Notes and Correspondence: The Industrial Fellowships of the Mellon

Notes and Correspondence: The Industrial Fellowships of the Mellon Institute. R. Bacon. Ind. Eng. Chem. , 1919, 11 (4), pp 371–374. DOI: 10.1021/ie5...
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Apr.3 1919

T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y

371

I

NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE,

THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRIAL FELLOWSHIP SYSTEM’ 13,000 MEMBERS! Bach succeeding year i t has been our privilege to report AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY progressive growth in both the number of Industrial FellowThis is the Secretary’s ambition for 1919. With your help it can be done. Please remember, however, that I need your ships in operation and the amounts subscribed for their support. help, that I will appreciate it, and that I expect you t o send me This makes evident the coddence which industrialists have an application blank with the name a t the top of some chemist in the Mellon Institute and the genuine value t o industry of the who has decided t o join the AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETY, Industrial Fellowship System. The following table presents the number of Industrial Fellowand with your name at the bottom recommending his election. CHEMICAL ships which have been founded in the Institute from March t o A chemist who is not a member of the AMERICAN SOCIBTY must feel lonesome; others realize, if he does not, that March of each year, 1911 t o 1919; the number of Industrial he is not doing his part toward the advancement of the profession Fellows (research chemists and engineers) who have been employed thereon; and the total amounts of money contributed upon which his own welfare depends. CHARLESI,. PARSONS, Secretary for their maintenance by the Industrial Fellowship donors (industrialists and associations of manufacturers).

THE INDUSTRIAL FELLOWSHIPS OF THE MELLON INSTITUTE The Industrial Pellowship System, formulated by the late Dr. Robert Kennedy Duncan in 1906,’ and primarily placed in experimental operation at the University of Kansas in January 1907,’ was inaugurated at the University of Pittsburgh in September 1911.8 I n March 1913, Messrs. Andrew William Mellon and Richard Beatty Mellon, bankers of Pittsburgh, established it on a permanent basis at that institution. Thus while the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, the home of this successful system of practical coliperation between science and industry, is an integral part of the University of Pittsburgh and operates in close sympathetic accord with it, i t possesses an endowment of its own and is under its own management. According t o this system of research, an industrialist, a company, or a n association of manufacturers having a problem or group of problems requiring investigation may become the donor of an Industrial Fellowship by contributing t o the Mellon Institute a definite amount of money, for a period of not less than one year. This foundation sum must be adequate for the purchase of all necessary special apparatus or other equipment as well as t o furnish the annual stipend of the research man or men selected t o work on the particular problem, the solution of which is of interest t o the donor. The Institute houses the investigatory work, furnishes i t with the use of its permanent equipment, affords library and consultative facilities, gives careful direction t o the progress of the research, and provides an atmosphere which is conducive t o productive inquiry. All results obtained during the course of the Industrial Fellowship belong exclusively t o the donor. The main object of the Institute is t o supply for competent investigators every incentive and the most favorable opportunities for fruitful research in the physical sciences and technology, and t o make science subserve the practical needs of industry. It is not, in any sense of the word, of a commercial nature, being entirely independent and deriving no financial profit from any investigation conducted under its auspices. This system constitutes a tried method of combatting pseudo-research in industry, for the cost factor is reduced t o a minimum: by it the Mellon Institute, which is national in its activities, has been able t o demonstrate t o American manufacturers that industrial research, properly carried out, is profitable t o thern.4 North American Review, May 1907; “The Chemistry of Commerce,” 1907, 241; and “Some Chemical Problems of To-day,’’ 1911, 224; see also J . Sac. Chem. I n d . , 28 (1909),684. Duncan, THISJOURNAL, 3 (1911), 177; J . Frank. Inst., 1913, 43; Harper’s Mag., 126 (19131,385; and Bacon, THISJOURNAL, 7 (1915), 343. Bacon, J . Frank. Inst., 1914, 623; and THISJOURNAL, 7 (1915), 343. For demonstrations of the value of research, see Hamor, Sci. Man., 1 (1915), 86, Ibid.. 6 (1918), 324: and Bacon, Sci. A m , Mar. 17, 1917, 281.

MARCHTO Number of MARCH Fellowshios 1911-1912 ................. 1 1 1912-1913 16 21 1913-1 9 14. 21 191e1915 36 1915-1916 42 1916-1917.. 42 1917-1918 47 1918-1919

................. ................ ................. ................. ............... ................. .................

Number of Fellows 24 30 37 32 63 65 64 77

Amounts Contributed $ 39,700 54,300 78,400 61,200

126,800 149,100 172,000 238,245

The total amount of money contributed by industrial firms t o the Institute for the 8 years ending March I, 1919, was $919,745. During the 8 years, the Institute itself expended over $330,000 in taking care of overhead expenses-salaries of members of permanent staff and office force, maintenance of building, apparatus, etc.-in connection with the operation of the Industrial Fellowships. Besides this amount, the building and permanent equipment of the Institute, which make i t the most complete and modern industrial experiment station in the country, represent an investment of aboui $350,000.p As indicated in previous reports, when the industrial Fellowship System passed out of its experimental stage-when the Mellon Institute took possession of its permanent home in February 1915--23 fellowships were in operation,’ while on March I, 1918, there were 42 fellowship^.^ It was mentioned in the report for 1916,s when 36 fellowships were in operation, that the growth of the Institute had about reached the stage where i t would become necessary to decline further industrial investigations temporarily, since our laboratories were almost filled up t o capacity. Notwithstanding that fact, the impetus imparted t o the investigational activity in American chemical manufacturing, the direct result oE the appreciation of urgent action in industrial research, induced us t o arrange for the acceptance of 6 new fellowships during the Institute year, March I, 1916, t o March I, 1917~6and 5 other fellowships during the past Institute year. A t the present time (March I , 1919) there are 47 fellowships7 and 5 additional ones have recently been arranged for, to ,begin just as soon as the necessary laboratory space can be provided. TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL FELLOWSHIPS

The Industrial Fellowships are of two general types, vis., Individual and Multiple. An Individual Fellowship utilizes the 1 For previous reports on the status of the system of cotiperation between science and industry in operation at the Mellon Institute, see Duncan, Scrence. N. S.,39 (1914), 672; Bacon, Ibid., 43 (1916). 453;Ibid., 46 (1917), JOURNAL, 10 (1918), 399; and Weidlein, Ibid., 47 (1918),447; see also THIS 401. * For a detailed description of the home of the Mellon Institute, see Hamor, THISJOURNAL, 7 (1915),333. * On the status of the Industrial Fellowship System in 1915,see Bacon, Ibid., 343;and J . SOG. Chem. I n d . , 86 (1916), No. 1 4 See Weidlein, Lac. cil. 6 Bacon, Science, N . S., 43 (1916),453. Bacon, Ibid., 46 (1917)‘ 399. ‘See appended list,



372

T H E JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY

Vol.

11,

No. 4

by the Institute in monthly installments to the holder of this Fellowship, in such amount as may be agreed upon by the Institute and the Fellow concerned, and expended for such apparatus, chemicals, and other supplies related to this research as the Director of the Institute may deem necessary for its efficient operation, and for traveling expenses related to the elucidation of the problems concerned. The Fellow shall be provided, at the expense of the Institute, with a separate laboratory, with the advice and direction of the administrative officers of the Institute, and with the general facilities of the Institute. The Company, on its part, shall cooperate with the Institute Company-Member8 in this research by providing the Director thereof and the Names No. in Associations Fellow of this Fellowship with its sympathy and with whatever 1 5 1 . . ..................... Leather belting 40 Refractories 152. ...................... 84 knowledge of the subjects of research it may possess, and, on 153.. ..................... Canning 71 approval of the Company, with its factory facilities for large158.. ..................... Leather soling 60 scale experimentation. 167. ...................... Magnesia 4 I 7 1 ....................... Asbestos 10 3-The holder of the Fellowship provided hereunder shall be 1 7 3 . . ..................... Fiber 20 appointed by the Committee of Management of the Institute 185.. ..................... Insecticides 9 189.. ..................... Laundry 2500 upon the nomination of the Director in accordance with the terms of his formal letter of application to and as approved by Industrial Fellowships established by associations of manu- the Director, and he shall give his whole time and attention facturers not only enable the Institute to be of direct service to to the object of the Fellowship, with the exception, if the Director groups of industrial concerns instead of to individual companies, so elect, of three hours a week which he shall give to instructional work in the University of Pittsburgh. The Fellow shall work but their successful operation also gives rise to more stable under the advice and direction of the Director and shall, from relations of cooperation among the company-members of these time to time, through the Director, forward to the Company associations by the induction of the reciprocal exchange of reports of the progress of his work. During the existence of the Fellowship provided hereunder the Company shall have the experience and research results. right, through and with the acquiescence of the Director, to Several of the Multiple Fellowships now in operation (Nos. employ and take into its regular service the Fellow of this 160, 169, and 190) have been effectively a t work since the founda- Fellowship, upon terms to be agreed upon between the Fellow tion of the Institute, while most of the Individual Fellowships and the Company. +-The Institute, a t the expiration of this Fellowship, shall have been promoted continuously for the past 3 years. The return to the Company any money paid to it by the Company larger Multiple Fellowships (especially Nos. 152, 169, 183, 184. in case any thereof shall remain unexpended for the purpose of and 190) are so well established and so distinctive in their fields this Fellowship; or if a new Fellowship then be established in the Institute by the Company any unexpended money of this of inquiry that they are not uncommonly regarded as independent may be transferred to the account of the new Felloworganizations, and several of them have, in fact, been mistaken Fellowship ship. for the Mellon Institute as a whole. These misapprehensions 5-Any and all discoveries made by the Fellow during the are the result of the existing favorable relations of the Fellow- term of this Fellowship, as well as all information obtained by him ships to the Institute, which, when the donors so desire, secure germane to the subjects of his investigation, shall become the property of the Company, subject to the terms and provisions to them a degree of autonomy which could hardly be surpassed of this Agreement, and the Fellow making such discovery or under other conditions. The liberties of action, thus designedly obtaining such information shall promptly and without demand and freely conceded wherever possible, have done much to ensure make revelation of all such information and discoveries. Such the constantly successful conduct of the Industrial Fellowships. revelations shall be made to the duly designated representatives the Company directly, or through the Director, as the Director It is of interest to note here that the incumbents of the larger of may determine. Industrial Fellowships are recognized generally as experts in 6-The Fellow of this Fellowship making a discovery or inthe specific branches of technology in which they are carrying vention germane to the subjects of his investigation shall, a t out investigations. any time, at the option and expense of the Company, apply for letters patent, and shall upon demand assign such letters patent and any and all rights to such invention to the Company under THE INDUSTRIAL FELLOWSHIP AGREEMENT the conditions of this Agreement. In case the Company desires Each fellowship which is accepted by the Institute is the to keep secret such discovery or invention, or for any reason desires that letters patent shall not be applied for, the Fellow subject of a definite agreement between the industrialist, com- shall not a t any time apply for patent or patents in his own name pany, or association of manufacturers concerned and the In- and shall not disclose such discovery or invention to others stitute. The following is the form of agreement now in use by except as herein provided. 7-The Company shall, in addition to the sum paid to the the Institute:’ FOR. ....................... INDUSTRIAL FELLOW-Institute as foundation for the Fellowship, pay to the Fellow AGREEMENT a maximum cash bonus of.. . . . . . . . . ..dollars ($. . . . . . . . ..) or SHIP N o . . . . . . . .This Agreement made and entered into this any part thereof which in the opinion of the Board of Arbitra... .day of.. ..... . ~ g . .., between Mellon Institute of the tion (hereinafter provided for) is deserved by the Fellow of this University of Pittsburgh, of the City OP Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hereinafter called the “Institute,” and. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship, and the amount of this payment and the time or times of payment shall be decided by the Board of Arbitration of. ..................... , hereinafter called the (“Company”) upon application of either of the parties hereto. (“Association”) (“Exchange”) (“Donor”), 8-In the event of any difference of opinion between the WITNESSETH:That for the purpose of promoting the increase of useful knowledge, the parties hereto agree as follows: parties hereto as to the interpretation of this Agreement, or the rights of the respective parties to this Agreement, the matters I-The Company shall pay to the Institute (annually) in in issue shall be referred to a Board of Arbitration, which Board advance for a period o f . . .year(s), beginning on.......... shall consist of a representative of the Institute and a repre1 9 . . ... ., (the date on which work is commenced), the sum of sentative of the Company and a third person whom these two ......... .dollars ($. ...... .), for the foundation of an In- shall select. The decision of this Board shall be obtained withdustrial Fellowship to be known a s . . ........................ out recourse to the courts and when rendered shall be binding INDUSTRIAL FELLOWSHIP No.. ............ the exclusive pur- upon the parties hereto. pose of which is ........................................... 9-During the term of this Fellowship, the holder thereof a-The Institute shall accept the sums so to be furnished by may publish such results of his investigation as do not, in the the Company and shall devote them to the furtherance of the opinion of the Company, injure its interests. On or before. . . . problems of this Fellowship; and to this end all money received . . . . . . .., I?.. ... ., the holder thereof shall have completed a from the Company under this Agreement shall be paid over comprehensive monograph on the subjects of his research. The subject matter of such monograph shall not contain specific 1 This form has replaced the one described in THISJOURNAL. 7 (1915). information of the process or methods of the Company, but it 343 services of one research man, directly responsible to the Administration, while a Multiple Fellowship has the intensive work of one or more investigators under the supervision of a Senior Fellow, who, in turn, is under the direction of the administrative staff, There are now (March I, 1919) 35 Individual and twelve Multiple Fellowships. Of these two types, the following have been founded by associations:

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T H E JOURiVAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y

AV., 1919

I N D U S T R I AL

.

FE~LOWSHIPS I N OPERATION

NAMESOF

No.

INDUSTRIAL FELLOWSHIPS

117 127 129 145 150 151 152

Window Glass Collar Illuminating Glass Soap Enameling Leather Belting Refractories

153 154 155 156 157

Canning Paper Protected Metals Physiological Research Dental Products

158 159

Leather Soling Copper

160

Oil

161 162

Glass Gas

163

Aluminum

164 165

Alloy Coffee

166 167

Food Container Magnesia

168

Yeast

169

Copper

170

Household Utilities

171 172 173 174

Asbestos Silicate Fiber Glycerin

175 176 177 178 179 180

Light Metals Fuel Toilet Articles Silverware Organic Solvents Keratin

181

Synthetic Resins

182

By-products Recovery

183-A

Organic Synthesis

183-B

Organic Synthesis

184

Coke

185 186

Insecticides Fertilizer

187 188 189

Glue Distillation Laundry

190

Bread

191

Fruit Beverages

INDUSTRIAL

AT THE

MELLONINSTITUTE ON MARCH1, 1919

FOUNDATION SUMS

FELLOWS. NAMES,AND DEGREES

Fellow to be appointed H. D. Clavton IB.A.. Ohio State Universitv) A,. H. Stewart (B,A,,’Washington and Jefferson College) Fellow to be appointed R . D Cooke (M.S University of Wisconsin) P. G.’ McVetty (lk’:E., Cornel1 University), Senior Fellow R. A . Edson (B. A. Clark College) R. M. Howe (M.S.,’University of Pittsburgh), Senior Fellow R. M. Burchfiel (B.A.. Southwestern Collece) E. N. Jessop (B.S., University of Pittsburghj S. M Phelps Assistant M R‘. Daugh’ters (M.A. University of Nebraska); 2nd Fellow to b#eappointed Howard Curtis (B.A. Washington and Jefferson College) J. H . Young (Ph.D.;bhio State University) K. K . Jones (M.S., Kansas State Agricultural College) C. C. Vogt (Ph.D., Ohio State University) C. B. Carter (Ph.D. University of North Carolina) C I,. Perkins (B.S. ’New Hampshire College) R: E. Sayre (M.S ’University of Wisconsin) W. F. Faragher (