Notes on the early teaching of chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, the Central High School of Philadelphia, and The Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania

FIRST BUILDINGS OF THE UNIVERSTTY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 1740-1802, FROM THE PAINTING BY C HARLES M. LEFFERTS IN THE OFFICE OF THE FORMER PROVOST, EDGAR FAHS SMITH

This site was on the west side o f Fourth Street south o f Arch Street, Philadelphia. The building to the left was erected in 1740 for a charity school and a church for George Whitefield, the evangelist, and other itinerant preachers; i t became successively the Academy, the College, and the University. The building to the right was erected in 1762, and contained dormitories and the Charity School.

NOTES ON THE EARLY TEACHING OF CHEMISTRY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

OF PHILADELPHIA, AND THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE OF PENNSYLVANIA

JOSEPH SAMUEL HEPBURN THE HAHNEMANN MEDICAL COLLEGE, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

A t the University of Pennsylvania, chemistry was taught to college students by Prmost William Smith at least as early as 1756, and to students in medicine by Dr. John Morgan upon the institution of that department in 1765. The views of Morgan (the first professor of medicine in English North America) on the importance and place of chemistry i n the medical curriculum are pre- sented. I n the Central High School of Philadelphia, lectures on chemistry were delivered during its first academic year (1838-39); selection of professors by competitive examination, and examination of the s t u d d s by outside examiners were used during the period 1839-59. Lectures on chemistry were delivered before the Franklin Inrtitute shortly after its incorporation in 1824; and chemistry was included i n the curriculum of its Ifigh School, organized i n 1826. . . . . . .

The University of Pennsylvania

In a recent communication, Fay (1) mentions the early teaching of chemistry in the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) and in the Central High School of Philadelphia. However, certain additional authorities, not included in his very'elaborate bibliography, demon- strate that chemistry was taught in both instit&ions at even earlier dates than those suggested by his paper.

The University of Pennsylvania actually originated in 1740 as a charity school, became an academy in 1749, was chartered as such in 1753, and received an additional charter in 1755 as the "Trustees of the College, Acad- emy, and Charitable School of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsyl- vania" with the power to confer university degrees. The degrees in arts were first conferred in 1757. In 1765 the institution attained the actual status of a university when a school of medicine, the first in English North America, was organized; the degree of bachelor of medicine was first conferred in 1768, that of doctor of medicine in 1771. In 1779 the colonial charters were abrogated, and the University of the State of Pennsylvania was created; this was the first institution of higher education in the United States to bear the corporate title of university, and also was the first state university. In 1789 the college charters were restored; and, in 1791, the College and the University of the State were merged to form the present University of Pennsylvania.

Chemistry was taught in the College of Philadelphia at least as early as 1756, and in its medical school from its foundation in 1765.

1577

1578 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION Se~rsMa~n, 1932

In May, 1754, William Smith became a member of the faculty of the Academy; he was named as Provost in the charter of 1755. On April 13, 1756, the Trustees adopted a "Scheme of liberal Education" or curriculum for the College, which consisted of the Latin and Greek Schools and the Philosophy Schools. Included in the studies of the Philosophy Schools was a course:

"Chemistry. Shuw's Boerhaave. Of Fossils. - Of Agriculture."

This course extended over a period of four months during the last term of the senior year; apparently a lecture was delivered daily.

The "Plan of Educat ion" was E

ordered ~ublished hv the trustees. and WILLIAM SMITH. FROM A REPLICA OF appeared in the pennsylerania ~ ~ ~ ~ t t ~

THE PORTRAIT B Y GILBERT STUART (2) beneath the signatures of the prov-

ost, vice provost, and professors. 1t'was included in an account of the Col- lege and Academy, published in the Amedcan Magazine in 1758 (3), in both London editions of Smith's "Discourses" (41, (5) and in the American edition of his "Works" (6), and has been quoted in full by H. W. Smith (7) and Montgomery (8). The first London edition of the "Discourses" ( 4 ) merely states that the provost and the vice-provost are the masters of the Philosophy Schools. The other citations (3), (5) , (6), (7) , (8) contain this statement and, in addition, describe William Smith as provost and professor of natural philosophy, and Francis Alison as vice-provost and professor of moral philosophy. Mention of "Shaw's Boerhaave" as the chemistry text is made only in the Pennsylvania Gazette (2) , the American Maga- zine (3), and Montgomery's "History" (8).

From the foregoing, it is readily seen that natural philosophy, including chemistry, was regularly taught to students of the College by William Smith as early as 1756, possibly a t an even earlier date. This conclusion is sup- ported by the following quotation from "Old Chemistries" (9) by Edgar F. Smith, thirteenth provost of the University of Pennsylvania from 1911 to 1920:

In searching through neglected literature in the library of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania a set of Manuscript lectures on chemistry

VOL. 9, NO. 9 EARLY TEACHING OF CHEMISTRY 1579

dating about 1760 was found. Probably they were prepared by William Smith, first Provost of the University-at least, in the oldest catalogues of the institution he is credited with the teaching of that Science to the Senior class in the College.

Charles J. Still6, tenth provost of the University of Pennsylvania, from 1868 to 1880, wrote in 1869 as follows (10) concerning the curriculum of the College during the administration of William Smith:

In the department of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Hydro- statics, Pneumatics, Optics, and Astronomy occupied the attention of the students during a large portioh of the Junior and Senior years. . . . .

We have Dr. Smith's own authority for saying, that this scheme did not exist merely on paper, but that i t was faithfully carried out in its details, and with the most brilliant results during the whole period of his connection with the College. This statement is confirmed, so far as the instruction in Natural and Moral Philosophy is concerned, by an examination of the note-books of the lectures, (which are still preserved), which he delivered on those subjects. Although some of the doctrines laid down by him in matters of Natural Science may now be out of date, they represent fully the learning of that day. . . . . .

Dr. Smith gave lectures in the Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, and Rhetoric. . . . . .

According to Horace Wemyss Smith (7), the great grandson and bi- ographer of Wiiam Smith, the Plan of Education was conceived by William Smith and was adopted by the College of William and Mary in 1776, and by Washington College, Maryland, in 1782.

William Smith was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on September 7, 1727, and died in Philadelphia on May 14, 1803. He was educated a t the University of Aberdeen, and was ordained a clergyman of the Church of England in 1753. The degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by both Aberdeen and Oxford in 1759 and by Trinity College, Dublin, in 1764; the nomination for the Oxford degree was made by the Arch- bishop of Canterbury and five bishops. Dr. Smith first came to America in 1751. From 1755 to 1791, he was provost of the College and Academy of Philadelphia; he not only taught students in the college proper as out- lined above, but also delivered lectures on natural and experimental philosophy to the students in medicine. During the period 1780 to 1789 he served as the first president and first principal of Washington College a t Chestertown, Maryland. His name is number 36 on the complete roster of the American Philosophical Society (11) of which he was a secretary. His researches of a scientific nature, chiefly astronomical, appeared in its early Transactions. Dr. Smith was a noted preacher and theologian; he played a leading part in the organization of the Protestant Episcopal Church during and at the close of the Revolutionary War.

1580 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION S ~ a s m m , 1932

Mention has been made of Shaw's edition of Boerhaave as the chemical text. It may be noted that The Edgar F. Smith Collection in the History of Chemistry contains a copy of the second London edition of this treatise published in two volumes in 1741 (17).

On May 3, 1765, John Morgan was appointed professor of the "theory and practice of physick" in the College of Philadelphia, the first medical professorship in English North America. At the end of that month, he delivered a "Discourse upon the Institution of Medical Schools in America" (12). The following paragraphs from this discourse reveal Morgan's views on the importance and place of chemistry in the medical curriculum.

The various branches of knowledge which compose the science of medicine, are Anatomy, Materia Medica, Botany, Chymistry, the Theory of medicine, and the practice.

Physiology, Pathology, Chymis- try, the Materia Medica, and indeed the several branches of medicine lend a mutual aid to one another, in a greater or less degree.

Chvmistrv is either Philoso~hic. > .

or Pharmaceutic. The former con- siders the particular properties of bodies, and explains their effects. It is distinguished from natural philosophy, as this latter is only con- versant about the general properties nf hotlie<. . . .. . -. . . .

PHARMACE UTIC CHYMIS- TRY, i s that branch of philosophic

JOHN MORGAN, FRO^ REPLICA Chymistry, which regards theparticu- THE ETCH~NG BY H. B. HALL lar properties of such bodies as are

appropriated to medicine. It con- siders their virtues in a simple state, or those which they acquire by combination, and in this has a close connection with the Materia Medica.

There are indeed hut few substances which are used as Medicines, simply and singly, in their natural state; but they are commonly com- nounded bv art. As it belones to Pharmaceutic Chvmistrv to treat of ;he separation of the parts or medicinal substancesirom one another, and of the new oro~erties arisincc from the comoosition or resolution of those bodies, i t& Aanifest that;his science is df essential use. What- ever skill we mav boast in investieatine the nature of a disease, or in " ,>

understanding t i e structure of the body, yet m-ithout a knowledge of the instrummts which are to be used, and of their oro~ertirs and action upon the body, whereby they prdduce a change kom sickness to health, other knowledge avails little in the cure of diseases.

Medical Science is one whole, of which all the branches I have enu- merated are the several parts. They may he considered as the links of a chain that have a mutual connection with one another. Anatomy,

VOL. 9. NO. 9 EARLY TEACHING OF CHEMISTRY 1581

Materia Medica, Botany, Chymistry, and the Institutions, are only the ladder by which we are to mount up to practice. A general knowledge, a t least in each one of them, is useful to both Physician and Surgeon; particularly to the former, who in proportion as heis more intimately acquainted with them all, will become more skillful in the healing science.

The order which I would recommend in the study of Medicine is to begin with Anatomy; then what I have called medical natural His- tory, viz. The Materia Medica and Botany; Chymistry should follow; the Institutes come next; and the Study of Practice should compleate the work.

I propose in a few months to employ myself in giving a course of lectures on the Materia Medica, in which the pharmaceutic treatment of medicines, as well as their virtues, will be described, and tlie do@,, trines of the cbymical properties of bodies will be considered, as far as is useful to give a general idea of Chymistry, and is consistent with a course of the Materia Medica.

Morgan used the term institutes or institutions as a synonym for the theory of physic, including both physiology and pathology.

In the announcement of the first session of the medical school of the College of Philadelphia (13), Morgan and William Shippen, Jr., the Pro- fessor of Anatomy and Surgery, state jointly concerning the courses of lectures: "We intend to introduce into them, as much of the Theory and Practice of Physic, of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Surgery, as can conve- niently be admitted." In the separate announcement of his course on the materia medica, Morgan (13) states ". . . . ".the Manner of preparing and combining them [medicines] will be shewn by some instructive Lessons upon pharmaceutic Chemistry: This will open & Students a general Idea both of Chemistry and Pharmacy."

The announcement of Morgan's course of lectures on the theory and practice of physic during the second session (176W7) of the medical school (14) contains the clause "with a preparatory Course on Botany, Chymistry, and the Materia Medica."

On May 12, 1767, the Trustees fixed and enacted a course of studies and qualifications for degrees in physic. These rules and the announcement of the third session (1767-68) were published at the same time (15). One of the requirements for the degree of bachelor of physic (medicine) was: "Each Student shall take at least one Course in Anatomy, Materia Medica, Chemistry, Theory and Practice of Physic, and Clynical Lectures, and shall attend the Practice of the Pennsylvania Hospital for one Year,. . . . . . . ,* The announcement included: "A Course of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Medicine, which will be preceded by a general Explanation of the Theory of Chemistry, accompanied by some necessary Operations, to render a Knowledge of this Science easy and familiar to the inquisitive Stu- dent." This session ended in May and degrees were conferred in June. 1768.

1582 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION SEFTEMBER, 1932

The requirements for medical degrees, including the course in chemistry, are recorded by Carson (16) and Montgomery (8).

During the fourth session (176849), Morgan continued to teach chemistry, as is shown by the following letter written to Morgan by Rush from London in October, 1768, and quoted by Carson (16):

I am much obliged to yon for continuing to read lectures upon Chemistry. I hope to be in Philadelphia in May or June next, so that I shall relieve you from the task the ensuing winter. Is it necessary for me to deliver publickly an Inaugural Oration? Something must be said in favor of the advantages of Chemistry to Medicine, and its use- fulness to medical philosophy, as the people of our country in general are strangers to the nature and objects of the science.

The minutes of a special meeting of the Trustees held on August 1, 1769, record:

The following Letter from Dr. Benjamin Rush was read, viz. : To the Trustees of the College of Philadelphia

Gentlemen As the Professorship of Chemistry (which Dr. Morgan hath some

time supplied) is vacant, I beg Leave to offer myself as a Candidate for it. Should you think proper to honor me with this Chair, you may depend on my Doing any Thing that lies in my Power to discharge the Duties of a Professor, & to promote the Reputation and Interest of your College. I have the Honor to be, with the greatest Respect

Gentlemen Your most obedt. verv humble Servant

c Benjamin Rush Philada. July 31st., 1769.

In Consequence of the above Application, & in Consideration of Dr. Rush's Character as an ab:e Chemist, he was unanimously appointed Professor of Chemistry in this College.

This letter of Rush is given in full by Carson (16), while Montgomery (8) mentions the letter and quotes the clause "the Professorship of Chem- istry (which Dr. Morgan hath some time supplied)."

While Rush thus became the first incumbent of an American professorship devoted exclusively to chemistry, nevertheless Morgan had taught chemistry as a required subject in the medical school for four academic years prior to Rush's appointment, and was recognized by Rush as his predecessor. Morgan's first course antedated by approximately two years the appointment and lectures of James Smith as professor of chemistry and materia medica in the medical school of King's College, now Columbia University, which, according to Lee (la), occurred in 1767.

John Morgan was a graduate of the College of Philadelphia (A.B., 1757, A.M., 1760), and of the University of Edinburgh (M.D., 1763), a Fellow of


the Royal Society, and a member (number 148 on the complete roster) of the American Philosophical Society ( l l ) , the oldest American learned society, which traces its origin to the year 1727 (19). He was one of the founders of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1787. From 1775 to 1777 he served as director general of military hospitals and physician- in-chief to the Continental Army. He considered physic (medicine), surgery, and pharmacy to be separate professions. He was horn a t Phila- delphia in 1735 and died there on October 15, 1789. His biography has been published by Julia Morgan Harding (20). In addition to his work as a physician and educator, Morgan published a t least one paper of a chemical nature, an essay on sunflower seed oil (21).

The library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia contains a manuscript volume of 227 pages with the title: "A Compendium of Chemistry: Historical, Theoretical, and Practical. Being the substanceof a Course of Chemical Lectures; Delivered by John Morgan, Professor of Medicine in Philadelphia in the year 1766. John Hodge." John Hodge graduated from the College of Philadelphia in 1769 with the degree of Bachelor of Medicine.

Central High School of Philadelphia

An Act of Assembly of Pennsylvania approved June 13, 1836, authorized the controllers of the public schools to establish the Central High School of Philadelphia for the full education of such pupils of the public schools as may possess the requisite qualifications.. The School was opened Oc- tober 26, 1838; its cumculum was essentially p a t of an institution of higher education; and power to confer academical degrees in the arts and other university degrees was granted by an Act of Assembly approved April 9, 1849.

A report of the controllers (22), dated February 26, 1839, pays some attention to the Central High School. The following statement in this report shows that chemistry was then included in the curriculum: "Lectures are delivered on Natural History, Comparative Anatomy, Botany, Chem- istry, Mineralogy, and Geology." The list of teachers and their respective subjects includes: "Professors E. Otis Kendall and Wm. Vogdes, in the department embracing Mathematics, Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, and Chemistry."

The reports of the Central High School are included in those of the controllers. In the reports for the academic year 184243 (23), mention is made of the "Department of Chemistry"; the report for the semester ending July, 1843, contains the paragraph: "Department of Chemistry. J. Booth, Professor. Division A.-Lectures on Inorganic Chemistry. Division B.-Lectures on Organic Chemistry." Each branch (inorganic and organic) was taught for one semester by lectures which were delivered

1584 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION S E ~ E M B E R . 1932

CICNTRAL Hrwr SCHOOL OP PIIILADELPHIA, 1838-34, ON TrrE EAST SIDE OF JUNIPER STREETSOUTHOFMARKETSTREET

Note the conical dome of the observatory which was the fourth to be established in the United States and maintain a continuous existence to the present time.

four hours per week. The manuscript minutes of the faculty show that Booth attended a meeting for the first tjme on September 1, 1842. A bio- graphic sketch of Booth was published by Edgar F. Smith (24).

The selection of teachers by civil-service examinations, and the examination of pupils by examiners not connected with the institution are usually considered recent innovations. However, such procedures were in use in the Central High School during the period 1839-59.

John Seely Hart, second president of the School from 1842 to 1858, suggested a written examination "conducted, if possible, by literary and scientific gentlemen no way connected with the school" (23). The controllers appointed a hoard of examiners, twenty members of which actually served. The examinations covered the period from June 22 to July 1, both inclusive, 1843. The examination in each subject was written, and required three hours. The examiners were divided into committees, and the members of each committee scrutinized the written answers to their questions. The committee on chemistry was composed of Dr. Robert Bridges and 0. H. Partridge. In the report of the board of examiners, it is recorded: "The examination of the two divisions which study Chemistry, left upon the minds of the Examining Committee an impression highly favorable to the condition of this branch of instruction."

Vor,. 9, No. 9 EARLY TEACHING OF CHEMISTRY 1585

CICNI-KAL HIGH S C ~ ~ O O L OF P H I ~ ~ D I I L P I I I A . 1854-1900, SOU~~I~;AST COKSBR OF BROAD AND GREEN STR~<E'I.S, NOW OCCUPIED BY, ITS I>EPARTMENT OF MKCT~ANIC ARTS

4'

Considerable information is available concerning Robert Bridges (1806- 82). He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with the degree of doctor of medicine in 1828, held a professorship of chemistry in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy from 1842 to 1882, was for several years lecturer on chemistry in the Franklin Medical College, served as vice president of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia from 1840 to 1864 and as its president from 1864 to 1865, and edited an American edition of Fownes' "Manual of Elementary Chemistry."

Comparatively little information is available concerning Partridge, the other examiner in chemistry. In the report of the controllers (23), he is described as "Capt. Partridge." In the minutes of the meeting of the faculty held on June 17, 1843, his name is given as "0. H. Partridge." The city directory for that year (40) contains the entry: "Partridge, 0. H., M.D., 195 Spruce." Apparently he was a physician who was deeply in- terested in chemistry.

The professorship of natural philosophy and chemistry in the Central High School became vacant on February 14, 1859, by the resignation of Dr. Martin H. Boy& whose biography has been written by Edgar F. Smith

1586 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION SEPTEMBER, 1932

(25). The committee on Central High School of the controllers (26) re- quested the president of the School (Nicholas Harper Maguire) and a former president (Alexander Dallas Bache) to appoint a board to conduct an examination of candidates for the position. This board consisted of James C. Booth and Dr. William Uhler, who examined in chemistry, and John C. Cresson, who examined in natural philosophy. The written examination included fifteen questions on inorganic chemistry, 5 questions on organic chemistry, and 5 questions in natural philosophy. "In addition to the written examination, each candidate lectured to the senior class for thirty minutes, on any one of ten given subjects, that an opportunity might be afforded of testing his ability to impart knowledge." Six candidates were examined. The candidates with the highest grade (B. Howard Rand) and the next highest grade were recommended by the examiners for a selection by the controllers, who unanimously elected Rand to the vacant professorship a t their April stated meeting.

The standing of the examiners is shown by these facts. Booth was then melter and refiner of the Philadelphia Mint. Cresson, like Booth, was a former member of the Central High School faculty; he wa- superintendent of the Philadelphia Gas Works, chief engineer of Fairmount Park, and president of the Mine Hill and Schnylkill Haven Railroad, and served as president of the Franklin Institute from 1855 to 1863. Uhler's full name was William Millward Uhler (1820-65). He is described in the matriculate catalogs of the University of Pennsylvania (published in 1922) and its College (published in 1894) as an &nalytical and manufacturing chemist, who graduated with the degrees of hac&lor of arts and master of arts in 1839 and 1842, respectively. The announcements of the Philadelphia College of Medicine for the collegiate years 1854-55 and 1855-56 show that he received the honorary degree of doctor of medicine from that institution in 1855. In the records of the Franklin Institute, of which he was a life member, he is described as a manufacturing chemist. In 1858, he became a member of the American Philosophical Society, being number 1401 on its complete roster (11).

Benjamin Howard Rand (1827-83) had received the degree of doctor of medicine from the Jefferson Medical College in 1848, and that of master of arts from the Central High School in 1850. He retained his chair in the latter institution until 1864. At least two of the students who attended his classes during this period became his pupils in medical schools, and afterward became distinguished chemists; they were Thomas Messinger Drown (1842-1904) and Henry Leffmanu (1847-1930).

Drown graduated from the Central High School as bachelor of arts in July, 1859. The announcements of the medical department of Pennsyl- vania (now Gettyshurg) College for the sessions of 1859-61 (27) show that Drown was a student in that school during the session of 1859-60, and that

VOL. 9. NO. 9 EARLY TEACHING OF CHEMISTRY 1587

PRFSENT HALL OX. THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, 13, 1.5, AND 17 SOUTH SEYESTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, OCCUPIED IN 1826

1588 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION SEPTEMBER, 1932

Rand was his preceptor and also held the chair of medical chemistry. Dili- gent search has failed to reveal the matriculate list for the last session of this school in 186041. Drown graduated from the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania in 1862. He became noted as an educator, and for his contributions to analytical and sanitary chemistry. For an account of his later life, the reader is referred to a recent paper by Billinger (41).

Henry Leffmann (28) was a student assistant of Rand in the Central High School. When Rand succeeded Franklin Bache as professor of chemistry in the Jefferson Medical College, Leffmann followed him, again became his student assistant;and graduated in medicine in 1869. Leffmann probably is best known as the American editor of "Allen's Commercial Organic Analysis," and for his work with Beam on the analysis of foods and water and the determination of the Reichert-Meissl number of fats and oils with glycerol and soda as the saponifying agent. He was also noted as a teacher of chemistry.

Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania

The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts was organized February 5 , 1824, and received a legis- lative charter on March 30 of that year.

William Hypolitus Keating, professor of mineralogy and chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, was appointed to the same professorship in the Institute, and delivered his first lecture in April, 1824. This was the beginning of the lectures on purd and applied science which are still delivered before the Institute. On April%, 1826, the Institute established a high school, which is known as the Franklin High School or the High School of the Franklin Institute (29). The date of its prospectus (30) is fixed by the clause "but little more than two years" since the founding of the Insti- tute. According to the prospectus, the entrance requirements included reading, writing, the fundamental rules of arithmetic, and the ability to parse easy English sentences. The cuniculum covered three years; each year consisted of four quarters of twelve weeks each; and instruction was given for six hours daily. Natural philosophy was taught during the fourth quarter of the second year, chemistry with experiments during the first and second quarters of the third year. The monitorial system of instruction was used. The principal was Walter Rogers Johnson. According to a report of the Committee on Instruction of the Institute in 1828 (31), John- son taught natural philosophy, as well as certain other subjects, to the students. The faculty consisted of eight members.

Johnson (32) described the school and its curriculum in a series of papers "On the Combination of a Practical with a Liberal Course of Education." He states that the lectures on natural philosophy and chemistry in the high school were entirely different from the public lectures before the Institute


and were commonly given after the morning exercises on Wednesdays. At that time (1828) natural philosophy, illustrated by lectures and experiments, was taught during all four quarters of the second year. The text was "Conversations, Jones' edition." Chemistry with lectures and experiments was taught during the second, third, and fourth quarters of the third year. Johnson wrote: "In natural philosophy and chemistry, the apparatus is already respectable, and for illustration in some particular departments very ample." Among the texts available to students was Crabb's "Technological Dictionary." Three or more years were required to complete the course of study.

The American Journal of Education described this high school as "this respectable and useful seminary, which has taken a distinguished place among the practical institutions of this country" (33).

Johnson apparently taught chemistry as well as natural philosophy to the students of the school, for he was the only physical scientist in the faculty. Several years later, he became the first professor of chemistry in the medical department of Pennsylvania (now Gettysburg) Col- lege, which was located in Philadel- phia, and he made numerous original contributions to both pure and applied science. Tributes to his work have been paid by Barnard (34), ( 3 3 , who wrote chiefly from the educa- tional aspect' and by (36), who

WALTER R. JOMXSON, FROM T ~ I R i ih . ( ;~ny. wrote from the scientific viewpoint. ma su Jonrr S n n r n r ~ This high school was continued until 1832, and is considered by the Institute to be the predecessor of the Central High School.

The Association of American Geologists was instituted in the Hall of the Franklin Institute on April 2, 1840 (37), by eighteen founders, of whom nine were Philadelphians, and one a resident of Bristol, Pennsylvania, a nearby town. Seven of the founders were members of the Institute. The change of name to American Association for the Advancement of Science became effective at a meeting held in the library of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia on September 20, 1848 (38). Of the eighteen founders of 1840, the last survivor was one of the nine Philadelphians, Martin Hans Boy& who died at Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, on March 6, 1900 (39).

* * * * * *

1590 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION S E P T E ~ E ~ , 1932

The author is indebted to Edward W. Mumford, secretary of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, for permission to consult the minutes of the tms- tees of the College, Academy, and Charitable School of Philadelphia, to Professor Joseph Faltermayer of the Central High School of Philadelphia for permission to consult the minutes of its faculty, to Alfred Rigling, assistant secretary and librarian of the Franklin Institute, for information from its manuscript records, and to James Mulhern of the school of education, University of Pennsylvania, for several references t o the High School of the Franklin Institute. Use has been made of The Edgar F. Smith Collec- tion in the History of Chemistry, and the libraries of the following Phila- delphia institutions: University of Pennsylvania, College of Physicians, Academy of Natural Sciences, Board of Public Education (Pedagogical Library), Mercantile Library Company, Franklin Institute, and Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Literature Cited (1) FAY, 1. CHEM. EDUC., 8, 1533-62 (Aug., 1931). (2) Pfnnsyluania Gazette, No. 1442,l-2 (August 12, 1756) (3) Am. Mag. and Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies, 1, 63040 (1758). (4) Swm, WILLIAM. "Discouses on Several Public Occasions during the War in

America," Millar, Griffiths, and Keith, London, 1759, pp. 215-33. (5) SMITH, WILLIAM, "Discour~es on Public Occasions in America," 2nd edition,

Millar, Griffiths, Wilson, and Keith, London, 1762, Appendix, pp. 107-27. (6) SMITH. WILLIAM. "Wmks," Maxwell and Fry, Philadelphia, 1803, I, Part 11, pp.

230-48. (7) S~ITH. HORACE WEMYSS, "Life arld Correspondence of the Rev. William Smith,

D.D.," Fergusan Bros. & Co., Philadel&ia, 1880, 2 volumes; especially Val. 1, p p 54-64, 124. M~NTGOMERY. "History of the University of Pennsylvania from Its Foundation to A.D. 1770," George W. Jacobs & Co., Philadelphia, 1900, pp. 236-9, 483-5, 488, 519-29. SMITH. EDGAR F.. "Old Chemistries." McGraw-Hill Bwk Co.. Inc.. New York. . . 1927, pp. 9-10, STILL*, "Memoir of the Rev. William Smith. D.D.," Moore & Sons, Philadelphia, 1869, pp. 11-2.48-9. "Servants of Mankind." Am. Phil. Soc.. Philadelohia. 1930. DD. 11. 12.25. ... . . MORGAN, "A Discourse upon the Institution of Medical Schools in America: Delivered a t a Public Anniversary Commencement, held in the Collene of Pbila- delphia, May 30 and 31, 1765,"William Bradford, Philadelphia, 1165, pp. 5, 9-11, 14, 16.35-36. Pennsylmnin Gazette, No. 1918, 1 (September 26, 1765). Ibid., No. 1970. 3 (September 25, 1766). Ibid.. No. 2014, 2 (July 30, 1767). CARSON, "A History of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsyl- vania from Its Foundation in 1765." Lindsay and Blakiston, ~hiladelphia, 1869, PP. 59-61, 73, 74. SHAW, PETER, M.D., "A New Method of Chemistry, including the History, Theory, and Practice of the Art: Translated from the Original Latin of Dr. Boerhaave's 'Elemenfa Ckmiae,' as Published by Himself, to which are added

VOL. 9, NO. 9 EARL.Y TEACHING OF CHEMISTRY 1591

Notes; and an Appendix, shewing The Necessity and Utility of Enlarging the Bounds of Chemistry, with Sculptures," 2nd edition. T. Longman, London, 1741, Vol. 1, xxx + 593 pp. Vol. 2, ii f 447 pp.

(18) LEE. I n "A History of Columbia University 1754-1904," Columbia University Press, New York, 1904, p. 309.

(19) "The Record of the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Founding of the American Philosophical Society," Proceedings, 66 (1927).

(20) HARDING, Biographical Sketch in "The Journal of Dr. John Morgan of Phila- delphia from the City of Rome to the City of London 1764 together with a Frag- ment of a Journal Written a t Rome 1764," J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, 1907, pp. 1&57.

(21) MORGAN, Transaclions of thc American Philosophical Society, 1 (second edition). pp. 305-9 (1789).

(22) "Twenty-first Annual Report of the Controllers of the Public Schools of the City and County of Philadelphia, composing the First School District of Pennsylvania," Philadelphia, 1839, S 9 , 23. "Twenty-fifth Report of the Controllers of the Public Schools of the First School District of Pennsylvania for the year and a half ending June 30, 1843." Phila- delphia, 1843, 62, 64, 75, 87-93. Smm, EDGAR F., "James Curtis Booth, Chemist, 1810-1888," 1922. Smm. EDGAR F., "Martin Hans Boy*. 181S1909. Chemist," 1924. "Forty-first Annual Report of the Controllers of the Public Schools of the First School District of Pennsylvania, comprising the City of Philadelphis, for the year ending December 31, 1859," Philadelphia, 1860, 123-7. "Annual Announcement of the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College. . . Philadelphia; Session of 185940, 1859,4: Session of 186041, 1860.4, 10. "Outline Autobiography of Henry Leffmanu". . . Philadelphia. 1905. Franklin Inst. of the State of Pa., Yearbook 192&1929,1929,26,28. "Address of the Committee of Instruction of the Franklin Institute of Pennsyl- vania an the Subject of the High School Department Attached to That Institu- tion." 8 pp. HAZARD, Register of Penwy18anie, 1 , 17P5 (1828). JOHNSON, 1. Fmnk&n Institute, 6 (New Series Z), 55-7, 10S13, 166-9, 275-8, 353-5.367-9 (1828). Goodrich's Am. J. Educ., 3,600-9 (1828). Barnard's Am. J. Educ., 5 , 781402 (1858). BARNARD, "Ednc~tional Biography. Memoirs of Teachers. Educators, and Pro- moters and Benefactors of Education, Literature, and Science," 2nd edition, F. C. Brownell, New York, 1861, pp. 281-96. Pam. Ind. Eng. Chem., 18,94-8 (1926). "Reports of the First, Second, and Third Meetings of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists, a t Philadelphia in 1840 and 1841, and at Boston in 1842. Embracing its Proceedings and Transactions." Gould, Kendall& Lincoln, Boston. 1843, p. 9. "Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Seience. First Meeting held a t Philadelphia, September, 1848," John C. Clark, Phila- delphia, 1849, p. 5. "Associated Alumni of the Central High School of Philadelphia, Report of the Board of hlanagcrs and Oflicerj. March 17, 1010." p. 44. A. M'I<I.RoY's "Philadelphia Directory, for the Yt-ur 1843." p. 215 BILLINGBR, ''Tho- Messinger Drown," J. CHEM. Eouc., 7, 2875-86 (1930)

Documents

Notes on the early teaching of chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, the Central High School of Philadelphia, and The Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania