December 20, 1928
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Obituary Charles James Charles James, professor of chemistry and head of the Chemical Department of the University of N e w Hampshire, died, following an operation, at t h e Deaconess Hospital, Boston, on December 10. His loss will be felt inter nationally, and the progress of inorganic chemistry will be re tarded, for in the field of the rare earths he had no superior and few, if any, equals. H e was born April 27, 1880, at Earls Barton near Northampton, England. H e studied w i t h R a m s a y a t University College, a n d graduated from the Institute of Chemistry in 1904, becoming a Fellow in 1907. He came t o t h e United States in 1906 and was first employed as a chemist for t h e National Refining Co., going t h e same year as instructor t o N e w Hampshire College, being promoted t o full p r o f e s s o r i n charge of t h e department in 1912, a n d receiving from the University o f N e w Hampshire the honor a r y degree of doctor of science in Dr. Charles James 1928. Doctor James was a member of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, T h e Chemical Society (London), and Alpha Chi Sigma. H e was awarded t h e Ramsay silver medal in 1901 and received the Nichols Medal in 1911. H e was t h e author of over sixty papers published i n the Journal of the American Chemical Society, chiefly in t h e field of t h e rare earths. H e also contributed to m a n y other scientific chemical journals and wrote the articles on rare earths and metals for the l a s t edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Doctor James leaves a widow, n e e Marian E . Templeton, for merly of Exeter, Ν . Η., and one daughter. Except for the very retiring nature of Professor James, he would have held many positions of honor and would have received far more recognition than w a s his l o t . His work and his friendly, helpful nature deserved it. He preferred t o stay in his labora tory, often until late at night, or work among his flowers rather than attend meetings or make n e w acquaintances. A few in the Northeastern Section, whose meetings he did attend, and those of us who were fortunate enough t o come in close contact with him personally, have lost a sincere friend who was always a pleasant companion as well as a n inspiration. H e was devoted t o flowers and preferred a vacation among the orchids of Hon duras, or t h e like, to a n y other relaxation. His home was sur rounded w i t h delphiniums, in which he specialized. His income was divided between building greenhouses and flower beds and t h e purchase of rare minerals, almost from the ends of the earth, to furnish t h e rare earths to which his professional life was de voted. W i t h t h e rare earths he worked with kilograms, where others h a v e dealt in grams. H e left a large, important, and valuable collection in Durham, besides furnishing quantities to others for their researches. I t is doubtful if there is anywhere in t h e world a more complete collection of the rare earths than he left in Durham. It is t o be hoped that some one of his pupils, and some o n e who is thoroughly competent, will make it a labor of love t o see t h a t t h e y are carefully preserved and labeled. M a n y of them have been separated to a degree of purity not before accomplished. T h e writer remembers distinctly that a t the time the discovery of lutecium was announced from France Professor James was about t o publish his own discovery of t h e element on which he had been working for months, a n d of which he had accumulated a large amount. He would have published the results of his dis covery sooner save for his determination to print no statements that had n o t been verified. The announcement of the discovery by another was a natural disappointment to him, but only one or two of his associates ever knew of t h e fact. The publication having been made and being correct, h e accepted it without question and made n o claim whatever for his own work. So far as the writer is aware, his published work has never been questioned by those in t h e same field. When t h e discovery of illinium w a s announced, he had spectro graphs showing t h e lines but did n o t consider himself justified in publishing t h e discovery. The situation was much the same w i t h him a s it w a s in t h e case of lutecium, except that with lutecium he
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had in hand a much larger quantity of t h e highly purified m a terial. Doctor James possessed an unusual technic in preparing large quantities of rare metals. He prepared rubidium, cesium, lithium, uranium, and beryllium compounds in considerable quantities for other research laboratories in this country. H i s aid will be missed by many who had the good fortune to know him. Doctor James was always referred to as "King" James by his students and associates. In fact, he was more frequently ad dressed by t h i s nickname than b y his own. Those who had the privilege to s t u d y under him and those who were associated with him, as was the writer for some years, will all acknowledge t h e inspiration t h e y received from his companionship and his knowl edge, and will long remember a friend who cannot be replaced. CHARLES
L..
PARSONS
American Ceramic Week The American Ceramic Exposition will be held in connection with the annual conventions of the American Ceramic Society, the Common Brick Manufacturers' Association of America, and other affiliated organizations and trade associations, in the Exhi bition Hall of the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, Ill., February 4 t o 9, 1929. In addition, there will b e buyers, department store man agers, and agents present, and during certain hours each day, the exposition will be open to t h e buying public. The exhibits will be of two distinct types: (1) all types of manufactured ceramic products made of glass, enamel, pottery, clay, etc.; and (2) all types of machinery, equipment, supplies, and raw materials which are used in the manufacture of ceramic products. The convention program will be so arranged that part of each day will be devoted to t h e inspection of exhibits.
Ruling, on Dye Standards In a case brought by the Sandoz Chemical Works, t h e United States Court of Customs Appeals has held that t h e word "color" as applied t o dyes in t h e Tariff Act of 1922 means a shade, and not a name. Three dyes were imported as "xylene milling blue B. L. conc.," "azo rubinol 3 G S conc.," and "chloramine blue 3G conc.," and were assessed at 7 cents per pound and 4 5 per cent a d valorem, the weight being computed b y the lowest known commercial strengths of t h e dyes multiplied by their strength when imported. This was done under t h e paragraph of the a c t which provides that the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish lists of standard strengths of dyes for u s e in such computations. The names of the three d y e s imported did n o t appear o n the list in force at the time of importation, b u t the collectors found t h e dyes to be the same as those bearing other names on this list. T h e importer pro tested that, since the dyes were not named on the official list, they should be assessed on the actual weight.
Chemical Industries Corp. Formed The Chemical Industries Corp. has been organized for the purpose of acquiring, i n whole or i n part, an interest in grow ing companies in the chemical and drug trade. Charter has been granted b y the state of Delaware. Capitalization of the new company consists of 250,000 shares of no par value. Arthur D . Mendes, of A. D. Mendes & Co., Inc., is chairman of the board; Victor C. Bell, president; and Maurice M. Minton, Jr., vice president and general manager.
Drug Research Bureau Endorsed by N. A. R. D. The executive committee of the National Association of Retail Druggists has endorsed the work of t h e Druggists' Research Bureau and has reappointed James E. Finneran, Julius H . Reimenschneider, and Ambrose Hunsberger as its representatives on the directing committee of t h e bureau. An appropriation for financial support of t h e bureau has also been authorized.
Calendar of Meetings American Ceramic Exposition—Stevens Hotel, Chicago, Ill., February 4 t o 9, 1929. American Chemical Society—77th Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, April 2 9 t o May 3 , 1929. Seventh Colloid Symposium—Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., June 20 t o 22, 1929. American Electrochemical Society—Toronto, Canada, M a y 27 to 29, 1929. American Institute of Chemical Engineers—Midyear Meeting, Philadelphia, Pa., June 19, 20, and 21, 1929.
