INDUSTRIAL and ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
NEWS EDITION Vol. 1 5 , No. 1 0
MAY 20, 1937
V o l . 29, C o n s e c u t i v e N o . 2 0
Published b y t h e American Chemical Society Harrison E. Howe, Editor Publication Office t Easton, P a . Cable: Jiochem (Washington)
Telephone: Telephone:
Editorial Office: R o o m 706 Mills Building, Washington, D . C . Advertising D e p a r t m e n t : 332 West 42nd Street, N e w York, N . Y .
National 0848 Bryant 9-4430
The American Chemical Society Has Elected Fifty Presidents Harrison Hale, University o f Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.
CHARLES L E E REEHE
ROGER ADAMS
(1034)
EDWARD BARTOW
(1936)
(1935)
F have completed
and again in 1921 and 1922. Thirty-nine have b e e n elected for one year. For the five men most recently chosen these facts are of interest: The average age at time of service is 55. Of the thirty-two Past Presidents who are no longer with us the average age at death was 73. Only one President of
OUNDED in 1876, the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY will
in 1938 sixtythree years of existence. It will have been served as president by fifty distinguished men. The present system of choosing a president more than a year before he takes office is excellent, but it makes it practically impossible for a man to serve more than one term. This system was introduced in 1928. Before its adoption nine men (Hunt, Chandler, Wiley, Dudley, Bogert, Little, Herty, Nichols, and Norris) served two consecutive terms, and two had served three terms. Booth's service was consecutive in 1883-85, while Edgar F. Smith was president in 1895
the
SOCIETY
has died
before
reaching 60. Four have died within the last year. Munroe, the seventeenth president, at 88 is the oldest living Past President in years and in time of service, and is the sole surviving charter member of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. FRANK CLIFFORD WHITMORE
EDWARD R A T WEIDLEIN
(1938)
(1937)
It is impossible t o give in any detail the work of this most in-
Statistics o f Presidents of t h e American Chemical Society4 Xo. 46 47 48 49 50
YEAR 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938
No.
AGE
NAME
Charles Lee Reese Roger Adams Edward Bartow Edward Ray Weidlein Frank Clifford Whitmore OCCUPATION
D A T E OF BIRTH
BIRTHPLACE
EDUCATION
1862 1889 1870 1887 1887
Baltimore. Md. Boston, Mass. Glenham, N. V. Augusta, Kans. North Attleboro, Mass.
Ph.D., Virginia, '84; Heidelberg, '86; Gottingen, '86 A.B., Harvard, '09; Ph.D., Berlin. '12 A.B., Williams, '92; Ph.D., Gottingen, '95 A.B., Kansas, '09; M.A.. '10 A.B., Harvard, '11; A.M., '12; Ph.D., '14
RESIDENCE
SPECIAL FIELD o r CHEMISTRY
Wilmington, Del. 74 46 Ind. Chemist Urbana, 111. 46 47 Teacher Iowa City, Iowa 66 48 Teacher Pittsburgh, Pa. 50 49 Director State College, Pa. 51 50 Dean a Similar data for the others are given in an earlier article [See Hale and Nelson, 118 (1933;].
221
REMARKS
Director, du Pont, Adv. Bd. CWS Industrial University of Illinois, Major CWS Organic Sanitary State University of Iowa, Lt. Col. CWS Industrial Director Mellon Institute. War Ind. Bd. Organic School of Chemistry and Physics, Adv. Com. CWS "Presidents of the American Chemical Society," IND. ENO. CHBM., 25, 110-
222
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
teresting group. Their published papers, generally on chemistry but some on a wide variety of subjects, are estimated at five thousand and their books at several hundred. I t is a record of achievement that the SOCIETY has had fifty men of such caliber at its head across the years. Nine were born abroad and at least thirty-four received part of their training abroad. Fifteen states have furnished Presidents—Massachusetts with eleven and New York with nine leading. Only three were born west of the Mississippi River—two in Kansas and one in Iowa. Five foreign institutions and twentythree American colleges have conferred bachelor's degrees on these men. Only about one-third of the American institutions are state universities. Harvard, with nine such degrees, leads. The degrees of doctor of philosophy have been earned at half a dozen American universities, Harvard and Johns Hopkins having the largest number. Doctor's degrees from institutions in Germany are more numerous than from those in the United States. Residence while President includes fifteen states and the District of Columbia; New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Illinois leading and together including thirty-two Presidents, nearly twothirds of the total. An approximate classification of occupations while President shows thirty-five teachers, four each under commercial laboratory, chemical manufacturer, and industrial research, and three government chemists. T h e percentage of teachers shows a tendency to decrease.
VOL. 15, NO. 10
Rochester Next
I
F EVERYONE who wants to be there C a n Rochester Beat I t s Record? should attend the fall meeting of the Rochester is now preparing for its fourth SOCIETY to be held in Rochester beginning Labor Day, September 6, t h e ac- national meeting. It can choose between resting on the laurels it has gained, commodations would be far overtaxed. Rochester has built up a fine tradition for or it can improve what already stand as records. Someone has said, "What can AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY meetings, a tradition which increases the registra- be done, has been done. We must now do tion at each succeeding meeting and leaves the impossible." This is a challenge to the ever greater numbers of chemists with re- Rochester Section. Will it accept? Rochester did not become a leader in grets when they are unable to attend. Rochester was the first inland city to the production of optical goods, temperature measuring and recording devices, entertain the national SOCIETY. That was in 1892 and the meeting was held in co- photographic materials, glass-lined steel tanks, men's clothing, canned foods, and a operation with the American Association host of other items by resting on its laurels. for the Advancement of Science. The 1913 meeting, held when the Roch- Rumors filtering out of Rochester already ester Section was only a year old, set indicate that the standards of AMERICAN new standards for meetings of the SO- CHEMICAL SOCIETY meetings are going to a CIETY, and the smoker which was one of new high. Details are not yet available, but a little the events has never been forgotten by bird whispered that the ladies who attend those who attended. will be pleasantly surprised. There will In the Proceedings of the SOCIETY for October of that year are the statements: be a banquet that will be followed by a dance and a public meeting of extraordiThe smoker will long be remembered by nary appeal and interest. The scientific program will, of course, be what the those who attended. No member who was present at the chemists of the country themselves make it. No one questions its quality. A meetRochester meeting of the AMERICAN CHEMIing in an industrial center not more CAL SOCIETY will ever forget the smoker, the than a day's ride from a large part of the banquet, and the hearty and cordial hospitality and good will of the members of the SOCIETY'S membership cannot fail to attract the cream of America's scientific and local section. industrial leaders—the best in thought and In 1921 the SOCIETY met for the third accomplishment. time in Rochester, and Rochester again The tourist agencies have capitalized set new standards. Nearly twice as many on such slogans as "See Naples and D i e / ' The AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY will registered for that meeting as had been "See Switzerland and Live," and a host of be fortunate if the next fifty presidents present at the meeting held eight years others. There will be no slogan for it, but elected equal in ability, achievement, and willingness t o serve those who have pre- earlier. Next fall, Rochester confidently there is talk of an all-day trip scheduled for expects to welcome about three times as Friday. The number who can be accomceded them. many guests as were present in 1921. modated will be strictly limited to a regrettably low figure. If you plan to take Unsolicited T e s t i m o n i a l s this trip, conjure up in your mind all the It is to be expected that the secretaries delights of interest, scenery, and hospitality the societies interested would see the you have enjoyed in the past and dwell Chapel Hill Council Meeting— of best features of what any of their local longingly on them, for as tnis trip unfolds Addendum groups had to offer in hospitality and in- all else will fade into insignificance and novation. Unless they were noteworthy, your new criterion for happiness will be N OMISSION was made in the report of the Council meeting at Chapel Hill- there would be no reason, however, for in- the all-day trip planned by the Rochester dividual members subsequently to air their Section for its 1937 meeting. covering the Report of the Committee on views on the subject. How pleasant it Now here is one for the men to paste in Improving t h e Professional Status of the must have been to those who gave their their hats: Don't miss t h e "Stag." A Chemist, in that the question of whether time and energy to make the Rochester word to the wise is sufficient. the SOCIETY should "promote the state meetings a success to receive letters containlicensing of chemists who act as consulting such heartening testimonials as these: ants" was omitted from the printed record. On this question the show of hands was I had expected great things of the Rochesalmost unanimous against promoting the ter Section, based upon experience in 1913. To Those Who Eat state licensing of chemists, but those pres- and you certainly eclipsed all records. All ent were also equally in favor that the are agreed that the Rochester meeting was \ RRANGING for group luncheons at a committee should watch and guide such one of the greatest meetings ever held in the J\. large national meeting, such as the one state legislation if it should prove to be in- history of the SOCIETY. * * * We all look back to be held in Rochester, N. Y., September evitable. to that week as one of unalloyed pleasure. 6 to 10, is a momentous affair. This duty CHAS. H. HERTY has fallen to a committee headed by C. J. It willbeamatter of record in the SOCIETY Staud, Research Laboratory, Eastman that this meeting excelled our former meet- Kodak Co., Rochester, N. Y. l i e has requested that those groups desiring C h i c a g o S e c t i o n E l e c t s O f f i c e r s ings in almost every particular. EDGAR F. SMITH special dinners, luncheons, or breakfasts It seemed to me to be an unusually successT THE regular annual election of the communicate with him as early as conful meeting. I heard a great many other Chicago Section held on April 23, the venient. This will greatly facilitate the people say the same thing. following were elected to the indicated planning of such affairs and make posE. J. CRANE offices for the year ended July 1, 1938: sible more satisfactory arrangements than Chairman,]. C. Morrell; First Vice Chairwould be possible if such requests are I am sure all of the members have carried man, Edgar B. Carter; Second Vice Chairaway with them a delightful memory of our made a few days before the meeting opens. man, F . C. Koch; Secretary, James J. Groups requesting special luncheons, etc., Rochester friends and their hospitality. Doheny, Jr., 4247 West End Ave., Chishould indicate a preference as to time You certainly gave us a great time at cago, 111.; Treasurer, G. L. Schnable. and this will be respected so far as posRochester and the members are talking about sible. Because of the large number of The following were elected directors of it all over the country. the section for a two-year period comThat Thursday night "Good Fellowship group luncheons which are anticipated, mencing July 1, 1937: B. B. Freud, Arthur Meeting" was praised to the sky by every- changes of selected time may be necessary to facilitate handling them. Early Guillaudeu, Warren C. Johnson, Marvin one. requests will receive preference. C. Rogers, E . H. Volwiler. CHAS. L. PARSONS
A
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