TEXAS CHEMICAL LABORATORIESTHEN and NOW' HARRISON HALE University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Arkansas
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EFORE the Civil War there seem to have been in all the United States, west of the Mississippi River, only fourteen recognized chemical laboratories (I). Three of these were in Texas. The Educational Directory for 1937 lists in this one state alone twenty-four universities and senior colleges and thirtyseven junior colleges (2). Probably all of these include chemistry in the curriculum. In view of this contrast it should be interesting a t this first national meeting of the American Chemical Society on Texas soil to compare b r i d y the situation then and now. St. Louis University seems to have been the oldest of all these educational institutions and the first to teach chemistry. The earliest date given for instruction in chemistry is 1827, actual instruction in other subjects beginning in 1818, the year this institution was founded. Professor J. P. Coony, after a study of old catalogs, thinks 1831 was the earliest date. In 1829 chemistry was first taught a t Centenary College of Louisiana, which has been a t Shreveport since 1908. At the time of its founding in 1825 the college was a t Jackson, just east of the Mississippi River. In the University of Missouri founded in 1839 chemistry was first taught either in 1842 or 1840. From a catalog of Ruterville College issnpd in 1841 it appears that chemistry was first taught in Texas a t Ruterville in 1841 by the Rev. C. W. Thomas, A.B. The college had been founded the previous year. This was only five years after Texas became a republic and four years before i t was a part of the United States. This institution became Wesleyan College in 1844, McKenzie College in 1848, Soule University in 1856, and finally Southwestern University a t Georgetown in 1872. Johnston's revision of Turner's "Chemistry" was the text first used (3). Baylor University was founded February 1, 1845, actual instruction beginning a t Independence on May 8, 1846. Chemistry was first taught in 1851 by the Reverend J. B. Stiteler, A.M., who gave lectures to the students in connection with the regular recitation. Johnston's revision of Turner's text was used. Miss Hamett Davis taught chemistry in the "Female Division" in 1851 (4). Baylor University has been a t Waco since 1868.
In 1853 three western institutions are reported to have begun the teaching of chemistry in the regular college work: Iowa College a t Grinnell, Tulane University of Louisiana, and Austin College a t Sherman, Texas (5). In the Medical School a t Tulane chemistry was taught as early as 1834. It is possible that instruction a t Iowa College was begun in 1850. Austin College was founded in 1849, and actual instruction began the next year. This may have included chemistry, since it is listed in the curriculum in the catalog published in 1853. In regard to apparatus this catalog states (6): By the liberality of a distinguished gentleman in New York, the college is now in possession of a splendid Chemical and Philosophical apparatus. This enables the professor, who fills the chair of mathematics and Natural science, to exhibit before his class, experiments and demonstrations highly interesting and instructive. .
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The earliest recordof a text is in f857, when it is stated that Turner's Chemistry was used. This probably refers to Johnston's revision of Turner's text and it is interesting that all three of the early Texas institutions used the same text. It is surely noteworthy that of the 6ist eight chemical laboratories west of the Mississsippi River in institutions still in existence, three of them were in Texas. That this interest in chemistry continues today is evidenced by the twenty-three reports, a summary of which is given (see Table 1). These came from all but one of the universities and senior -colleges listed in the Educational Directory as Texas institutions, showing a high percentage of promptness, efficiency, and courtesy. To those furnishing this information, whose names are given in Table 1, the gratitude and appreciation of the author are expressed. These reports show six buildings for instruction in chemistry, all built within the last twenty-one years. Besides, there are a dozen or more science buildings. Most of these institutions maintain a chemical library or reading room. The totals are impressive, not only for Texans, who usually seem quite conscious of the greatness of their great state, but for all chemists. A chemical faculty well over one hundred, nearly twelve thousand students, approximately four hundred thousand square feet of floor space (more than eight acres) Presented before the Division of Chemical Education at the ninety-fifthmeeting of the A. C. S., Dallas. Texas, April 19. 1938. with equipment and buildings expressed in millions of
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The three Texas chemical laboratories before the Civil War are noteworthy and indicate the early interest in chemistry; the many laboratories with modern equip-
ment, thoroughly trained faculties and large numbers of students now are not only significant, but furnish a firm basis for the great and growing industries of the state.
REFERENCES,
(1) HALE, "Early chemical laboratories west of the Mississippi River," J. CHEM.EDUC.,14.62-5 (1937). (2)IEducational Directory. 1937. Par€ 111-Colleges and Uni. .versities, including 911 institutions of higher ed;cation, p. 6 and p. 60. Bulletin 1937, No. 1, U. S. Department of Interior, Office of Education, Washington Government Printina Office. (3) ~nformati& furnished by Professor J. C. Godbey, Head of Chemistry Department, Southwestern University.
(4) Information furnished by Miss Amy LeVesconte, Professor of Chemistry, Mary Hsrdin-Baylor College. (5) Circulars of Informatinn . . CLARKE.FRANKWIGGLESWORTH: of the Bureau of Education. No. 6-1880. A Reoort on the Teaching of Chemistry and Physics in the-united States. Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881. (6) ~~~-~ Prnfeqwr . . Information furnished bv Professor P. S. Wharton. of Chemistry, Austin ~ollege. (7) Personal correspondence. March 11. 1938. ~
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