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Arthur Becket Lamb JL HIRTY years ago American chemists wrote too much about too little but today their papers are concise and more mature . . . American chemistry has grown up." This observation is doubly well founded because it is simultaneously that of Arthur B . Lamb, since 1918 editor of t h e Journal of the American Chemical Society, and of Arthur B. Lamb, chemist, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, and winner of this year's Priestley Medal, highest award in the American chemical profession. There are many who claim that the kind policing of thr journal by Lamb, the editor, did much to aid in bringing the profession to its maturity just as there are others who believe that his scientific accomplishments provided channels for its growth. All agree, however, that another Priestley medalist has been well chosen. The dean of America's chemist-editors was born in Attleboro, Mass., on Feb. 25. 1S80, of N e w England parentage. H e entered high school at the age of 12 and at that early time was deeply interested in natural science and also had a considerable enthusiasm for art. Part of his Saturdays during this period were given over t o instruction in German and drawing. His interest in natural science during his high school days was chiefly directed toward astronomy and microscopy and was aided b y the fact that the superintendent of schools in Attleboro had a splendid 6-inch Alvan Clark telescope. Many of Lamb's evenings were spent in systematic observations with this instrument and one of his summers was devoted to the construction of an elaborate microscope in the machine shop of his fa tiler's jewelry factory (lenses by Bausch and Lomb). The latter years in high school constituted a smorgasbord of varied technical interests for Lamb. Mathematical problems were a natural consequence of optics, and physics and chemistry offered themselves as fields in which mathematics was a required language. Out of this potpourri of scientific interests, it is somewhat remarkable that Lamb chose biology as his major study when he entered Tufts College at the age of 16. Chemistry had made a deep inroad into his thoughts about a life's profession, however, and for the next several years of Lamb's career h e rode a pendulum between the two sciences. H e took all of the courses offered in chemistry b y Tufts y e t spent a summer's vacation a t the Marine Biological Station a t Harpswell. I n his senior year, h e worked with Arthur Michael, the
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famous Tufts chemist on a research problem, while at the same time stowing away credits for a master's degree in zoology. For the statistically minded, it should be pointed out that both the A.B. and the M.A. were received in the same year—1900. Under the constant spurring of M i chael, the cause of chemistry in the battle for Lamb began t o succeed—almost t o o well for Michael's pleasure. His young protege had sprouted wings and wanted to fly southward to study physical chemistry at Johns Hopkins—southward away from the greats in that field who were centered a t that time at M I T and Harvard! The situation had reached a point where a ticket to Baltimore had been bought and only a few hours remained before train time. Whether Michael, as a last resort, used a club or less violent method of persuasion will never be known but a hasty interview with Theodore William Richards of Harvard was arranged for Lamb, an interview that resulted in the railroad losing a passenger and N e w England gaining the equivalent of two chemists, for in 1904 Lamb received his P h . D . degree in organic chemistry from Tufts and his P h . D . in physical chemistry from Harvard. Thus equipped, Lamb, in the fall of 1904, went to Europe as a Parker fellow from Harvard for further work at Leipzig. Heidelberg, and Goettingen. At Leipzig, he studied under Ostwald, whose laboratory at that time was Mecca for the best talent in Europe and America. Harvard reclaimed him as an instructor in electrochemistry in 1905 for a year, only to lose him again for the period 1906-12. which he spent as a professor of chemistry and director of the Havemeyer Chemical Laboratory at N e w York University. Lamb's third sojourn at Harvard lasted until the entry of the United States into World War I when he was asked to participate in deciphering secret writing and devising secret inks for the U . S. Army Intelligence Service. T h e Army claimed him shortly thereafter when it formed its Chemical Warfare Service and Lamb was put in charge of its defense chemical research i n the research division with the rank of lieutenant colonel. I n collaboration with Charles R. Hoover of Wesleyan University, he developed a detector for carbon monoxide called "Hoolamite." I t is interesting t o note that this detector contained iodine pentoxide, one of the substances on which Lamb had worked as an undergraduate under Michael. Other important developments of the chemical warfare group working under Lamb's direction were
CHEMICAL
"Hopcalite," a catalyst for t h e conversion of carbon monoxide t o harmless carbon dioxide; the successful preparation of activated charcoal and active soda lime for use in the American military gas mask, and a portable electric precipitator for use against toxic smokes. Shortly after the Armistice, Lamb organized and directed the Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory in Washington, D. C , to perfect methods for the conversion of the large wartime government plants at Muscle Shoals t o the manufacture of fertilizers. T h e methods were perfected but the conversion eventually became unnecessary mainly because of advanced technologies for nitrogen fixation developed at the F N R Laboratory and b y private industry. Lamb's activities in this field caused President Wilson to appoint him a member of a mission sent to inspect the nitrogen fixation plants in Germany and other European countries. Back to Harvard Again On the basis of his accomplishments during and after the war, a large industrial corporation extended a handsome offer to L a m b to head its research organization. T h e Army made its bid too, with an offer of a brigadier generalcy in the Chemical Warfare Service. Harvard and N e w England, however, called the loudest and in 1921 Lamb was back on the campus of the Cantabs as director of the chemical laboratory and professor of chemistry. Soon after his return Lamb's time was occupied largely with raising funds for and designing Harvard's new chemical laboratories. I n 1929, he was appointed Erving professor of chemistry and in 1940 was made dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Perhaps the most singularly amazing thing in Lamb's career is that in 1918 during a period of intensified activity on his part, he was able to assume the heavy responsibility of the editorship of t h e Journal of ike American Chemical Society. H e has continued to function in this post despite the added activities and duties that subsequent years brought with them and when he relinquishes it next year, an enviable editorial record will have been established. It has been said that Lamb has received practically all t h e honors and recognition that can come t o an American chemist. H e has held many offices and been on several committees of the AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SOCIETY and
was
elected President of the Society in 1933. The William H . Nichols Medal of 1943 became Lamb's and his name is listed in American M e n of Science with a star—a much coveted honor. H e is also a prolific writer and a holder of 16 patents in the United States connected chiefly with his work in t h e Chemical Warfare Serv(Continued on page 2876)
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cially if they are accompanied by helpful suggestions, are the very foundation of good editing. They change the editorial board in the eyes of the author from a group of hostile autocrats t o one of friendly colleagues and they help t o spread our conception that author and editor are cooperators rather than ad versaries in the publication of research. T h e task these referees perform is clearly a difficult one, but it is very i m portant. The editor must rely largely on their reports for technical guidance It is on them in the first instance, that the responsibility rests to maintain the high standards of the Society's journals and of the researches that are published in them. T h e referees, therefore, are essential factors in the cooperative enterprise of the Society's publications. It is to their arduous, unrequited and unselfish serv ices that most of our success has been due. Since the need for referees in creases with the number of manuscripts received, we must turn t o them for this service in ever-increasing measure. I am certain that they will not fail us. Ladies and gentlemen, I can now sum marize and conclude m y remarks in a few sentences. In spite of our troubled world and threats of impending disaster, I am convinced b y the fundamental reasons which I have set forth that a continuing progress in science offers the greatest promise, not only for our future material welfare, but also for the achievement of a richer, more significant, and more satis fying existence. The publication of re search is a sine qua non of such progress. Our Society has developed and is main taining a great, cooperative publishing enterprise which distributes authoritative accounts of the results of chemical re search more copiously and at the same time more cheaply than has ever before been achieved. Fellow members of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY: The first aim of
our
Society since its very foundation has been the publication of chemical research. Let us not be diverted from this im portant and inspiring undertaking. I n stead, let us redouble our efforts so that, in spite of the flood of manuscripts, w e can publish promptly, clearly, and eco nomically all the novel, valid, and sig nificant research in chemistry that w e receive ! THE
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Arthur B. {Continued from
ice and the Fixed Nitrogen ResearcL Laboratory. The diversified demands of his careei did not prevent Lamb from living a weD rounded private life. He married Blanche Anne Driscoll in 1923 and had two children : David B., at present a his tory student at Harvard, and Deborat» Anne, an art student at Smith. The athletic interests of the 194b Priestley Medal winner have been cen tered chiefly on tennis. Until a few yean? ago he played tennis three or four timee a week throughout the year and spent many of his summers in tramping and climbing mountains in Switzerland, the Tyrol, and the Canadian Rockies. H e ifi a member of the American Alpine Club. Perhaps it was the many hours spent on the tennis court that have sharpened Lamb's eyes for calling the "close ones 91 on the white line or the editorial desk Whatever the reason, he has that faculty and JACS contributors take pride in hie statement: "I have seen authors who were over-enthusiastic, who wrote badly, and who presented their points poorly, but I have yet to meet one who was clearly dishonest." THE
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Lamb page 2840)
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