First annual ACS "Institute of Chemistry" in 1927: Grand experiment in chemical education

HIST 9

Roy A. Olofson, rao3@psu.edu and Kristen A. Yarmey, kristen.yarmey@gmail.com. Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Chemistry, University Park, PA 16802
In 1927 the ACS created the "Institute of Chemistry," a 3-4 week annual summer conference including short lecture courses, daily conferences on cutting edge subjects, general evening talks, films, and recreational activities. Designed for audiences from the beginning student to prominent researchers along with professional chemists and teachers wishing to keep abreast of new developments, this first "chemist's vacation" was hosted by the Pennsylvania State College in scenic central Pennsylvania. It was directed by Dean George Wendt, assisted by Frank Whitmore of Northwestern University. Other organizers were ACS president George Rosengarten, Harrison Howe, and Neil Gordon. Course lecturers included Jack Drummond (London), Eric Rideal (Cambridge), Hans Tropsch (Germany), and Jean Piccard (Lausanne). E. C. Kendall and Irving Langmuir were among the dozens of major speakers. The immense popular success of this experiment in "plain living and high thinking" led to enormous expectations for the second Institute at Northwestern in 1928.