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Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry

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Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Science History Institute Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
531
Repository:
Science History Institute Archives
Extent:
2.2 linear feet (5 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry, 1955-1966, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1955-1966 (inclusive)
Creator:
American Chemical Society. Division of Inorganic Chemistry
Form:
Archival materials
Abstract:
This is a collection of "foundation records" documenting the early years of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry. The collection consists mainly of correspondence but also includes reports and institutional records.

The Division of Inorganic Chemistry is a division of the American Chemical Society. It broke away from the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, one of the oldest divisions of the ACS, because of a sense on the part of Inorganic Chemists that their needs were not being adequately met. In September 1956 at the Fall National Meeting of the ACS, a formal statement was presented together with the required number of signed petition forms and the Division of Inorganic Chemistry was approved for probation status. John C. Bailar, Jr. acted as its first Chairman. A slate of officers was appointed by the Council and bylaws were submitted and approved. After the one-year probation period, the new division received its formal acceptance in 1958.

The Division of Inorganic Chemistry established a triannual newsletter and held regular social functions for its members. The division experienced rapid growth of membership based on affordability of member dues and a rising interest in the field of inorganic chemistry. The ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry is currently active and is distinguished as the oldest Inorganic Chemistry organization in North America.

Sources

American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry. "Advancing the Science of Inorganic Chemistry." https://acsdic.org/

Bailer Jr., John C. "A History of the Division of Inorganic Chemistry, American Chemical Society." Journal of Chemical Education 66, no. 7 (July 1989): 537-545.

Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry contains the division's institutional records. Consisting mainly of correspondence, the records are arranged into the following five series:

  1. Administration
  2. Correspondence
  3. Publications
  4. Committees
  5. Meetings

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry were donated to the Science History Institute (formerly known as the Chemical Heritage Foundation)in October 1990 by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, who was gifted the records by Aaron J. Ihde.

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry were processed by Andrew Mangravite in 2016. This finding aid was revised by Birch Mezzaroba in February 2022.

There are no other known archival collections created by the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry as of the date of processing.

Twenty-one other known archival collections created by the American Chemical Society are preserved at the Science History Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Subject

Publisher
Science History Institute Archives
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid created by Andrew Mangravite and encoded into EAD by Birch Mezzaroba
Finding Aid Date
2016
Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions on materials and the collection is open to the public.

Use Restrictions

The Science History Institute holds copyright to the Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Collection Inventory

Series Description

These files are arranged in their original order and offer a glimpse into the establishment of the ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry, its status as a Probationary Division and the work of creating a fully functioning Division. The contents of the files in this series consist of annual reports, meeting minutes, and a manual.

Annual Reports , 1956-1957, 1958, 1960-1961.
Box 1 Folder 1
Business Meetings — Minutes of Meetings, 1957-1963.
Box 1 Folder 2
Executive Committee — Minutes of Meetings, 1958-1964.
Box 1 Folder 3
Secretary-Treasurer — Manual of Duties and Responsibilities (2 copies.) , 1962.
Box 1 Folder 4

Series Description

Arranged in original order, these files contain correspondence both internal and external to the ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry. These files are topical by nature.

General Correspondence — squabbles and growing pains, 1956-1959.
Box 1 Folder 5
General Correspondence — Inorganic Chemistry birth pangs, 1960-1961.
Box 1 Folder 6
Related Materials

See also Box 3 Folder 11.

General Correspondence — membership and financial support, 1962-1963 June.
Box 1 Folder 7
General Correspondence — meetings and symposia plans, 1963 June-1964 June.
Box 2 Folder 1
General Correspondence — symposia plans, 1964 June-1965 March.
Box 2 Folder 2
General Correspondence — symposia plans, 1965 April-1966.
Box 2 Folder 3
Secretary-Treasurer's Correspondence, 1961-1963.
Box 2 Folder 4
Secretary-Treasurer's Correspondence, 1963-1964.
Box 2 Folder 5
Correspondence, re: Councilors, 1958, 1962.
Box 2 Folder 6
Correspondence, re: Division Newsletter, 1961-1962.
Box 2 Folder 7
Correspondence, re: Division of Chemical Marketing and Economics, 1962.
Box 2 Folder 8
Correspondence, re: Division of History of Chemistry, 1964.
Box 2 Folder 9
Correspondence, re: Divisional Representative to IUPAC, 1958-1959.
Box 2 Folder 10
Correspondence, re: National Office, ACS, 1959-1962.
Box 2 Folder 11
Correspondence, re: Proposal to Incorporate the Division, 1962.
Box 2 Folder 12
Correspondence, re: Symposia Topics, 1956-1962.
Box 2 Folder 13

Series Description

These files consist of early newsletters and some publications of the ACS that had a bearing on the work of the Division of Inorganic Chemistry.

Divisional Newsletters, 1957-1963.
Box 3 Folder 1
Miscellaneous Publications of the American Chemical Society, 1957-1963.
Box 3 Folder 2
Chemical Institute of Canada – newsletters, 1962-1964.
Box 3 Folder 3

Series Description

This series contains correspondence files that deal with the organization and duties of the various divisional committees. Of historical interest are the original Petitions to the ACS to allow Inorganic Chemistry to function as its own division. The contents of these files in this series consist mainly of correspondence. Other miscellaneous accompanying materials, including, but not limited to, meeting minutes and reports are preserved here as well.

Auditing Committee — correspondence, naming of members, 1957-1963.
Box 3 Folder 4
Awards Committee — correspondence, re: membership and mechanics of awards, 1958-1963.
Box 3 Folder 5
Boron Symposium Committee — correspondence, re: invitees, 1956-1962.
Box 3 Folder 6
By-Laws Committee — correspondence and comments on proposed Bylaws (includes ACS Constitution & By-Laws), 1956-1963.
Box 3 Folder 7
Finance Committee — correspondence, re: appointments to and duties of, 1956-1962.
Box 3 Folder 8
Fluorine Chemistry Symposium Committee — correspondence, re: duties of, 1963.
Box 3 Folder 9
Handbook Committee — correspondence and meeting notes, 1958-1966.
Box 3 Folder 10
Journal Committee — correspondence, re: Inorganic Chemistry, 1956-1962.
Box 3 Folder 11
Related Materials

See also Box 1 Folder 6.

Membership Committee — correspondence, petition signatures and membership list, 1957-1962.
Box 3 Folder 12
Nomenclature Committee — correspondence, re: membership, 1958-1963.
Box 4 Folder 1
Nominating Committee — correspondence, re: formation, 1957-1963.
Box 4 Folder 2
Organometallic Chemistry Committee, 1957-1963.
Box 4 Folder 3
Planning Committee — correspondence, 1957-1958, 1961.
Box 4 Folder 4
Professional Training, Committee on, 1956-1959, 1962.
Box 4 Folder 5
Program Committee — correspondence and program policy, 1960-1963.
Box 4 Folder 6
Publications Committee — correspondence, re: Russian journals, 1958-1962.
Box 4 Folder 7
Publicity Committee — correspondence, press releases and proposed by-laws, 1957-1962.
Box 4 Folder 8
Public Relations Committee, 1956-1958.
Box 4 Folder 9
Review of Papers, Committee on — correspondence, submissions rules, 1956-1963.
Box 4 Folder 10
Teller's Committee — correspondence and vote tabulations, 1958-1963.
Box 4 Folder 11

Series Description

These are correspondence files discussing the planning for, and problems arising from, individual meetings of the ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry. From 1959 onward, they frequently concern the programming or presentations and the organizing of speakers.

Miami, April 1957 — correspondence, re: possible publication of papers presented , 1957.
Box 5 Folder 1
New York, September 1957 — correspondence, re: "housekeeping" matters, 1957.
Box 5 Folder 2
San Francisco, Spring 1958 — correspondence, re: AFOSR support, 1958.
Box 5 Folder 3
Chicago, September 1958 — correspondence, re: topics for papers, 1957-1958.
Box 5 Folder 4
Boston. May 1959 — correspondence, re: planning for symposium on inorganic polymers, 1958-1959.
Box 5 Folder 5
Atlantic City, September 1959 — correspondence, re: symposium on Inorganic Polymers, 1959-1960.
Box 5 Folder 6
Penn State University, 1960 July — Organometallics Symposium program, 1960.
Box 5 Folder 7
St. Louis, March 1961 — correspondence, re: program for Chemical Bonding in Inorganic Systems, 1960-1961.
Box 5 Folder 8
Wayne State University, Detroit, 1961 August — outlined meeting program, 1961.
Box 5 Folder 9
Chicago, 1961 September — Magnetic Phenomena in Organic Chemistry program, 1961.
Box 5 Folder 10
Washington, D.C., March 1962 — correspondence, re: "housekeeping," programs for Homogeneous Compounds and Non-Stoichiometric Compounds symposia, 1960-1962.
Box 5 Folder 11
Indiana University, Bloomington, July 1962 — correspondence, re: Inorganic Chemistry Under Unusual Conditions and a Report on the symposium, 1960-1963.
Box 5 Folder 12
Atlantic City, September 1962 — correspondence and symposia abstracts, 1961-1962.
Box 5 Folder 13
Los Angeles, March 1963 — correspondence, re: planning upcoming meetings, 1961-1963.
Box 5 Folder 14
New York, September 1963—correspondence, re: NMR and Noble Gases symposia, 1962-1963.
Box 5 Folder 15
Philadelphia, Spring 1964 — correspondence, re: Group IV Elements planning, 1962-1963.
Box 5 Folder 16
University of Kansas, Lawrence, 1964 June — correspondence, re: Mechanisms of Inorganic Reactions, 1962-1963.
Box 5 Folder 17
Fall 1964 Meeting — correspondence, 1963.
Box 5 Folder 18
Spring 1965 Meeting — correspondence, 1963.
Box 5 Folder 19
Ann Arbor, June 1966 — correspondence, 1963.
Box 5 Folder 20

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