THE LIEBIG LABORATORY AND LIEBIG MUSEUM IN GIESSEN* ROBERT SODIMER, UNIVERSITY OF GIEWN.GIESSEN. GERMANY In 1824, when Justus Liebig received his appointment a t Giessen, the university there had no real chemical laboratory. The young professor, then only twenty-one, had learned from his own student career the absolute necessity of laboratory facilities in the effective teaching of chemistry and, due largely to his insistence, the authorities placed a t his disposal one of the two large guard-houses of the barracks which stood in what was then the south side of the city. These quarters had been vacated by the military and given over to the university. From this small building whose original appearance can still be pictured from the neighboring colonnaded guard-house, there developed, as a result of several building programs spread over about twenty years, the famous Liebig Laboratory in Giessen. After the chemical activities of the university were transferred to the new building on the Ludwigstrasse in 1888, the old laboratory served divers and extraordinary purposes. For example, the oldest part housed the Hygienic Institute for a time; and the world-famous analytical laboratory, built in 1842, was used for clinical purposes after removing all the original equipment, whose great historical interest was held of no value. In 1907, the buildings were vacated by the clinics, and turned over to the municipality, with no provision for preserving the old laboratory. The latter was almost an utter ruin, and efforts to reconstruct the Liebig Laboratory and to use it for museum purposes seemed to be "love's labor lost." From about 1900 on, the writer stood alone in this endeavor and for ten years he met single-handed the opposition from various interests. The project a t times seemed hopeless and i t appeared that the tangible evidence of Liebig's activities in Giessen was fated to be lost. The city authorities planned to use this part of the barracks as a dental clinic. The tide was turned by a lecture which the writer delivered in the winter of 1910-11 before the Historical Society of Upper Hesse. On that occasion he showed the sketches of Giessen and the Liebig Laboratory made by the Finnish artist, Frederick Soldan, in 1848. The writer made a plea for aid in his plan to conserve and recondition this famous chemical monument and a committee was appointed. It sent out appeals to the chemical world, and actually secured funds for the first repairs and for the reconstruction of the hearths. The details of the various phases of progress are recorded in the minutes of the Museum and only a brief account will be given here of the fruits of these twenty years of effort. *Translated by R ~ L P E. H OESPER, Uni~ersityof Cincinnati. For an account of the events that led to Liebig's appointment at Giessen, his reception there, his organization and development of the laboratory facilities, and views of the interior asrestored. see the translator's article, "Justus von Liebig-Student and Teacher." J. C ~ E MEuuc., . 4. 1461-76 (Dec.. 1927). 211
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First of all, the stability of the building was insured by repairing the roof, walls, and ceilings; in many places the joists, etc., had to be renewed. Then the chemical hearths were restored, beginning with the oldest in the original Liebiz Laboratory in the old guard-room. The relation of this first hearth to its primitive forerunners was quite evident, and it was a matter of great interest to note the remarkable development exhibited in the design of the later hearths, first that in Liebig's private laboratory, and eventually the world-renowned hearth in the analytical laboratory. This whole investigation led to a reconstruction of all these heating devices so we now have here a most important exhibit of one chapter of chemical history, namely the development of chemical hearths. An investigation of the walls by percussion, as practiced by medical men, gave amazing results At various spots, in the private and analytical laboratories, for instance, hollow spaces were disclosed, in which were found historically valuable installations, such as the Liebig potash furnace. A study of all available sources, particularly the description left by the
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RECON~TRUC~ED HEARTH o*. THE PAARMACEUTICAL LABORATORY This reconstruction was begun in 1914, but not finished until 1930
builder, Hofmann, the father of Liebig's famous pupil, A. W. von Hofmann, and also the statements of the still-surviving Diener, Fink, enabled the writer to direct the reconstruction with some measure of competent knowledge. Not until later was the original builder's inventory made available and it then became apparent that the whole restoration corresponded quite closely with the original. However, the mere architectural renewal of the rooms and the installation of some of the equipment, either originals or replicas, was not sutlicient and the next step was to supplement and vivify these accomplishments by the assembling of other pertinent museum material. This has been made possible by the coijperation of a number of families who have donated comprehensive collections of letters and objects relating to the life and family of Liebig. In 1911 the Gesellschaft Liebig-Museum became the successor of the original committee and has since taken charge of the development of the museum. The collection has thus gradually grown to its present condition, and the following short description will be given in accord with the chronological order of the inclusion of the rooms in the laboratory scheme. In the room directly behind the splendid colonnade, which characterizes the building on the side toward the Liebigstrase, i. e., in the old guard-room of the barracks, is the oldest hearth and a collection of cuts
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PHOTOGRAPH OF LIEBIG'S APPARATUS FOR ORGANIC ANALYSIS IN THE MUSEUM This apparatus was built by Dr. Hildebrandt out of original parts found in the old laboratory of Liebig.
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A STUDENT GROUPOF THE GIESSENLABORATORY, 1885 The surroundings in this picture are exactly as they were in 1824.
showing various forms of hearths as used since the Middle Ages. Here also is a large collection of pictures of Liebig's students, who worked with him either in this laboratory, in the later addition, or in his lahoratory a t Munich. Typical members of that great company were A. W. Hofmann, Will, Kopp, KekuX, Fehling, Clemm, Pribram. This room also houses a large collection of pictures, documents, books, charts, etc., dealing with the development of experimental chemistry from alchemy, and showing the close relationship of the chemistry, pharmacy, and medicine of the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. Next, to the rear, is the room used by the "famulus." It contains a collection of Liebig mementoes, associated especially with Giessen and his native city, Darmstadt. Opposite is that remarkable room, used partly as laundry, partly as chemical laboratory. This is now devoted to exhibits relating to Liebig's agricultural researches: pictures and original manuscripts of his writings on this subject. It connects a t the rear with the stockroom, to the left with a room formerly used for storing preparations (most of the reagents had to be prepared in the laboratory) in which are preserved memorabilia from Liebig's Munich period. Next is a short cross-hall leading to the steps to the second floor where Liebig and his family had their apartment. Behind the hall, is the extremely interesting private laboratory containing a comprehensive collection of pictures of
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NOTESEN LIEBIG'SHANDWRIT~NG REGARDING THE FORMULA OF Hrs SOT,UTION aon MAKING SILVERMIRRORS
INTERIOR VIEW OF LIEBIG'S LABORATORY AT GIESSEN. FROM A DRAWING BY TEAUTSCAOLD MADEIN 1842 A description of this illustration with key is contained in an article by Friedrich SchBdler in Westermann's Jahrbuch der Illustrirlen Deutschen Monatschefle, 38, 2 1 4 7 (1875).
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Liebig, from his youth to old age, two likenesses in plastic, 1835 and 1845, family trees, and genealogical tables. Students of family history, especially those interested in physiognomy, will find here an exceptionally rich fund of material awaiting scientific study. The private laboratory is the last room in this wing. To this is joined the cross wing containing the new laboratory built from Liebig's plans in 1842. It contains several rooms. Directly adjoining the private laboratory is the pharmaceutical laboratory containing reconstructions of the hearths. One corner is devoted to Liebig's discovery of beef extract. To the rear is the balance room containing portraits of Liebig's contemporaries, and the library which houses a practically complete collection of originals of Liebig's publications, including the various editions of his books. In the L, farther to the left and consequently visible from the street, is the analytical laboratory, so well known because of the numerous students who worked here and also because of Trautschold's familiar sketch. Finally the auditorium, in which, as in the other rooms, the furnishings are largely the originals. The fine bust of Liebig by Wagmiiller is exhibited here. It is impossible, a t this time, to discuss the extremely rich collection of Liebig letters possessed by the Museum. These donations contain comprehensive correspondence of Liehig with Hofmann, Fehling, Kopp, etc., and in some cases have been supplemented by other acquisitions. This material has inestimable value for the chemical historian and in part has not yet been worked over by the writers of the extant Liebig biographies. These letters have recently ,been carefully collated and cataloged, and only the lack of funds prevents the publication of this valuable catalog. The present form of administering the Museum has justified its existence for almost twenty years and bids fair to continue its excellent work in the
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conservation and further development of this Laboratory and Museum. The Gesellschaft Liebig Museum for the past several years, has evidenced its sincere gratitude to those families, individuals, and industrial concerns which have cooperated in its endeavors, by the award of the Liebig Museum Medal. This was designed, following suggestions of the writer, by Dr. Oskar Paret of Stuttgart. The gilded silver medal shows on its obverse the characteristic lineaments of Liebig and on the reverse the colonnade. A second form, in bronze, also bearing the head of Liebig, but depicting the chemical hearth on the reverse, has been struck. The Museum is becoming better known and already has been officially visited by chemical organizations. The Liebig-Wobler celebration held a t Darmstadt in, July 1928, included an excursion to Giessen and many foreign delegates took this opportunity to inspect this cradle of chemical laboratory instruction and to honor not only Liebig's memory, but also to show their appreciation to those whose efforts have salvaged this chemical shrine and made it what it now is, a worthy monument to a great chemist and teacher.
