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Chemistry at the University of New Hampshire: 1866-1928
Few contributions to the understanding of the rare earths could overshadow the achievements
accomplished in the chemistry laboratories at UNH. Chemistry has been a part of the university from
its beginning. UNH traces its origins to the acceptance of the Morrill Act by the New Hampshire
Legislature in June 1866, which led to the establishment of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts in Hanover, in association with Dartmouth College. The first faculty member of the
college in 1868 was Ezekiel W. Dimond, who was appointed professor of general and applied chemistry.
An 1865 graduate of Middlebury College, Dimond was synonymous with the institution in its early days.
Not only was he professor of chemistry, he was also the president, business manager, architect, supervisor
of construction, and lobbyist in the state legislature. His efforts led to the construction of Culver Hall,
which contained a chemistry laboratory, described in 1874 as the only one in the state. Thus the Department
of Chemistry is the only department that has existed for the entire history of the university. Dimond served
as professor of chemistry until his untimely death, at the age of 40, in 1876. Succeeding Dimond as head of chemistry were Benjamin T. Blanpied (1877-1889), Fred W. Morse (1889-1909), and
Charles L. Parsons (1909-1911). When Parsons resigned in 1911 to become chief chemist of the U.S. Bureau of
Mines, Charles James succeeded him and served as professor and head of the Department of Chemistry from 1912
until his death in 1928. For the most part, the department focused on the inorganic and analytical disciplines
under his leadership.
The rare earths |
Discovery |
Chemistry at the University of New Hampshire: 1866-1928
Conant Hall |
Charles James |
Landmark designation and acknowledgments
Copyright
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