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Edgar Fahs SmithAuthor(s): James KendallSource: The Scientific Monthly, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Jul., 1928), pp. 92-93+95Published by: American Association for the Advancement of ScienceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/7971 .
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92 THE ISCIENTIFIC MONTHLY
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THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE 93
EDGAR FAHS SMITH I854-I928
CHIEMISTRY in America has suffered an irreparable loss through the death of Edgar Fahs Smith, which occurred on May 3 in the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Even outside of his chosen profession and beyond the limits of his native country the news of his demise will occasion keen regrets, for Dr. Smith enjoyed an international reputation not only as a chemist, but as an adminis- trator and a historian. The respect felt for his scholarly ability in many fields was accenttuated by the universal affec- tion inspired by his modest and kindly personality. He was indeed a true gen- tleman, in the oldest and best sense of the word.
Born at York, Pennsylvania, where his ancestors settled several generations ago, on May 23, 1856, Dr. Smith successfully resisted his father's plans for a business career, and resolved to study medicine. Hle )repared for college at the York County Academy and entered the junior class of Pennsylvania College, Gettys- burg, in 1872. Before he graduated in 1874 with the degree of bachelor of sci- ence, his work in chemistry had been of such promise that his teacher, Dr. S. P. Sadtler, encouraged him to go to Ger- many and continue his studies there. Acting on this advice, Dr. Smith worked for two years at G6ttingen, where W61hler was one of his professors, and oained the degree of Ph.D. Returning to the United States in 1876, he became an assistant in analytical chemistry to Professor F. A. Genthe, of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania.
At this institution, except for brief interv,als at Muhlenberg College, Allen- town, Pa., and at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, Dr. Smith spent the rest of his active career until his retire- ment in 1920. He became in 1888 pro- fessor of arnalytical chemistry, in 1892 head of the department of chemistry, in 1898 vice-provost and in 1911 provost
of the university. Durina his forty- four years of teaching and administra- tive work, he gained the title of " the best beloved college professor in Amer- ica" and impressed his spirit and per- sonality upon more than fifty thousand students.
Honors in abundance came to Dr. Smith for his unselfish labors. Besides more than twenty degrees from different universities, he was awarded the Elliott Cresson medal of the Franklin Institute, the Chandler medal of Columbia Uni- versity and the Priestley medal of the American Chemical Society. He served thrice as president of the American Chemical Society, in 1895, 1921 and 1922. These distinctions were not ac- companied by corresponding material prosperity, for which Dr. Smith cared little. Although he was a public servant on innumerable boards and committees in local and state interests, he consist- ently declined public honors and ad- vancement, engaging in philanthropy to the limit of his resources, secretly sup- porting poor students and contributing to many charities. On his retirement he applied to the Carnegie Foundation for a pension, declaring that he was penni- less, and of his career as a teacher he said: "That is wonderful btut unremun- erative work. And one does not grow rich, either, from writing text-books oni chemistry. "
An indefatigable research worker in the subjects of mineralogy, electrochem- istry and analytical chemistry, Dr. Smith published more than two hun- dred original papers. Ilis investiga- tions upon the rarer metals have been of industrial as well as academic. significance. Ile wrote, translated and edited a large number of text-books. During his later years he became par- ticularly interested in the early develop- ment of chemistry in America, and his historical studies in this field are of
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THE PROGRESS OF SCIEINCE 95
notable liter ary m-nerit as well as of great scieiitific value.
TIn 1926 a, statuie of Edgar Falhs Smith was erected near the Harrison Chemical Laboratorv of the University of Penn- sylvaniia. In the hearts of his colleagrues, however, lie needs no more permanent memorial thani that whieh his own ster- ling' qualities gaiined for him. At a din- iier recentlv g iven in hiis lhonior at the Chemists' Club in 'New York Citv, he was introduieed as follows: " Edgar Falls Snmitlh, gentleman, clhemist, great teacher, historian, truie philosop)her and sineere frieind. Few 0 meni have so riehly de- served at oniee the esteeml in whlieh Dr.
Smith 's professional achievements are held and the affectionate respect lhis elearacter and personality have woni."
Dr. Smith practically died in harniess, sinee onie of his last acts was to attend the spring meeting of the Amierican Chemical Soeiety at St. Louis. Oni the retnirni journey, he contracted a chill. whiich developed into pneumonia. Ile is survived bh hiis wife, Aargie A. Grtuel, of Gettysbuiro - whose tender eare and companions1hip) brightened his life for nearly fifty years and to whonm the deepest sympathy of all his friend(s is exteniled in lier bereavement.
JAMES K1ENDAXLL
THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY THE Arniold Arboretum of Harvard
University was established in 1872 for the study anid c ultivation of all thic w-oody plants capable of witlbstandingw the climate of Mlassaclhusetts. Its orig- inal enidowment was one lhundrcd thlou- sanid dollars, left for this purpose by James Arnold, a merchlant of Newv Becd- ford, -Massachusetts. For the puurpose of earrying out this trust Harvard -ni- versity set aside 125 acres of land kniown as the Bussey Farm. In 1873 Charles S. Sargent was appointed director, a
position lie leld until his deatlh on March 22, 1927. By an arranigement witlh tlle city of Bostoni, who maintain the road(s as part of the park system, the ArnolId Arboretum is assured of its present site for a thousanid years and is tax free. It is polieed by- the city of Bostoni anid is open to the l)llblie from sunrise to siin- set. everv dayl- in the year. Whlen 1'ro- fessor Sargent died he lbad inereased thle endowment of the Arnold Arboretum to over a million dollars and the area to about 260 aeres, wherein are now grow -
AN INTERIOR VIEW
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