Oberlin College - Hi-O-Hi Yearbook (Oberlin, OH)

Page 8 text:

To Professor Frank Fanning Iewett. Frank Fanning jewett is descended from lidward jewett, who reached Con- necticut from England in 1638, and from Miles Standish of the May Flower. .llc was born in Newton, Massachusetts, prepared for college in The Norwich Free Academy, and was graduated from Yale in 1870, ranking among the honor men ol' his class of one hundred and thirteen members. ,lilis diploma for the A. ll. degree is signed by President Woolsey, that for A. M, by l'resident l'orter. After graduation Mr. jewett taught mathematics, physics and chemistry for two years in The Norwich Free Academy and devoted three years to the study of chemistry and mineralogy in the Sheffield Scientific School of New lilaveu and in Gottingen, Germany. Among his German teachers was the famous l:'rofessor Wiihler, discoverer of aluminum. M r. jewett little suspected, at that time, that the method of aluminum production was to be revolutionized and made a success through the discovery of one of his own students, connected with his own labora- tory in Cabinet lilall, Oberlin College. VVhile serving as private assistant to Dr. Wolcott Gibbs of Harvard Univer- sity, Mr. Jewett was called to the chair of chemistry in the japanese imperial Uni- versity. The call came through request of the japanese Government that lg'resident ,l orter recommend ia man for the place. Mr. jewett was named at once. Reaching Tokio in january, 1876, he found large laboratories, every modern equipment, a colleague of wide experience, two assistants for his own courses of General Chem- istry, Qualitative Analysis and Organic Chemistry, and large classes of well pre- pared young men to whom his lectures were delivered in English. ln addition to strenuous service in the educational work of the University, he allied himself to the small band of those teachers from America, England and Germany who proved their Christianity by their lives,-men whose power for righteousness in Tolcio can- not be over-estimated. As rapidly as possible the japanese Government prepared japanese men for its University chairs. The chemist was ready in I88O, and l-'rofessor Jewettis en- gagement ended with the close of his second contract. Witli its termination came gifts from the Government, letters and gifts from his pupils, many words of appre- ciation, and, most valued of all, a paper presented to him in connection with a part- ing chop-stick supper and a pair of Kaga ware vases made to order for him. This paper is an expression of gratitude to their best teacher and friend signed by sev- enty-four young men at that time in his classes. , ' s

Page 10 text:

On leaving Japan ,l'rofessor jewett married Miss Frances Ciulick, daughter of Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick. They reached Oberlin in September, ISSO. The Chemical Department then occupied the firstfloor of Cabinet l lall. Prof. ,Kedzie had made an important beginning in the teaching of chemistry by the labor- atory method, but his early death left the department still undeveloped, the equip- ment meagre. Foundations had been laid, however, and since then the growth has been constant. linlarging courses and crowded laboratories required additional apparatus and increased space. Zoology and botany yielded the second and third floors of the building to chemistry in 1886. 'After that, Cabinet Hall was, from base to summit, a saturate solution of chemical odors. flfn 1886 Mr. M. Hall-a graduate of 1885-made his great discovery of the method of securing aluminum by electrolysis. Professor .lewett was profoundly interested in the investigation, gave encouragement as he could, and supplied help in certain emergencies,-as when more electricity was required, and multiplied new cells were improvised from pans and cans and discarded bottles. The result was the nugget of aluminum,-a joy to the discoverer, and, for M r. hlewctt. a cause ol added p1'ide in his former pupil. An outcome of his experience in teaching laboratory methids is his .l'.abora- tory Exercises in .Inorganic Chemistry. now in its second edition. His patent chemical bottle stopper is increasingly adopted by laboratories. Since his first depressing glance into Cabinet Hall on the day of his arrival from Japan, Mr. .lewett has had in mind the requirements of a model laboratory. For years his note-book has kept record of observations and experiences which might prove useful. These multiplied during i895-1896 in the laboratories of ller- lin and Charlottzenberg where he worked. They were further increased by visits to the laboratories in Bonn, Heidelberg, Munich, Leipsie, Giittingen, Zurick, Glas- gow, lidinburgh, tfambridge and London. Later the best chemical buildings of the country were examined. When, therefore, Mr. Louis H. Severance made his noble gift to the college, ,l'rofessor jewett was able to elaborate to the finest detail his thought as to the essential requirements of a building devoted strictly to chem- ical purposes. His plans, placed in the hands of the architect, Mr. Shaw, and made posssible through the generosity of M r. Severance, have resulted in the new home ofthe Chemical Department. The entlmsiasm which has given life to this depart- ment in its day of insufficient light, insufiicient room, insufficient heat, cold floors, frozen pipes and bottles, and congested fumes, is not likely to wane in the era of inspiring conditions now introduced by The Severance Chemical Laboratory. Quite aside from his professional work, the contribution made by the man himself in his character and personality, to the life and work of the college, is great and unmistakable. Faculty and students alike rejoice with lfrofessoi' .Iewett in the vastly improved conditions of the new Laboratoryg and, with peculiar satisfaction, the Junior Class dedicate to him the Annual of this year. 9