Temple University School of Medicine - Skull Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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To DR. MELVIN A. SAYLOR Professor of Chemistry A Respected Gentleman A True Friend and A Real Teacher we AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE OUR BOOK May His Life and Character Be Significant of the Temple Medical That Is to Be

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Life History of Hr. Saylor DR. SA LOR was l)orn in Quakcrtown, Pa., May ( . 1874. Hr received his preliminary education in the school of his native town and for five years following his graduation from the local high school, he taught there. Seeking larger fields, he came to the City of Brotherly Love, and entered the 'Government service. Since childhood chemistry had always fascinated him, to he a chemist was his ambition. Thus, in 1900 he enrolled in Drexel Institute for a four-year course. During his senior year he was induced to complete the supervision of the chemistry laboratory at Jefferson Medical College and upon his graduation was made a permanent member of the Jefferson faculty. He had no sooner begun to teach at Jefferson when he realized that a medical education was what lie needed in order to teach chemistry to medical students and so. in 1915. we find him receiving his M.I). degree cum laudum. His rise in the chemical department of Jefferson Medical College was phenomenal: starting as supervisor of the laboratory he was made demonstrator, associate and associate professor successively. From 1908 to 1919, lie also taught chemistry at Drexel Institute: from 1911-1922, he taught toxicology at Jefferson. He was beloved by all the “Jeff” students and could call each by his name even years after graduation. It was with a distinct feeling of sorrow, therefore, that they bid him “goodby” when, in 1922 he left that institution to become our professor of physiological chemistry. And Temple rejoiced at his coming! His lectures were so clear and concise that students oft made the mistake of not taking notes feeling that the knowledge would remain with them forever. He would describe the technique of various experiments with such inimitable mannerisms that the boys could almost hear the 5 cc. being poured into a test-tube. Ilis interest in the students' welfare was unlimited and his plans for a greater Temple Medical were crystallized when, in our Freshman year, he started the movement which finally led to our having a new building. Dr. Saylor now resides at North Wales, Pa. He was married in 189(5 to Fdith Spear and has six children. His hobby is reading scientific books and never a night passes unless it has seen him reading until the wee hours. He has said that one of his “secret ambitions is to surround himself with libraries of books and do nothing but read to his heart’s content. Dr. Saylor is a member of Philadelphia Section of the Chemical Society, the American Chemical Society, the American Association of I niversitv Professors. the American Association for Advancement of Science, and the Sigma Phi Kpsilon, Omega I psilon Phi and Alpha Omega Alpha Fraternities. Tic rlvc