This page was created by Zoe Orcutt. The last update was by Daniela Solomon.
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Timeline Events List:
| 1881 | The first course in chemistry was introduced, Arthur F. Taylor was the instructor. |
| 1883 | Charles F. Mabery came to Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland in 1883, becoming a professor in 1884 and heading the chemistry department until he retired in 1911. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1876 from Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard University, and in 1881 received a Ph.D. from Harvard Graduate School. From 1874-83 he was an assistant in chemistry at Harvard and director of Harvard Summer School in Chemistry for Teachers. (Encyclopedia of Cleveland History) |
| 1885 | The Department of Chemistry moves to Case Main in 1885. In the same year, Charles F. Mabery became the head of the program, and six men received certificates in Chemistry. |
| 1886 | First Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry were given to P.L. Hobbs and H.L. Payne. Albert W. Smith joined as an instructor in the same year. |
| 1886 | Case Main was destroyed by fire in 1886. The fire prompted the construction of a seperate temporary building for chemistry, with plans for a permanent one underway. |
| 1887 | The new temporary wooden building to house the Chemistry department opened |
| 1891 | The ground was broken for the permanent brick and stone Chemistry building, with the building opening in 1892 |
| 1896 | The first Master of Science in Chemistry was awarded, however, the student who received it is not designated in historical records. |
| 1903 | The first designated M.S. in Chemistry was awarded to Shin Ichi from Tokyo Imperial University, Tokyo, Japan. |
| 1906 | The professional Chemistry fraternity, Alpha Chi Sigma, was established at Case. |
| 1909 | Chemical Engineering was first offered as a degree program by the department |
| 1911 | Albert W. Smith became the head of the department in 1911, which he occupied until 1936. Dr. Smith, chemist, professor, and a founder of Dow Chemical Co., graduated from the University of Michigan in chemistry (1885), received a B.S. from Case School of Applied Science (1887), and his Ph.D. from the University of Zurich (1891). Smith was professor of metallurgy and chemistry at Case from 1891-1907, when he became head of the metallurgical engineering department, serving there until 1911, when he succeeded Charles Mabery as head of the chemistry department. Smith headed that department until his death. He had a reputation as an informal but dedicated teacher.(Encyclopedia of Cleveland History) |
| 1915 | The first Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering was awarded |
| 1922 | The first Master of Science in Chemical Engineering was awarded |
| 1936 | Carl F. Prutton became the department head in 1936 and held the position until 1948. Carl F. Prutton became an assistant professor in 1925, associate professor in 1929, and full professor and chairman of the Dept. of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering in 1936. He developed new courses and laboratory programs, oversaw the construction of a new laboratory in 1938, and created a program in graduate study in chemistry. Prutton also served as a consultant to several companies, among them Dow Chemical (1921, 1928-41) and LUBRIZOL CORP. (1929-51). In 1944-45, he took a leave of absence from Case to serve full-time as the director of research. Working both on his own and with Albert Kevin Smith, Prutton was responsible for more than 100 patents, known in the oil and chemical industries as "the Prutton patents."(Encyclopedia of Cleveland History) |
| 1938 | Construction for a new building to house the department was started in 1938. Smith Hall was completed in 1939 |
| 1940 | The department underwent a name change from the Department of Chemistry to the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering |
| 1942 | The first Doctor of Philosophy was awarded in Chemical Engineering |
| 1946 | A lot of instruction and research equipment was acquired for departmental use |
| 1948 | Dr. William Von Fischer became head of the department, where he remained in that role until 1956. |
| 1948 | Chemical Engineering saw a large increase in enrollment, which led to calls for an addition to the newly completed building |
| 1950 | A student chapter of the American Chemical Society was organized in 1950 |
| 1956 | Samuel Maron became acting department head in 1956 |
| 1956 | The chemistry and chemical engineering building was renamed to the Albert W. Smith Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Building and a new building wing was opened |
| 1959 | Dr. Gordon Barrow became the new department head in 1959 |