic analysis and research. Spectroscopy, glass-working. Age 29, Protestant, 4-F. Box 12S-N-6, Chem. & Eng. News. Easton. Pa. ORGANIC BIOCHEMIST: Excellent analytical background. 5 years' industrial and research experience. 28 years old. Available with WMC release for war work. Box 129-N-6. Chem. & Eng. News. Easton. Pa.
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Synthetic Resins. Varnishes, Oils Printing Inks orbackground Allied Fields Ph.D.. with exceptional andChemist. valuable experi ence in research, development new processes, pro duction, management, desires directive or research with progressive company. Greater New Çosition 'ork or adjacent area. Age 45. Minimum $500. available on reasonable notice. Box 53-N-6, C h e m . & E n g . N e w s , Easton, P a . CHEMIST: Ph.D. (Inorganic), available for summer work. Well-grounded in other branches. College teaching experience. New York or vicinity. Box 130-N-6, Chem. &. Eng. News. Easton. Pa. ORGANIC CHEMIST: Ph.D.. XT. 7( ÏÏÏ. Completing 3 years' post-doctorate experience at large university doing diversified synthetic work. including cstalytic oxidations, pyrolyses, etc. Single, age 28. 4-F. Desire industrial research osition. Available Sept. ox 131-N-6. Chem. & Eng. News. Easton. Pa. CHEMIST: B. CHEM.. Cornell University. 1941. Some research training. Two years' experience routine gas analysis. Single, age 23, draft 4-F. Publication. Desire position offering opportunity for advancement and post-war future. Prefer Pittsburgh or New York-NewJersey area. Present salary $2100. Box 135-N-6. Chem. & Eng. News. Easton, Pa. CHEMIST-PHYSICIST on permanent staff of accredited university seeks position of greater scope and responsibility in either research or teaching or both of these fields. Box 136-N-6, Chem. & Eng. News. Easton, Pa. TEXTILE-CHEMIST, over 15 years of practical experience with leuding dyeing and finishing organizations as research chemist desires connections with progressive organizations. Experienced in formulating special finishes for the textile, metal and leather processing industries. Draft exempt. Box 137-N-6. Chem. & Eng. Newa. Easton, Pa. CHEMICAL ENGINEER: M.S. Eight years' experience industrial research and development. Desires essential research or production position with post-war future. Age 33, 2-B, married, Protestant. Release available. Box 140-N-6. Chem. & Eng. News. Easton, Pa. PHYSICAL CHEMIST: Ph.D.. 14 years' research in high pressure synthesis, phase equilibria. pH measurement*, pétrographie microscopy, ceramics. Good educational background in organic chemistry. Numerous publications: patents. 35, married. 2 children, 2-A. Box 141-N-6. Chem. Φ Eng. News. Easton. Pa. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING EXECU TIVE: Ch.E., M.S., desires permanent position as production, factory or development manager with progressive company. Colleté graduate, 42. draft exempt, with 17 years' experienc in research, design, development, pilot plant operation, process development, plant layout, technical sales, post-war product development and every phase of production administration. Experience covers natural and synthetic rubbers and resins, latices. dispersions, colloids, detergents, cosmetics, textiles, pile fabrics, clastic yarns, insulated cables and monafilantenU. Numerous patents. Many processes developed and in production. Will consider foreign assignment. Box 139-N-6. Chem. Φ Eng. News, Easton, Pa.
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SITUATIONS WANTED
