Chairman: Prof A Dronsfield, School of Education, Health and Sciences, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB England. E-mail: A.Dronsfield@derby.ac.uk
Secretary: Dr J Nicholson, School of Sport, Health and Applied Science, St Mary's University College, Waldegrave Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 4SX, England. E-mail: john.nicholson@smuc.ac.uk
Treasurer: Dr J A Hudson, Graythwaite, Loweswater, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0SU, England. E-mail: johnhudson25@hotmail.com
Membership: Prof W P Griffith, Department of Chemistry, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, England, E-mail: w.griffith@ic.ac.uk] Newsletter Editor: Dr Anna Simmons, Epsom Lodge, La Grande Route de St Jean, St John, Jersey, JE3 4FL a.simmons@ucl.ac.uk
The Historical Group exists to encourage an interest in the history of chemistry and chemical industry among members of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and others. Membership is open to non-members of the RSC and embraces a wide range from those whose interest in the history of chemistry is a hobby to teachers of chemistry at all levels and professional historians.
The Group holds twice yearly meetings when academic papers are read and discussed. Summaries of papers read at these meetings are included in the Historical Group Newsletter along with reviews of recent books in the subject and news of other meetings and forthcoming events. The Newsletter is published twice yearly. Contributions of not more than 500 words on topics of current interest in the history of chemistry are invited for inclusion at the discretion of the Editor. The contents of the last issue, Winter 2013, are given below with a link to the PDF (768 KB).
The next meeting will be on "Robert Woodward – Chemist Extraordinary" will be held starting at 13.30 pm on Friday 17 May 2013 at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA [Click here for a map of the location of Burlington House which is labelled "The Royal Acad of Arts" (As well as the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House also contains the Geological Society, Linnean Society, Royal Astronomical Society and Society of Antiquaries)].
| 13.30 | Introduction, Alan Dronsfield, Chair of Historical Group |
| 13.40 | Bill Brock, University of Leicester |
| Hofmann and the beginnings of organic synthesis. | |
| 14.25 | Henry Rzepa, Imperial College |
| Woodward and the Woodward-Hoffmann Rules. | |
| 1510 | Tea and coffee break |
| 15.45 | Alan Dronsfield, Chair, Historical Group, to present the Wheeler Award to Peter Morris/td> |
| 16.00 | Peter Morris, Keeper of Research Projects, Science Museum |
| The Wheeler Lecture: Robert Woodward, chemist extraordinaire. | |
| 17.00 | Close |
There is no charge for the meeting but PRE-REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL by e-mail to john.nicholson@smuc.ac.uk, before Monday 13 May 2013 or write to Professor John Nicholson, School of Sport, Health and Applied Science, St Mary's University College, Waldegrave Road, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, TW1 4SX enclosing a stamped, addressed envelope, by Monday 13 May 2013.
If you are a member of the RSC you should contact the Membership Department (01223 432141) quoting your name and membership number. When you have done this please inform the Group's Membership Secretary, Dr John Hudson, on 01946 861555; johnhudson25@hotmail.com. Those who are not qualified to join the RSC but who are interested in the history of chemistry are welcome to join the Group at an annual subscription of £12 per annum. Please send your name, address, phone number, email address and a cheque for £12 made out to "The Royal Society of Chemistry Historical Group" to Dr John Hudson, Graythwaite, Loweswater, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 0SU. All members of the Group receive the Newsletter.
The Group maintains contact with colleagues in the Division of the History of Chemistry of the American Chemical Society and the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences.
The Library & Information Centre, Historical Chemistry Information Service.
The Chemical Heritage Foundation.
The Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry.
Details of Nobel Prize winners; portraits; and other details.
List of Nobel Prize winners for Chemistry.
The History of Chemical Engineering.
Historic samples and specimens from the Chemistry Department, Imperial College, London.
History of chemistry in Heidelberg
Science & Civilisation in China Project (Needham Research Institute).
There is a History of Chemistry Mail List or email chem-hist-request@mailman.uni-regensburg.de
To send messages email chem-hist@mailman.uni-regensburg.de
Short articles on the history of chemistry for the Newsletter are welcome and should be sent to the editor, Dr Anna Simmons, Epsom Lodge, La Grande Route de St Jean, St John, Jersey, JE3 4FL a.simmons@ucl.ac.uk. Please consult the Instructions for Authors.
For a PDF copy of the Newsletter (768 KB) click here
Contents
From the Editor
ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY HISTORICAL GROUP NEWS
Changes at the top
The RSC Biographical Database
Historical Group is joint winner of the RSC IYC Challenge Competition
RSCHG Meetings
Obituary: Harold Booth, 1926-2012 - Alan Dronsfield
SUMMER 2012 NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK
MEMBERS' PUBLICATIONS
NEWS AND UPDATES
News from the Chemical Heritage Foundation
Forum for the History of Chemical Sciences
A History of Platinum and its Allied Metals
USEFUL WEBSITES AND ADDRESSES
SHORT NOTICES
Bonding Beyond Borders: The Tetsuo Nozoe Autograph Books
SHORT ESSAYS
The Great Stink - Chris Cooksey
Conserving the Archives of a Technical Company - Derek Palgrave
BOOK REVIEWS
Robert G.W. Anderson and Jean Jones, eds, The Correspondence of Joseph Black - W. H. Brock
Raymond G. Anderson, Brewers and Distillers by Profession: A History of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. - Alan Dronsfield
John S. Rowlinson, Sir James Dewar, 1842-1923: A Ruthless Chemist - Alan Dronsfield
John C. Powers, Inventing Chemistry: Herman Boerhaave and the Reform of the Chemical Arts, - Chris Cooksey
Gilbert Thompson, ed, Nobel Prizes that Changed Medicine - Bill Griffith
R.G. Compton, et al. A.G. Stromberg - First Class Scientist, Second Class Citizen - Bill Griffith
SHORT ESSAY REVIEW
Perception, Passion and Perseverance - Derry W. Jones
RSC NATIONAL HISTORICAL CHEMICAL LANDMARKS
Chemical Landmark Plaque for the Glucose Sensor
Chemical Landmark Plaque for Lord Porter of Luddenham, OM PRS
MEETING AND CONFERENCE REPORTS
Under the Influence: Famous Textbooks and their Authors
FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
CALLS FOR PAPERS
FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES
Contents of previous Newsletters (1996-2012)
PDFs of previous Newsletters (2010-2013)
Biographies of Chemists including Confusing Names 1-3 from Newsletters 1998-9
Return to Royal Society of Chemistry home page.