Vol. 44, No. 3 July 2015

Newsof the lHistoryetter of Science Society Table of Contents

From the HSS Editorial Office: From the HSS Editorial Office: From the ISIS Book Review Editors From the Isis Book Review Editors 1 Eric Jorink and Ad Maas, Isis Book Review Editors Since Isis moved to Utrecht we have been working hard for publication, our assistants upload them once more Notes from the Inside 3 at the Book Review department to establish a routine in in Editorial Manager, so that the publisher receives all Teaching Physics through our daily procedures. Thanks to our fantastic assistants manuscripts from the Isis office in the same format. History and History through Physics 4 Noortje Jacobs, Ruben Verwaal, and Sebastiaan Broere, we’re off to a great start. One important hurdle we had Apart from this, we have of course been concerned with National Archives Resources for the History of Science 6 to clear was the integration of the existing book review our most important task: commissioning and editing book reviews. During the last year, we have received almost administration system within Editorial Manager, the Proceeding on with Processing online manuscript submission and peer review system all of the reviews which had still been commissioned by (or We Processed On?) 8 the Toronto office. As this amounted to a rather large provided by the University of Chicago Press and officially Jas-Bio: The First Fifty Years 11 adopted by our office in March 2015. Last year in July, number, our Managing Editor has made sure we could Isis Member News 15 when we were first introduced to this online system, publish more reviews than usual in the June issue it became clear that while Editorial Manager works in order to avoid a backlog. The publication of timely In Memoriam, Mel Usselman 20 reviews is a priority for the entire Isis Editorial Office. perfectly for the submission and review of manuscripts, Activities of the HSS this was somewhat more complicated for the review of Committees, Interest Groups, Once our reviewers send reviews to us, we go through one and Caucuses 22 books, as the tracking system was never designed for this round of editing at the office before we send the review to procedure. As we find it of essential importance to have our excellent copy editor, Joan Vandegrift. As our book News from the Profession 25 personal contact with our reviewers (who should not be reviewers will have noticed, this has led us on occasion to IWHC-2015-Tokyo: Lessons bothered with unnecessary, cumbersome administrative send them questions for clarification or elaboration upon from an Enchanted Conference I Almost Missed 27 procedures) in the end it was decided only to invite the interesting reviews they have written. Our reviewers colleagues to review a book via Editorial Manager and generally appreciate this personal approach and like to Donors to the Society, 2014 31 to keep up all subsequent contact via the “traditional” share their thoughts with us about the style and structure HSS Election Results 33 medium that is email. In this way, we are able to collect of their review. In order to make sure that we do not miss important statistics regarding the acceptance rates of important books in our field, our assistants keep in close books at our office and also engage in flexible and personal contact with all major publishing houses. Nevertheless, if contact with our most important resource: our book any member of the HSS feels that we have not reviewed a reviewers. Before sending the final versions of reviews off Continued on Page 2 History of Science Society Newsletter Future Meetings of the HSS History of Science Society Executive Office History of Science Society 440 Geddes Hall • 2015 – San Francisco, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 46556 California (November 19-22) Phone: 574-631-1194; Fax: 574-631-1533 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.hssonline.org/ • 2016 3-Societies Meeting Subscription Inquiries University of Chicago Press Edmonton, Alberta Phone: 877-705-1878; Fax 877-705-1879 E-mail: [email protected] (June 22-25) Or write: University of Chicago Press, Subscription Fulfillment Manager, PO Box 37005, Chicago, IL 60637-7363 • 2016 – Atlanta, Georgia Editorial Policies, Advertising and Submissions The History of Science Society Newsletter is (November 3-6) published in January, April, July, and October, and sent to all individual members of the Society. Co-located meeting with The Newsletter is edited and published in the PSA and SLSA Executive Office. The format and editorial policies are determined by the Executive Director in consultation with the Society Save These Editor. All advertising copy must be submitted • 2017 – Toronto, Ontario in electronic form. Advertisements are (November 9-12) accepted on a space-available basis only, and Dates the Society reserves the right not to print a submission. The rates are as follows: Full page (10 x 7”), $625; Horizontal or Vertical Half page (5 x 7”), $375; Quarter page (5 x 3.5”), $225. The deadline for insertion orders is six weeks prior to the month of publication and should From the Isis Book Review Editors, cont. be sent to [email protected]. Please send book that deserves the attention of Isis, she should Anglo-Saxon and European books find their way photographs in a jpeg format, with a maximum size of 1024 pixels and a file size of 1 MB to not hesitate to contact us. At the HSS meeting to Isis more regularly. Therefore, if anyone is aware maintain quality during sizing and printing. in Chicago, we asked the participants of the of such a publication, we warmly recommend The deadline for news, announcements, and job/fellowship/prize listings is firm: four weeks international breakfast (kindly organized by HSS them to send us an email at [email protected]. prior to the month of publication. Long items president Angela Creager) if they were willing to (feature stories) should be submitted eight weeks prior to the month of publication. keep us posted of books published in their native Please send all material to the attention of the language, which has already resulted in a number of Executive Office:[email protected] . useful suggestions. We find it important that non- © 2015 by the History of Science Society 2 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Notes from the Inside: The Strategic Planning Dance Alert readers of the HSS Newsletter may have Those of you with good long-term memory, a their secretary/treasurer rather than paying us to noticed the absence of “Notes from the Inside” in desirable trait in the historical professions, may handle their biennial meeting, which means that the April issue. Whether or not the missing column remember the reasoning behind the launching we will have more time to focus on HSS activities. improved the Newsletter will be left up to you, but it of the strategic plan in the first place. A few We will also bring in professionals to help with is my intent to keep providing these updates on the years ago, with the lesson of the 2008 economic some of the Office’s more time-intensive activities, Executive Office (for better or for worse). downturn still fresh in our minds, we wanted to e.g. bookkeeping and meeting planning, so that increase the size of the endowment to cushion Greg Macklem and I can focus more fully on the Our main activity in the EO these past few months, future downturns. This is tricky since the more plan and on fundraising. aside from the usual litany of annual meetings, dependent we become on our endowment the board meeting, prize coordination, and hundreds higher the impact of a diminished stock market. These are exciting (and terrifying) times for the of other duties, has been the implementation of But the time was right for a capital campaign HSS. I am especially grateful to the HSS Executive the strategic plan. The plan has many parts, some since the Executive Office was now comfortably Committee for its unwavering support, which can of them dependent on more money and/or more housed at the University of Notre Dame, which be measured in wisdom, in effort, in kindness, staff. We are making strides in reaching some of has been a fantastic supporter, and the stock and in industry. When I speak to fellow executive our goals, but most of the action steps for each goal market was rocketing upward, and we were seeing directors, I am constantly reminded of just how are not one-off tasks. For example, Goal 1 “Create healthy budget surpluses. All that we lacked, we lucky I am. vibrant regular HSS meetings,” will require discovered after we met with a consultant, was Thank you for your membership in the HSS. ongoing efforts, and I am encouraged by our solid a strategic plan. This situation was analogous to start, evidenced by the roughly 600 submissions for being ABD, and, as it turns out, dissertations and the San Francisco program (a record). The volume Jay Malone strategic plans require a lot of work. With the Executive Director of the submissions can be traced, in part, to the support of hundreds of volunteers, we finished allure of San Francisco, but it also has something the strategic plan this past November – a cause to do with an increased emphasis on roundtables for celebration. We are implementing what we and trying to make the meeting more interactive, can with current resources but we now face the a step beyond the usual framework of one person prospect of raising money to enact the entirety of talking and many people listening. Of course, the plan and that activity, our consultant told us, our traditional framework has served us well for will require 50% of the Executive Director’s time. many years and one of the trickiest parts of the This is a sobering percentage, especially given the strategic-planning dance is keeping the things that extra time it is taking to implement the strategic work as we introduce novelty. We will rely heavily plan. Even so, good fortune still shadows us, one on you, our members, to tell us about successes, example being PSA’s decision this past November near successes, and let’s-not-ever-do-that-again to focus their limited resources on supporting activities. 3 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Teaching Physics through History and History through Physics by Frederick Gregory (Emeritus Prof. of History of Science, University of Florida) and Peter J. Hirschfeld (Prof. of Physics, University of Florida)

At a moment during a mixed academic social view of terrestrial and celestial phenomena had been used by the Department of Physics to gathering where the conversation turned to the from ancient to modern times and, in parallel, teach a traditional “Physics for Poets” course to divide between the STEM disciplines and the offering basic explanations of how science views humanities students, covering much of the usual humanities, the authors, a historian of science and these phenomena today. We hoped that non- territory of any introductory physics course, a physicist, chatted about teaching the history of scientists, at whom the course was primarily including velocity, acceleration, energy, Newton’s humankind’s ideas about the universe together. aimed, could appreciate how scientists go about law’s, optics, etc. This forerunner of our course At this early stage in the evolution of the history/ their work today while learning how this method had a laboratory component and was originally physics course “The Universe and Humanity’s was actually developed. Rather than presenting designed to be attractive to nonscientists because it Place in It,” the bureaucratic and pedagogical modern ideas about time, space and the solar helped them satisfy university natural science and hurdles seemed considerable. Problems of cross- system as facts to be memorized and regurgitated, lab requirements, without requiring much in the listing, allocation of student credit hours, team we proposed that the course should expose way of mathematics. However, it had devolved teaching credit, and questions of how to inspire students to the convoluted path by which these over the years into a rather dull course which left and motivate a potentially disparate audience of ideas arose, including the many mistakes made students feeling that they had tasted science but humanities and science majors effectively ended by philosophers and scientists along the way. not digested much. the discussion that evening. Showing students that scientists have often In redesigning our new team-taught course, we Our dialogue was rekindled, however, by a changed their views for a variety of reasons (some wanted to retain the laboratory component, both program sponsored by the local Center for of which are cultural and not scientific), we hoped to continue to attract humanities students seeking Humanities in the Public Sphere, providing a they would learn to look at the current consensus to fulfill their distribution requirements, and to small amount of funds for team-taught course as a work in progress that is affected by many give a hands-on sense of how scientists, including development between disciplines. The institutional factors. By the end, we said, students should ancient natural philosophers, had been able to imprimatur of the Center also had the potential not only understand a bit more about how the come to remarkable conclusions with a modicum virtue of providing some political cover for each universe works and have acquired a framework of mathematics and a great deal of ingenuity. For of us seeking permission from our respective to think about technological aspects of the world example, we designed a lab where the students chairs to teach something outside of the standard around them, but also realize that science is an determined the circumference of a sphere of curriculum. organic, evolving enterprise rather than a static set styrofoam by measuring the shadow of a toothpick of “correct answers.” inserted into its surface, thus emulating the essence In the process of writing the proposal to the of the famous measurement of the circumference Center, we discussed our goals, which eventually Ultimately the class was taught in the Spring of the Earth by Eratosthenes around 240 B.C. crystallized into a course exploring humans’ semester of 2015 under a course number that 4 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Teaching Physics through History and History through Physics, cont.

The course began with the science of the ancient by which scholars have attempted to achieve that. deep and the students picked up on the historian’s world, focusing on Aristotle’s hugely influential Naturally, reading assignments of primary and reluctance to regard contemporary conclusions ideas about both earthly and heavenly motion. secondary sources are essential, as are lectures and as “right” and the physicist’s impatience with the In parallel, modern concepts of motion were the occasional use of film or other audio-visual historian’s eternal suspicion of modern views. introduced, deliberately creating a certain means. The physicist’s goal in the classroom is We worried that our differences would confuse cognitive dissonance in the minds of students. to help students grasp the principles of physics students, but we found that they enjoyed our They were asked to reason as Aristotle might through lecture, demonstrations, homework questioning each other and encouraged us in our have regarding, say, falling bodies, and then problems, and hands-on laboratory experiences. differences. answer the same question as a modern person In this class not only did we do all of the above, might. Similarly, medieval notions of force and but we crossed disciplinary boundaries without Courses like this one are rare, first of all because impetus were contrasted with Newton’s laws. fanfare. It fell to the physicist to explain medieval funding is generally hard to come by. Our hope The modern picture of the solar system was critiques of Aristotle’s understanding of motion is that the overwhelmingly positive experience introduced in labs concomitant with discussions and to the historian to demonstrate what happens we enjoyed is indicative of the general merit of of the cosmologies of Ptolemy, Brahe, Copernicus when a magnet is inserted into or withdrawn from exploring history and physics together. Both of us and Kepler. Roughly the second half of the course a coil of wire whose ends are connected to a small are convinced that this course made a permanent was devoted to the classical physics of Newton electric bulb. impression on our students and that it will be and his successors in the 18th and 19th centuries, among those that they look back upon as one and to the revolutions introduced by Einstein It quickly became clear that each of us was going of their most memorable classes, an impression and the progenitors of quantum theory. The to have to make compromises. It was important bolstered by final student evaluations. semester closed with discussions of the expanding to the historian in our pair to explain that Sadi universe, big bang, and the discovery of the cosmic Carnot believed that heat was conserved as he microwave background radiation. A full syllabus came to the realization that to run an engine you is available at http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~pjh/ need reservoirs with different temperatures. The teaching/phy1033/1033C2015index.html. physicist, however, was quick to assure the students that the present view is that heat is not conserved. Of course the goals of the physics teacher and the While one of us made peace with the practice of history teacher are not the same. The historian correcting historical figures whose reasoning did wishes, as much as is possible, to teach students not mesh with current understanding, the other to put themselves into the mindset of people learned to tolerate explanations of “discarded” from the past and to expose them to the means science. The difference reflected here ran fairly

5 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter National Archives Resources for the History of Science by Robyn Dexter and Meg Phillips, National Archives and Records Administration

The U.S.’s National Archives and Records growing number of records are available online, records, too. For example, NARA participates with Administration (colloquially the National the majority are only available by researching NOAA and many others on the “Old Weather” Archives, or NARA) may not be the first place in person. We list the archival record group (or project, where the public can help transcribe that leaps to mind when you’re thinking about the RG number) for the records mentioned to help historic ships’ logs, including valuable weather history of science, but we actually hold all kinds you follow up on items that pique your interest. observations that scientists can use. (See http:// of surprising records that document scientific (Contacting us through http://www.archives. www.oldweather.org/ to participate.) activity. Permanent records from hundreds of gov/contact/inquire-form.html#part-b will help federal agencies doing all sorts of work make their us send your question to the right person.) We invited archivists across the agency to way to the archives and are used by researchers in highlight some of their favorite science records many unusual fields. While we have buildings in To get a sense of the wide scope of our scientific to give you a few examples of textual records and Washington, DC and College Park, Maryland, holdings, consider that the National Archives images in the collection. Archivists know and love NARA also collects archival records from the holds records from the Office of Scientific their records: one archivist asked us to include Federal government in twelve field locations, Research and Development (RG 227), US Patent a heartfelt plea for some researcher to give the plus Presidential Libraries and affiliated archival and Trademark Office (RG 241), the National Records of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant facilities. NARA’s holdings crisscross the nation Science Foundation (RG 307), the National Quarantine (RG 67) the attention they deserve. from Seattle to Atlanta, New York to Yorba Linda; Institute of Science and Technology, or NIST (RG What follows are the rest of their responses: 167), the Coast and Geodetic Survey (RG 23), the see our research rooms at http://www.archives. • The Records of the Forest Service (RG 95) gov/locations/. These National Archives facilities Army Corps of Engineers (RG 77), and the Chief of Ordnance (RG 156; check out Reports on contain a collection of photographs dating are a resource for all kinds of researchers, including from 1897 to 1980 documenting the agency's historians of science. Powder, Ammunition, Chemicals, and on Small Arms Experiments). Many presidential libraries activities in the management and protection The items featured in this article provide a tiny also hold science files in White House Central of national forests and grasslands. There snapshot of the Federal agency records that help Files. We hold records from the Department of are also images of Forest Service cooperative tell the story of the government’s involvement in Energy (RG 434) Lawrence Berkeley National projects with other government agencies. science and medicine. To dive deeper, explore our Laboratory, the National Institutes of Health (RG For example, prior to the first moonwalk website (www.archives.gov) and the National 443), the Weather Bureau (RG 27), and many astronaut Walter Cunningham worked with Archives Catalog, then plan a research visit by more! NASA scientists and Forest Service personnel emailing us so we can advise you on records to test the dexterity of a human in a spacesuit that might shed light on your topic. Although a In addition to the history of science, NARA by navigating lava flows, which simulated the supports current scientific research with archival Moon's surface. 61,111 of these photographs 6 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 Continued on Page 7 History of Science Society Newsletter National Archives Resources for the History of Science, cont.

are available online at http://research. • A staff favorite from the National Archives at archives.gov/description/651890 Fort Worth is “Pig in Capsule” (although those of us who watched The Muppet Show call it • The Surgeon General’s Office (RG 112) has a “Pigs in Space.”) A part of the NASA (RG 255) useful series of correspondence related to the series “Source Files on Project Mercury,” this is U. S. Army’s World War I hospitals, posts, a pen and ink drawing by G. C. Johnson and laboratories, camps, stations, and departments J. W. Wilkey. The housing was a theoretical in the United States and Europe. (The box list design to take a pig into space and keep it safe http:// for close to 1000 boxes has been posted at upon re-entry. http://research.archives.gov/ research.archives.gov/description/719020). description/6734335 Camp Lee’s work in the influenza outbreak of 1918 – 1919 provides a rich source of research • The National Archives at Atlanta is home to the material in this collection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (RG 442) Public Health Service’s “Tuskegee • Another fascinating but underused collection Syphilis Study Administrative Records.” Ninety- was produced by the Office of Scientific five images of records from this collection are Research and Development (RG 227). This available online, including a photograph of office was created as a result of WWII to bring nurse Eunice Rivers Laurie’s hands as she labels together the brightest minds in military and a vial of blood. http://research.archives.gov/ civilian research for military purposes. These description/824613 records reflect a time when no idea was outside the range of possibility, funding was generous, This is merely a sample of NARA records that “Pig in a Capsule” available at https://research. and a sense of purpose drove research. Research document the history of science and the Federal archives.gov/id/6734335 and development could be dangerous, and government’s extensive involvement in scientific scientists occasionally lost their lives. The research. These records hold many untold stories Director’s Budget and Finance series (https:// and document little-known but important catalog.archives.gov/id/16955604) contains programs. We invite you to explore the catalog letters to surviving spouses that talk about the and contact one of the National Archives locations work and how the victim’s sacrifice helped the around the country to see if NARA has records war effort. Because of the secret nature of the that can help your research. work, these letters often did not come until years after the war was over. 7 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Proceeding on with Processing (or We Processed On?) by Charles Greifenstein, American Philosophical Society

The full name of the American Philosophical whom I have helped with reference questions ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Society is “American Philosophical Society, Held at (thereby for the first time placing a name with Computer), the first electronic general purpose Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge.” a face). In the past the Library has been able computer, and its more powerful successor One can debate what “useful knowledge” actually sometimes to help out scholars even with material EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic is (Benjamin Franklin would see it as practical and from unprocessed collections, a business that Computer). Material includes early papers by scientific knowledge), but there is no doubt that the has to be carefully handled. Since a collection’s J. Presper Eckert, John Mauchly and John von APS promotes scholarship and knowledge-sharing contents are largely unknown, it is more difficult Neumann; the von Neumann files also have notes through its several departments: publishing, giving to keep track of what is used. The good news is and correspondence. There are also schematics for out grants, creating museum exhibits, holding that in the last two years the APS has committed ENIAC and the original manuscript copy of the semi-annual meetings for its members, and the use itself to processing several significant (and largely first computer program, which was written by von of its library collections. paper-based) collections.2 Neumann. The history of science is but one of three main It was not until June 2011 that the APS hired Beyond the funding of two permanent positions, collecting areas of the Library,1 but it is the largest its first full-time, permanent employee whose in the last couple of years the APS has received and fastest growing. Of the approximately 13,000 principal work was processing collections. Much three grants specifically to catalog history of science linear feet of archives and manuscripts held by the processing was of course done before 2011, but collections. Altogether archivists are processing APS, about 7,800 linear feet are history of science staff who did this were either on soft money or had over 1500 linear feet of material. Attrition from collections. Of those 7,800 feet, about 7,260 feet principal duties other than processing collections. processing will probably reduce this material by are the papers of 20th-century scientists, and of There are now two permanent archivists on staff. half,4 so eventually about 750 linear—my current THOSE, a great majority are in the biological One of the archivists has finished processing estimate—will be completely processed. sciences, especially genetics. the papers of Herman Heine Goldstine (1913- 2004).3 The collection has much material about With the help of two of the grants—from the When I attend an HSS meeting, I find it the development of early computers, especially Arnold Beckman Foundation and from the invigorating to see the many people who have Estate of Britton Chance (plus some funds from 2 Like all collecting repositories, the APS is worked with APS collections and to meet those concerned with how to handle born-digital material, an unrestricted gift), the library has been able to its access and preservation. At the moment as much tackle processing the papers of Britton Chance 1 The other two are Native American ethnography material as possible is transferred to servers to minimize and linguistics and American history before 1860 deterioration of files, but access procedures are still being (1913-2010). At 750 linear feet the collection (though there is much material after that date). It bears developed. The big problem is of course how to handle was among the largest ever received by the APS. mentioning that there is also an archivist on staff who email, a problem beyond the scope of this article. works with Native American collections (cataloging some 3 The Library also has Dr. Goldstine’s papers from 4 Removing material such as multiple copies of 3,000 hours of recordings) and another, attached to the his service as executive director of the APS from 1984- works, interim grant reports, and photocopies of articles technology department, who works on digital projects. 1997. can reduce collections considerably. 8 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 Continued on Page 9 History of Science Society Newsletter Proceeding on with Processing, cont.

The bulk of it had been kept in its original filing the probing into the unknown, indeed, cabinets and shipped to a storage facility near the discovering the unknown, that intrigued New Jersey shore. Other material came from Chance. Exploring the implications of a Chance’s lab office, his house, and a warehouse in discovery did not interest him. Germantown.5 Perhaps his most intriguing discovery was Chance held two doctorates and was at the time that respiring isolated mitochondria attract of his death Eldridge Reeves Johnson Emeritus calcium ions from the suspending medium Professor of Biophysics, Physical Chemistry, and and that these ions act as stoichiometric Radiologic Physics. The papers document his long uncouplers. Had he followed up this career, from his time at the Radiation Laboratory observation, he might have solved the at MIT during World War II where he worked on riddle of oxidative phosphorylation a radar, to his later work developing techniques to use decade before Peter Mitchell.7 florescent molecules to detect breast cancer. Early in life Chance’s gift for invention was apparent. One could go on listing observations and As a young man he developed—and patented—an discoveries Chance made, such as “that automatic steering device for ships. As a graduate biological electron transfer – vital to respiration, photosynthesis, and oxidative Britton Chance in the laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden, student he devised a microflow version of the stop- 1946, where he worked on enzymes with future (1955) flow device that allowed for tracking of enzyme metabolism – was quantum-mechanical Nobel laureate Hugo Theorell. Chance Papers, American Philosophical Society. reactions in milliseconds. With improved versions tunneling, an understanding that now of the device he was able to study the substrate- underpins engineering of nanoscale electronic devices.”8 He did pioneering are documented in the papers, making the APS enzyme reaction complex—one of the important unexpectedly a future stop for historians of sailing. discoveries of his career. work in magnetic resonance imaging. But in talking about Chance, one needs to bring up another Ultimately of course it is the science that will be of In a tribute to Chance, Gottfried Schatz noted significant activity: he was an accomplished sailor. most interest to researchers. There is still probably that Chance was a “full-blooded hunter” who had Sailing was as much a part of his life as science. two years of work left, but much has been done. The 6 a “single-minded impatience for discovery.” It was Chance competed in the 5.5 meter event in the hardest series to process was the correspondence, 1952 Helsinki Olympics and won the gold medal. which has now largely been sorted and alphabetized 5 17 linear feet are in the University of This accomplishment and the rest of his sailing Pennsylvania Archives & Records Center, including and totals over 120 linear feet. Other series include correspondence with Efraim Racker and Max Perutz. works by Chance, meetings and organizations, and 6 Schatz, Gottfried, “What Britton Chance Means 7 Ibid. to Me,” http://www.brittonchance.org/wp-content/ 8 Home page of http://www.brittonchance.org/. research. It’s not yet clear how big the research series uploads/2013/02/bcschatz.pdf. Accessed 6/2/2015. Accessed 6/2/2015 9 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 Continued on Page 10 History of Science Society Newsletter Proceeding on with Processing, cont. will be, but the lab records are extensive. Chance spent his career mainly in the public sphere. With bound many of his records. A volume will typically a helpful assist from Wolfe’s work and funding have a photograph of readings on a monitor and from the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, the notes about what the experiment demonstrated Glass Papers are being processed. (much regrettably fastened with cellophane tape). Readings from monitors were often graphed, the Prior to the Lounsbery grant being used for the graphs photographed, multiple copies made, cross- Glass Papers, the grant funded the processing referenced to the research volume, and stored in of the papers of James Van Gundia Neel. The folders. papers, 115.5 linear feet, cover much of Neel’s career but is lacking in his early Drosophila work In contrast to the lab-centric papers of Britton and his work with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Papers of Britton Chance, mainly correspondence, Chance, the papers of H. Bentley Glass (1906- Commission (most of the latter is in Houston). organized and awaiting box and folder labels in the manuscripts processing area of the APS. Photograph 2005) are more centered on science in the public Most importantly the collection documents his by Charles Greifenstein, 2015. sphere. Policy, education, and ethics were his chief work in South America and has much on his work areas of activity. The papers have been examined with anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon. Blumberg (it is hard for me not to write “Barry”) in detail by Audra Wolfe, who produced a folder- However, the Lounsbery grant is being used chiefly wrote hundreds of papers and spent much time in level description of the collection. Wolfe has labs, but his papers are less lab-centric than Chance’s written about the collection in some detail. The to process the papers of Baruch S. Blumberg (1925-2011), winner of the 1976 Nobel Prize in and don’t have the public policy focus that Glass’ do. Glass Papers, are essential for scholars researching What comes through in the papers is that he was academic freedom, anti-Communism, science Physiology or Medicine for “discoveries concerning new mechanisms for the origin and dissemination an explorer and disseminator. He traveled widely, education, postwar eugenics, medical genetics, 10 meeting and talking and studying. In my contact national science policy, nuclear disarmament, of infectious diseases” as the award said. Blumberg discovered the hepatitis B virus and created a vaccine with him I found him curious, unpretentious, organizational politics, scientific publishing, or 11 involved. In one of our discussions about the the radiation and fallout debates.9 for it. He freely distributed his patent and, once the vaccine could be massed produced, millions of Library’s collections—he was APS President then— One of the most significant aspects of the papers people around the world benefitted. he said, “Every time I come to the Library, I learn something.” As this was addressed to me, I took it is the record of Glass’ involvement with the 10 Blumberg shared the prize with D. Carleton Gajdusek (1923-2008), who discovered the causative as a great compliment, but it illustrates something Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. Taken as a agent of kuru. The APS has Gajdusek’s (unprocessed) whole, the Glass Papers document a scientist who papers as well, though there is a large collection at the about his fundamental character. National Library of Medicine and records in Australia. 9 Wolfe, Audra, “The Organization Man and the 11 Although the collection is already huge, some There is of course much about hepatitis B in Archive: A Look at the Bentley Glass Papers,” Journal material has not yet been received by the Library. of the History of Biology, published online 3/8/2011, Blumberg’s journals, which he kept religiously all his life, the papers. One interesting item is a huge downloaded 3/24/2011. are still in the family’s possession. 10 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 Continued on Page 11 History of Science Society Newsletter Proceeding..., cont. Jas-Bio: The First Fifty Years by Henry M. Cowles, Yale University

(and unfortunately now very fragile) chart that The Joint Atlantic Seminar for the History of in 1965. The final session was organized around Blumberg drew up to show the dozens and dozens Biology, commonly known as “Jas-Bio,” is an reminiscences from “cohorts” of Jas-Bio attendees, of interconnected steps in the scientific process annual conference for historians of the life sciences beginning with the founding cohort and proceeding that made possible his discovery. His work to that has been hosted by various universities along by decade through to the present day. Members of get the vaccine to countries such as India and the Northeast Corridor since 1965. In March each group shared memories of the workshop, from China is documented. But Blumberg’s wide- of 2015, Jas-Bio returned to Yale University— first presentations and experiences in the audience range of activities are also documented: the study the site of the first meeting—to mark its fiftieth to becoming mentors and organizers in their own of albumin variants in Naskapi and Montagnis anniversary. right. This structured reflection shed light on both Indians; service as the first non-English master what has changed in the history of biology (and of Balliol; investigating mistreatment of scientists This year’s event, organized by Henry Cowles, the broader history of science) and what has gone in Chile at the behest of the National Academy Joanna Radin, and William Summers, played unchanged in the last half-century. of Sciences; serving as first director of the NASA out in two dimensions. The first was familiar. A Astrobiology Institute. One of parts of his work Friday reception paired historians with curators One major shift has been demographic. According I finding intriguing is that with woodchucks. from the Peabody Museum of Natural History to the first Jas-Bio program (and participants’ He discovered that woodchucks that carry the to discuss biology’s material legacies. Saturday memories), six men and three women presented hepatitis B virus develop liver cancer and are thus saw ten student presentations touching on the their work in 1965. In 2015, the gender balance useful for testing anti-virals. intersections of biology—broadly construed— had flipped: of this year’s ten presenters, three with other scientific disciplines, with ideologies were men and seven were women. Of course, Barry Blumberg was an explorer, and valued and cultural forces, and with society at large. the fact that a third of presenters in 1965 were exploration as a necessary human endeavor. Indeed, women is somewhat surprising: it was remarked he was a great supporter of the APS’s Lewis and The second dimension in which this year’s Jas- by many that the history of biology was a relatively Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research. It Bio played out was that of memory. With student friendly place for female scholars in the context is an APS tradition dating to the time of Lewis and presentations outlining the state of the field and of the larger field, then dominated by men doing Clark. In Lewis and Clark’s journals—most are held where it is heading, a plenary session at the end of the history of physics. Most presenters in the last by the APS—there are many entries which begin the two-day workshop highlighted where the field decade have been mentored by women, many of with “We proceeded on.” The Library of the APS has been: how topics and methods have changed whom gave their own first presentations at Jas-Bio has made a commitment to “process on” and will as the history of biology has evolved over the last a few decades earlier. continue to open new collections for exploration. fifty years. Another shift has been topical—but again, the Attendees ranged from first-timers to three precise nature of the change is not obvious. On scholars who attended the very first meeting back 11 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Jas-Bio: The First Fifty Years, cont.

1965-1974 the first program, every paper title is linked to a particular (male) individual and the development or impact of their thought. This year, no papers telegraph the importance of individuals—male or female—in their titles. Instead, titles point outward to wider issues: to progress and politics, to popular culture and the family. This is not to say that early papers did not deal with these wider issues, nor that more recent talks have forsaken individuals. Much to the contrary. But as a matter of emphasis, specific practitioners, theories, and fields seem to have given way to a wider range of issues. One can see this in a pair of word clouds, included on the program, drawn from the titles presented during the workshop’s first and most 2006-2015 recent decades. It would be a mistake to set too much store by titles, but the early prominence of “theory,” along with terms such as “physiology” and “philosophy,” as compared to the later landscape, is suggestive of shifts in the history of biology and related fields in the wake of the turn to social history, the rise of cultural history, and attendant emphasis on materials, practices, and political economy. The history of Jas-Bio sheds light on the history of science in its modern form. One theme shared across the generations during the plenary session was the importance of workshops like Jas-Bio for building collegiality and common

12 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Jas-Bio: The First Fifty Years, cont. purpose. In 1965 and 2015 alike, Jas-Bio provided an encouraging atmosphere for young scholars, often presenting their work for the first time, to receive feedback and support from one another and from senior scholars. Ideas were incubated, connections were formed, and a community came together around the evolving issues at the heart of the history of the life sciences, broadly defined. Over the weekend, many remarked that Jas- Bio was proof of the power of regionalism. The name “Joint Atlantic” is somewhat opaque— purposefully, it would seem, as participants have come from as far as Germany and Western Canada and the conference itself has been hosted a number of times in non-coastal venues, such as Washington, D.C. and Toronto. And yet, the clustering of core universities along the Northeast Corridor has contributed to the workshop’s sense of community (and has kept it small). Like the Midwest Junto for the History of Science, the History of the Physical Sciences Workshop

Photo by Dan Liu, UW–Madison 1st (top) row (l-r): Garland Allen, John Harley Warner, Ruth Schwartz Cowan, Daniel Kevles 2nd row: Janet Browne, Pamela Henson, Nathaniel Comfort, Nancy Hall, Lloyd Ackert 3rd row: Sharon Kingsland, Audra Wolfe, James Strick, Robin Scheffler 4th (bottom) row: Everett Mendelsohn, Susan Lindee, Luis Campos, Jane Maienschein

13 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Jas-Bio: The First Fifty Years, cont.

(unofficially: “Phunday”), and the Consortium INTERNATIONAL UNION OF THE HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/ (formerly “PACHS”), Jas-Bio is a reminder of Division Of History Of Science And Technology (IUHPST/DHST) the levels of discourse that exist between the local 2017 DHST Prize and the global, between our institutions and the For Young Scholars national and international conferences at which Scheme we see our colleagues. These smaller, less formal The International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Division of History of settings are often where the mechanics of the Science and Technology (IUHPST/DHST) invites submissions for the fourth DHST Prize for Young Scholars, to discipline—lecturing and networking, conference be presented in 2017. Initiated at the 22nd International Congress of History of Science in 2005 held in Beijing, planning and project pitching, shop talk and the DHST Prize is awarded by the IUHPST/DHST every four years to up to five young historians of science and socializing—are worked out, especially for younger technology for outstanding doctoral dissertations, completed within the last four years. scholars. The 2017 DHST Prize will not specify distinct categories, but the entries must be on the history of science or technology in any part of the world. The Award Committee will endeavor to maintain the broadest coverage There is much more to say about Jas-Bio. This of subjects, geographical areas, chronology and civilizations (African, American, Asian, Islamic, Western and report has included next to nothing about biology Ancient Civilisations, and others not included in the above list). Each Prize consists of a certificate, assistance itself: about changes in the understanding of the with travel and accommodation expenditures to the IUHPST/DHST Congress in Rio de Janeiro in August 2017 field, or the role of biologists in writing its history. and a waiver of registration fee. It has also been short on details of the workshop’s Competition Calendar Award Committee founding. (For those, one may consult Winsor, Submission deadline: 31 August 2016 The Committee is comprised Mary P., and Leonard G. Wilson, “The Joint Qualification examination and preliminary selection: September 2016 of the DHST President, Atlantic Seminar in History of Biology,” Isis 90 Award Committee online meeting: October-November 2016 Vice-Presidents, Secretary (January 1, 1999): S219–25.) The list of items left Approval by DHST Council: December 2016 General, and distinguished out is a testament to the many meanings of Jas- Award Ceremony: August 2017 specialists in specific fields. Bio, to its role in dozens of careers in the history of Conditions and Application science and its continued relevance in a changing Eligibility: Language: Any dissertation in a Application procedure: field. Applicants must have a doctoral language other than English must Applicants must submit degree in the history of science, be accompanied by a detailed online at http://hpdst.gr/ or technology awarded no earlier summary in English of no more youngscholarsprize where they than July 2012. than 20 pages. can also find procedural details.

14 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Member News Hanne Andersen has been named Head of the 96th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Division In 2014 Matthew Daniel Eddy (Durham the Department of Science Education at the of the AAAS in June. University) was elected to serve on the executive University of Copenhagen, and he looks forward ………… council of the British Society for the History of to promoting the many fruitful connections Science. In 2016 he will be a research fellow at Emily Brock between history and philosophy of science and has published Money Trees: The Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study. science education. Douglas Fir and American Forestry, 1900-1944 His project focuses on the kinds of scientific ………… (Oregon State University Press, 2015). She has evidence used to reconstruct and analyze the recently taken a position as research scholar in The 2015–16 Fellowship in Aerospace History everyday experiences of 18th and 19th-century Department III at the Max Planck Institute for childhood. has been awarded to Colleen Anderson, PhD the History of Science in Berlin. candidate in the Department of History at ………… Harvard University, for her project “‘Two Kinds ………… of Infinity’: East Germany, West Germany, and Stephen Brush's (University of Maryland, Treasure Your Exceptions. The Science and Life of Donald the Cold War Cosmos.” See more at: http:// emeritus) book Making 20th Century Science: William Bateson by Alan G. Cock and blog.historians.org/2015/05/2015-aha- How Theories Became Knowledge was published R. Forsdyke (Queen’s University, Kingston) nasa-jameson-fellowships-awarded/#sthash. by Oxford University Press in March 2015. On was published in 2008. The publishers (Springer, g7YkW2R9.dpuf May 20 he was given an honorary doctorate at New York) began monitoring electronic chapter downloads in 2011. The following are the ………… the commencement ceremony of the University of the Sciences-Philadelphia. His granddaughter yearly download figures since the records began: Jessica Barnes and Michael R. Dove (Yale) Jennifer Roberts received her bachelor's degree in 2011, 278; 2012, 274; 2013, 579; 2014, 2336. have published Climate Cultures: Anthropological physics at the same ceremony. Over the same period, Forsdyke’s Evolutionary Perspectives on Climate Change (Yale University Bioinformatics had 14,806 chapter downloads, of Press, 2015). The volume contains eleven cross- ………… which 6576 were in 2014. Richard Duschl cultural case studies of climate change and human (Pennsylvania State University) ………… society, most from scholars with Yale ties, and it was honored recently for his significant concludes with an afterword by the noted British contributions to science education research Monica H. Green (Arizona State University) climate scientist Mike Hulme. with the Distinguished Contributions Award together with 17 historians, bioarcheologists, and ………… at the 2015 awards luncheon for the National anthropologists, recently published a volume of Association for Research in Science Teaching essays, Pandemic Disease in the Medieval World: Roland Boucher (Independent researcher) (NARST). You can read more at: http://news. Rethinking the Black Death. This initially appeared recently presented “The Pendulum, Threepsu.edu/story/352630/2015/04/14/academics/ open-access as the inaugural issue of The Medieval Standards that Measured the Ancient World and waterbury-chair-awarded-highest-honor-narst- Globe in November 2014: http://scholarworks. the Mystery of the Parthenon” to his local Sigma ceremony wmich.edu/medieval_globe/1/ Xi chapter in Orange County California and at ………… 15 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Member News, cont. As of late May, the volume has been downloaded University of Alabama Medical School, as “Louis David K. Hecht (Bowdoin) has published over 4600 times. The volume is also available Pasteur and the Pleasures of Art,” at http://www. Storytelling and Science: Rewriting Oppenheimer in hardback, published by Arc-Medieval Press uab.edu/reynolds/past. Hansen has recently in the Nuclear Age (University of Massachusetts (Kalamazoo, MI and Bradford, UK, 2015), where published three articles about an overlooked Press, 2015). it appears with a new preface by Green, “The Black aspect of Pasteur’s biography, namely the great ………… Death and Ebola: The Value of Comparison.” chemist’s numerous close friendships with leading Ann Hibner Koblitz Green will be taking up a fellowship at the painters and sculptors and the mutual interactions ’s (Arizona State American Academy in Berlin in Fall 2015, where between his career and theirs. These articles were University) Sex and Herbs and Birth Control: she will be working on her new book, “A Global co-authored with a former student, Richard E. Women and Fertility Regulation through the Ages History of Health.” Weisberg (1943-2011). (Kovalevskaia Fund, 2014) was just awarded the Transdisciplinary Book Award of the Institute for ………… • Weisberg and Hansen, “Collaboration Humanities Research of Arizona State University. William deJong-Lambert (CUNY Bronx of Art and Science in Albert Edelfelt’s More information about the book can be found Community College) has been awarded a Franklin Portrait of Louis Pasteur: The Making of at www.kovfund.org/book.shtml or on the Research Grant from the American Philosophical an Enduring Medical Icon,” Bulletin of the author’s blog at http://ahkoblitz.wordpress.com History of Medicine 89:1 (Spring 2015), Society to work in the Haldane family papers at ………… the National Library of Scotland. 59-91. • Hansen and Weisberg, “Louis Pasteur's Kenton Kroker (York University) is pleased to ………… Three Artist Compatriots —Henner, announce that he is taking up a four-year term Bert Hansen is retiring after forty years of full- Pointelin, and Perraud: A Story of as co-editor (with Erika Dyck, University of time teaching, becoming Professor Emeritus Friendship, Science, and Art in the 1870s Saskatchewan) of the Canadian Bulletin of Medical after twenty-four years at Baruch College of and 1880s,” Journal of Medical Biography History/Bulletin canadien d'histoire de la medicine. CUNY, where he taught and published mostly (printed issue forthcoming; pre-prints ………… in American history and the history of medicine. available at http://jmb.Sagepub.com). Whitney E. Laemmli (University of Pennsylvania) He began teaching at SUNY-Binghamton, with • Hansen and Weisberg, “Louis Pasteur has been awarded an ACLS/Mellon Dissertation later stints at the University of Toronto and NYU (1822–1895), His friendships with the Completion Fellowship for her project “The and fellowships at Harvard and the Institute for Artists Max Claudet (1840–1893) and Choreography of Everyday Life: Rudolf Laban Advanced Study. His Picturing Medical Progress Paul Dubois (1829–1905), and His and the Analysis of Modern Movement.” from Pasteur to Polio about popular culture imagery Public Image in the 1870s and 1880s,” in America appeared in 2009. An illustrated Journal of Medical Biography (printed issue ………… booklet with a condensed version of his lecture forthcoming; pre-prints available at http:// Ken Ludmerer (Washington University) received examining the place of the fine arts in Pasteur’s jmb.Sagepub.com). the 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award of career is available in pdf format courtesy of the ………… the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for his 16 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Member News, cont. contributions to the history of medicine, with founding the Knight Science Journalism program Publishers Award for Professional and Scholarly special reference to his latest book, Let Me Heal: at MIT in 1982. Excellence (PROSE Award) in Music & the The Opportunity to Preserve Excellence in American ………… Performing Arts, presented by the Professional and Medicine (Oxford, 2014). Scholarly Publishing Division of the Association Carla Mulford (Pennsylvania State University) of American Publishers. ………… has published Benjamin Franklin and the Ends Kristie Macrakis (Georgia Tech) has been of Empire (Oxford University Press, 2015) and ………… awarded a Woodrow Wilson Center Fellowship is currently working on a monograph titled Elizabeth Petrick (New Jersey Institute of in Washington, D.C. for 2015-16 to work on her “Benjamin Franklin's Electrical Diplomacy.” Technology) has published Making Computers new project on “Technology and the Rise of the ………… Accessible: Disability Rights and Digital Technology US National Security State.” The paperback of her (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015). David Orenstein continues to pursue the rich 2014 book Prisoners, Lovers, and Spies, Yale Press, ………… was released in May 2015 and the first translation research vein of the early international scientific Raffaele Pisano into Estonian in April 2015. congresses held in Canada. This has produced a was awarded his Habilitation formidable personal archive of research notes and HDR (Accreditation to Supervise Research) by ………… photocopies that has led to many publications, the University of Lorraine, France. He Victor K. McElheny (MIT), author of ranging from minute to medium size, as well as continues to serve as Vice President-elect biographies of Edwin H. Land (Perseus, 1998) several conference papers delivered across Canada. (2011-) of the Inter-Divisional Teaching and James D. Watson (Perseus, 2003), and a He will serve as a new executive member of Commission (DLMPS/IUHST). He is also general history of the Human Genome Project Toronto’s Riverdale Historical Society (RHS) and under contract (with Paolo Bussotti) for a full (Basic Books, 2010 and 2012), has begun a series, will organize the Friday afternoon excursion when translation from Latin into English of four “Milestones of Innovation,” with the online the Canadian Science and Technology Historical volumes of Newton's Principia Geneva Edition innovation news service, Xconomy.com, based in Association (which studies the history of Canadian (2020, Oxford University Press). Cambridge, MA. Items have covered such topics science) holds it biennial conference at Toronto’s ………… as the Frisch-Peierls uranium memorandum of York University on 6-8 November 2015. He will Lawrence Principe (Johns Hopkins University) 1940, Stephanie Kwolek’s 1965 invention of serve as the Canadian Society for History and has won a Guggenheim Fellowship for 2015-2016. Kevlar, and Franklin Roosevelt’s 1940 summons Philosophy of Science’s representative on the He will finish his book about the life and work of William Knudsen to join him in Washington Programme Committee for the Three Societies of Wilhelm Homberg and the transformations of in 1940 to work on “production matters.” The meeting at the University of Alberta next year. chemistry at the Academie Royale des Sciences, pieces are archived on the Xconomy.com site. ………… 1666-1730. McElheny was technology reporter for the New Peter Pesic ………… York Times and inaugural director of the Banbury 's (St. John’s College) book Music Raphael Rosen Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory before and the Making of Modern Science (MIT Press began work at the Princeton and iBooks, 2014) received the 2014 American Plasma Physics Laboratory as a science writer in 17 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Member News, cont. February 2015. In this role he will write press competing views about the power of vision in epistemologías de segundo orden I: el aporte crítico releases about research papers published by Lab Spain between the 1830s and 1950s. Placing Spain de Iván Illich y de Hans Jonas (Universidad Militar physicists and help manage and execute the in the middle of a European cultural milieu, rather Nueva Granada, 2014). He also served as guest Lab's overall communications strategy. In 2014, than fading it into the margins, the book moves editor of La Revista Internacional Magisterio: No he published Math Geek, a book about finding from the work of the “father of neuroscience” 71: Bioética y educación de future (Cooperativa mathematics in everyday life. http://amzn. Santiago Ramón y Cajal--both a scientist and Editorial Magisterio, 2014). He published com/1440583811 a photographer--to Manuel de Terán's cultural many articles in 2014 and 2015, including ………… topographies, the “retinal vision” of philosopher “Polemoética: límites y posibilidades” in Revista Alexandra Rutherford (York University) has José Ortega y Gasset, and Salvador Dalí's notorious de Bioética Latinoamericana, Vol. 14, No 1, been awarded a grant from the Association for romance with quantum theory. 2014; “Tecnología bélica medieval: Giro en la Psychological Science's Teaching and Public ………… historia de la tecnología” in Revista Universidad de Antioquia, No 315, 2014; and a series of articles Understanding of Psychological Science grants Robin Wolfe Scheffler will start as an Assistant program. The project, entitled “Gender Matters: on the history of astronomy in Circular de la Red Professor at the MIT Program in Science, de Astronomía de Colombia. Sierra was a researcher Gendered Innovations in Teaching Psychological Technology, and Society on 1 July, after Science,” inspired by Londa Schiebinger's and evaluator for the National System of Science completing a year as a Visiting Scholar at the and Technology, Departamento Administrativo Gendered Innovations initiative, will produce American Academy of Arts and Sciences. teaching materials exploring how gendering de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Colciencias), affects the design, conduct, interpretation, and ………… Colombia in both 2014 and 2015. communication of psychological science. Jason L. Schwartz has joined the faculty at ………… ………… Yale University as an assistant professor in the Pamela H. Smith (Columbia University) was Department of Health Policy and Management Gildo M. Santos (University of São Paulo) has selected as Vice President of the Renaissance in the School of Public Health, with a secondary Society of America. She will serve a 2014-16 edited a special issue of the Brazilian electronic appointment in the Section of the History of journal Labor & Engenho, focusing on the history term, then become President for 2016-18, and Medicine in the School of Medicine. He was most Past President 2018-20. She recently co-edited of electrification in Southern Brazil. The link is recently the Harold T. Shapiro Fellow in Bioethics http://www.conpadre.org/v9n12015.php the following books: Christy Anderson, Anne at Princeton University. He received his Ph.D. in Dunlop, and Pamela H. Smith (eds.), The Matter ………… the History and Sociology of Science from the of Art: Materials, Practices, Cultural Logics, Claudia Schaefer (University of Rochester) had University of Pennsylvania. c.1250-1750 (Manchester University Press, Lens, Laboratory, Landscape: Observing Modern ………… 2015), a volume that explores attitudes to matter Spain published last September 2014 by the State Carlos Eduardo Sierra (Universidad Nacional de and materials in the early modern world, as well University of New York Press. It is being released Colombia) has published (with Steve Macraigne as the meaning, use, and production of materials in paperback on 2 July 2015. The volume explores and Sergio Osorio) La bioética a la luz de las for building, mining, and various types of artistic 18 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Member News, cont. production, and Pamela H. Smith, Amy R. David J. Stump (University of San Francisco) has Kelly J. Whitmer has been promoted to Associate W. Meyers, and Harold J. Cook (eds), Ways of published Conceptual Change and the Philosophy of Professor of History at Sewanee: The University Making and Knowing: The Material Culture of Science: Alternative Interpretations of the A Priori of the South. Her book, The Halle Orphanage as Empirical Knowledge (Bard Graduate Center/ (Routledge, 2015). Scientific Community: Observation, Eclecticism and University of Michigan Press, 2014). ………… Pietism in the Early Enlightenment, appeared in May 2015 with the University of Chicago Press. This volume explores the circumstances under Arnold Thackray(Chemical Heritage which making constituted knowing, and, more Foundation) has co-authored (with David Brock ………… specifically, it examines the relationship between and Rachel Jones) Moore's Law: The Life of Gordon Polly Winsor (University of Toronto) has making objects (crafts) and knowing nature (the Moore, Silicon Valley's Quiet Revolutionary (Basic published “Considering Affinity: An Ethereal natural sciences) in Europe and its colonies from Books, 2015), an account of Gordon Moore’s life Conversation,” Endeavour 39 (1): 69-79, which about 1450 to 1850. It includes both museum and his role in the development of Silicon Valley. uses an imaginary dialogue to explore issues in the and academic scholars in an attempt to draw the The 560-page biography has been ten years in the history of systematics. Parts 2 and 3 of this project study of objects more centrally into history and making. are currently in press. the history of science. ………… ………… ………… Elly Truitt was granted tenure and promoted Christine Yi Lai Luk has published a paper titled Miriam Solomon (Temple University) has just from Assistant to Associate Professor of History “Building Biophysics in Mid-Century China: The published Making Medical Knowledge with Oxford at Bryn Mawr College. Her book Medieval Robots: University of Science and Technology of China” University Press. Mechanism, Magic, Nature, and Art was published in the Journal of the History of Biology, Vol. 48(2), ………… by the University of Pennsylvania Press in May pp. 201-235. Her dissertation-based monograph, David Spanagel earned tenure and the promotion 2015. A History of Biophysics in Contemporary China, was to Associate Professor this past winter at Worcester ………… recently published by Springer Press. Polytechnic Institute. Glen Van Brummelen has been awarded the ………… 2015 Distinguished Teaching award by the Mathematical Association of America’s Pacific Anthony N. Stranges (Texas A&M) has published Northwest section. Transforming America (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2014). The book is a comprehensive ………… survey of science in America from colonial times Mark A. Waddell (Michigan State) has published to the present. Jesuit Science and the End of Nature's Secrets ………… (Ashgate, 2015). …………

19 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter In Memoriam Mel Usselman he began teaching a course of his business records, succeeding not only in 5 January 1946 — 23 March 2015 own design at Western (he called thoroughly elucidating Wollaston’s amazing life it “Liberal Science 101”), while story, but also in illuminating his context within Mel Usselman, a distinguished studying toward a master’s degree in early nineteenth-century British (and global) historian of chemistry and a dear history of science. society, politics, technology, and commerce. friend to many in our community, died on 23 March 2015 at the age By great good fortune Usselman had In addition to his exceptional ability as a historian, of 69, after a six-week illness. He the benefit of the mentorship and Usselman was also a highly trained chemist with is survived by his wife Trixie and friendship of the eminent historian access to his own laboratory, to colleagues in other three children. His just-published of biochemistry Frederic L. Holmes, chemical specialties, and to talented undergraduate life’s work is a magisterial full-scale who from 1972 to 1977 chaired chemistry honors students. He employed all of biography of the extraordinary Western’s Department of History these as invaluable adjuncts to his more bookish English polymath William Hyde Photo courtesy of Trixie Usselman. of Medicine and Science. Usselman historical work. For example, he and collaborators Wollaston (1766-1828). He had completed earned his M.A. in 1975, was hired carried out analyses and replications to provide the final task connected with the publication of by Western’s Department of Chemistry, and began important insights into Wollaston’s innovative the book—approving the cover design—a few his career as a historian-chemist. He ascended the work on platinum, palladium, and rhodium, days before falling ill. Advance copies of Pure ranks, regularly teaching organic chemistry as well results that could have been obtained in no other Intelligence: The Life of William Hyde Wollaston as history of science, attaining a full professorship fashion. Often with the help of students (whom (University of Chicago Press) arrived at the in 2005 and then becoming emeritus in 2013. he routinely gave coauthor status), in a series of Usselman home six weeks after the author had Until 1981 he held a joint appointment in the remarkable journal articles and book chapters he passed away. Department of History of Medicine and Science. replicated in historically sensitive ways crucial One of the first subjects Usselman began to experiments by Wollaston, John Dalton, Thomas Melvyn Charles Usselman was born 5 January Thomson, and Justus Liebig. 1946 in Ottawa. He graduated with an honors explore as a master’s student was Wollaston’s life B.Sc. degree in chemistry from the University and work, a worthy quest that he tirelessly pursued In each of these cases, Usselman and collaborators of Western Ontario in 1968, then completed a for the next forty years. In his own day Wollaston were able to show that the actual historical chemistry Ph.D. there five years later under the was universally considered to be one of Europe’s details were far more interesting, and often more direction of the eminent organic chemist Paul de greatest natural philosophers, but through a twist consequential, than had always been assumed. Mayo. Partly under the influence of de Mayo’s of fate that Usselman explains to his readers, no For example, we now know that Dalton’s first deep interest in the field, Usselman developed a proper biography has ever appeared—until now. case of multiple proportions—that which led him passion for the history of chemistry even before Usselman tenaciously sought and meticulously to the atomic theory—was experimentally much completing his doctoral research. After the degree, analyzed published and unpublished materials, more complex than Dalton realized, and some of including letters, laboratory notebooks, and his fortuitously favorable conclusions were based 20 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter In Memoriam on misinterpretations. The same was true for and actually carried out the lab-work. Usselman The final and maybe the most important point to one of Thomson’s decisive early verifications of was indeed a teacher as well as a scholar—a teacher mention was Mel’s many other sterling human Dalton’s theory. And the meticulous experimental for the ages. He had a well-earned reputation at qualities. A consummate colleague, mentor, and replications of Liebig’s revolutionary procedure Western, collecting major teaching awards on the friend, positive and thoughtful in all his dealings, for the elemental analysis of organic compounds national as well as regional and local levels. His his wise voice was cherished at Western, as well by Usselman et al. provided innumerable insights introductory course on the normally dreaded as in the wider circles in which he moved. Mel that could have been reached by no other subject of organic chemistry was regularly heavily was one of the most deeply and thoroughly decent means. For the latter project and related work, oversubscribed. people I have ever met. He had a wonderful sense in 2004 Usselman was awarded the Liebig- Mel’s exceptional appeal as a teacher was based on of humor. In talking with him, working with Wöhler Freundschafts-Preis at the University of many factors, but I suspect three were paramount. him, learning from him, and laughing with him, Göttingen. The first was his habit of extraordinary clarity one never felt it was ever about him; it was always I was privileged to witness some of Mel’s work and careful organization in whatever he did and about others. Mel Usselman not only enjoyed his on the Liebig project at first hand. I stood in said. I am sure that Mel had a natural aptitude life enormously, he made everyone around him awe of his almost magical ability to surmount to speak and write clearly, but there is also no enjoy theirs more. He will be dearly missed. one obstacle after another, gradually coaxing an doubt that this result was the outcome of hard historically informed apparatus to work. It wasn’t work and careful thought. A second factor was his Alan Rocke just his ability to analyze and resolve intractable almost preternatural patience. Mel loved people, Case Western Reserve University problems that so deeply impressed; he was and he was amazingly generous with his time and simultaneously (and brilliantly) mentoring two attention—to students of course, but the same can student collaborators who learned the procedure be said about his relations with colleagues.

21 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Activities of the HSS Committees, Interest Groups, and Caucuses by Jay Malone, HSS Executive Director

Twice a year, the Executive Office asks our • Committee on Honors and Prizes (CoHP): Schmalzer, Ken Alder, Brian Dolan, Dorothy volunteers to report on their activities over the (Chair Sarah Igo, Lorraine Daston, Gregg Porter, John Krige) CoMP is a large committee prior six months. The Executive Committee Mitman, Jimena Canales, Larry Principe): because we include the program chairs and discusses these reports at its biannual meetings, CoHP members sit ex officio on our local arrangements chairs for 3 meetings (prior, where it offers guidance, considers various action various prize committees, offer guidance on current, next) to provide continuity. Since the items, prepares motions for presentation to procedures and help with guidelines so as to annual meeting is one of the more important Council, and, always, expresses deep appreciation ensure consistency in our prizes. The members activities of the HSS and the strategic plan for the dozens of volunteers who devote their time do not read books or portfolios. The CoHP’s calls for us to create more dynamic meetings, and intellect to Society business. major activity is providing 3 nominations to CoMP has been especially busy trying to reach the Executive Committee for the Sarton Medal that goal (the record number of submissions Since we are in the midst of implementing our (the Executive Committee determines the for San Francisco (over 600) suggests that strategic plan, I will try to provide more updates winner). Due to a new procedure, where we we are on the right track). In addition to on the activities of the committees (members may invited short nominations, CoHP examined implementing the strategic plan, CoMP is wish to refer to my annual report, beginning on over 20 nominations, arrived at a short list of helping plan the 2019 meeting in Utrecht page 20 of the January Newsletter, to help with 5 for which they requested full nominations. (our first meeting outside of North America), http://hssonline.org/wp-content/ context: They then forwarded 3 of these nominations reviewing models for meeting policies, uploads/2014/07/Jan2015-Newsletter1.pdf ). (not ranked) to the Executive Committee. The discussing the use of various technologies to Standing Committees: Sarton Medalist will be revealed at the 2015 augment the meeting, monitoring aspects of conference. The committee also considered and the meeting to see what is working and what Under our current bylaws, which we are in the approved a nomination for the Outstanding requires adjustments, nominating program process of changing, the HSS has 6 standing Service Award, a prize established in the early chairs for future meetings, examining committees, each title describing the nature of 1980s for recognition of HSS members who proposals for possible sponsorship at the each committee’s work (each standing committee provide outstanding service to the HSS. American Historical Association meetings, has at least one Council member who serves). We and many other activities. also have a nominating committee, elected by the • Committee on Meetings and Programs membership each year. The following provides (CoMP): (Chair Rachel Ankeny, Arthur • Committee on Education (CoE): (Chair a summary of each committee’s activities (not Daemmrich, James Fleming, Karen-Beth Kristin Johnson, Secretary Dawn Digrius, included are the deliberations of the Society’s Scholthof, Debbie Coen, Matt Stanley, Sue Muriel Blaisdell, Lloyd Ackert, Erik Peterson, many prize committees): Lederer, Florence Hsia, Brian Ogilvie, Sigrid Marsha Richmond (ex officio)). In addition

Continued on Page 23 22 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Activities of the HSS Committees, Interest Groups, and Caucuses, cont.

to organizing and sponsoring sessions and candidates); and Nominating Committee at that tender. CoP also discussed the Hackathon workshops at the annual meeting, CoE Large (6 candidates). We heard numerous and THAT camp being organized by HSS provides nominations for the Joseph H. positive comments about the international Bibliographer Stephen Weldon, as well as Hazen lecture, given biennially in New nature of the slate and the high qualifications creating a statement that will be issued from York; examines requests for educational of the candidates resulted in some tight the HSS on the value of digital works and sponsorships; provides advice on the Hazen election margins (with one race ending in a publications and the guidelines for evaluating Education Prize; and, most importantly, is tie and requiring a run-off election). Because such works. implementing components of the strategic our strategic plan will require more of our plan that call for increased engagement. For nominating committee, we plan to increase • Committee on Research and the Profession the latter, CoE is interested in developing a the length of the terms (from one year to two (CoRP): CoRP is the only committee without long-term strategy for increasing the role of the years) to help with institutional memory and specific tasks to guide it. Its prior activities, such Society in building upon and taking advantage process. as the employment survey and membership of STEM initiatives in K-12 education, and diversity, had been taken over by other entities has good expertise in this realm represented • Committee on Finances (CoF): (Chair Adam in the HSS, thus creating uncertainty about on the committee. Discussions regarding Apt, Karen Parshall, Edith Sylla, Rich Kremer, CoRP’s purpose. Our strategic planning eventual workshops for local educators at Hamilton Cravens, Richard Sorrenson) The process has called for a reorganization of CoRP, society meetings highlighted the need for finance committee, chaired by HSS Treasurer, possibly as a membership committee, and we strategic and careful, long-term planning for Adam Apt, provides advice and guidance for will be providing updates on these changes. our Treasurer. The committee reviews the the success of such initiatives. Committee Caucuses: members have also expressed interest in budgets (Adam creates budgets for the next 3 discussing encyclopedia writing and similar fiscal years), examines investment policy, and • Graduate and Early Career Caucus (GECC): work, given the increasing role of historians of provides feedback on the uses of the Society’s (co chair Bridget Collins). GECC is devoted science in such publications, both online and endowment (currently at $3.5 million). to the needs of graduate students and early in print. careerists in the discipline. At the annual • Committee on Publications (CoP): (Chair meeting they host CV review sessions, • Nominating Committee (Nom Com): Soraya de Chadarevian, Secretary Florence mentorship programs (including a special (Chair Jan Golinski, Lissa Roberts, Luis Hsia, Michael Gordin, Katharine Anderson, mentorship tea for women), and a mixer for Campos, Erika Milam, Neil Safier) This year’s Matt Jones, Janet Browne (ex officio)) The grad students. committee created a slate for the Vice President Committee has been focused on a pending (2 candidates); Council (10 candidates); press tender and how our strategic plan’s • HSS at Work (co chairs, Carin Berkowitz and Nominating Committee from Council (4 emphasis on digital scholarship will figure into Jessica Baron) provides a space and resources Continued on Page 24 23 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter Activities of the HSS Committees, Interest Groups, and Caucuses, cont.

for historians of science who are not engaged in from how to speak to the media to hosting for the History of the Mathematical Sciences, typical academic employment. It continues to local events. They are supported in part by Forum for the History of Science in Asia, Forum for maintain an online presence (website, Twitter, the Elizabeth Paris Endowment Fund, which the History of the Chemical Sciences, the Physical Facebook) and gathers resources related to is dedicated to increased engagement in the Sciences Forum and the Early Science Interest work outside the tenure track. The Caucus is history of science. Group. Each group is engaged with a subset of the sponsoring a roundtable on “Communicating membership and is actively planning for events Beyond the Ivory Tower” at the 2015 HSS • Women’s Caucus: (co chairs Gina Rumore at the annual meeting, including prizes, lectures, Meeting. In addition, HSS at Work will also and Kimberly Hamlin) HSS’s oldest caucus lunches, and other special gatherings, creating an sponsor a reception at HSS 2015, perhaps continues to host the ever-popular Caucus increased dynamism at the conferences. There are jointly with GECC. breakfast at the annual meeting, an important some possible changes afoot for our oldest forum, networking event. The Caucus also provides History of Science in America, as its leaders • Joint Caucus for Socially Engaged Philosophers support for dependent care grants, lactation ponder its future now that its main goal of seeing and Historians of Science (JCSEPHS) (co rooms at the annual meeting, and gender more sessions on the history of science in America chairs Rachel Ankeny (HSS) and Janet challenges in publishing. at the annual meeting has been met. Stemwedel (PSA)) is focused on activities Interest Groups: to create more engagement in the history of science. They are focusing on practical events, Our 8 forums include the Forum for the History of such as the one in Chicago where over a dozen Science in America, Forum for History of Human experts provided advice on topics ranging Science, Earth and Environment Forum, Forum

24 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter News from the Profession Consortium for the History • Osler Medal: Julia Cockey Cromwell, • George Rosen Prize: Margaret Humphreys (Johns Hopkins University), “Viral for her book, Marrow of Tragedy: The Health of Science, Technology, and Knowledge: Autopsy and the 1918 Influenza Crisis of the American Civil War (Johns Medicine Newsletter Pandemic.” Hopkins University Press, 2013).

The Consortium for the History of Science, • Welch Medal: Honorable Mention: John Thomas Stroh, Leslie J. Reagan for her book Technology, and Medicine publishes a newsletter, Dangerous Pregnancies: Mothers, Disabilities, available at www.chstm.org. Events, news, and (University of Kansas School of Medicine, Class of 2014 and resident at the Children’s and Abortion in Modern America (University information on working groups are also available National Medical Center, Washington, DC) of California Press, 2010). on the site. “The English Reformation and the Birth of • Genevieve Miller Lifetime Achievement London’s Royal Hospitals.” Award: Caroline Hannaway 25th International Congress • Shryock Medal: Marissa Mika, (University on the History of Science • The Garrison Lecturer for 2016: Susan of Pennsylvania), “Surviving Experiments: E. Lederer, Robert Turell Professor of and Technology Burkitt’s Lymphoma Research in Idi Amin’s Medical History and Bioethics and Chair Uganda.” The 25th International Congress on the History of the Department of Medical History and of Science and Technology will be held in the city Bioethics, University of Wisconsin. Honorable Mention: Cara Kiernan Fallon, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 23 to 29 July 2017, (Harvard University), “Husbands’ Hearts and with the general theme “Science, Technology and Women’s Health: Gender and Heart Disease Doctoral Dissertations Medicine between the Global and the Local.” in Twentieth-Century America.” You can view the latest batch of recent doctoral You can learn more about the conference at dissertations on the history of science and http://www.ichst2017.sbhc.org.br/ • J. Worth Estes Prize: Hoi-eun Kim, “Cure medicine at: http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/histmed/ for Empire: The ‘Conuer-Russia-Pill,’ dissertations Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, and the American Association for the Making of Patriotic Japanese, 1904-45,” ProQuest has altered how they put out their History of Medicine Awards Medical History 57 (2013): 249-68. individual issues. No longer do they correlate to The American Association for the History of • Pressman-Burroughs Wellcome: Deborah one month, so the dating is more random. Thus Medicine honored the following individuals at its Blythe Doroshow, Yale University, for her titles will range from 2015—yes they have some award ceremony and 90th anniversary celebration project, “Emotionally Disturbed: The Care 2015 dates—back into the late 1990s. There is on 2 May 2015 at the Commons on the campus and Abandonment of America’s Troubled one additional aspect to point out about this latest of Yale University in New Haven, CT: Children.” batch of dissertations that make it unique. The University of Southern California downloaded the 25 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter News from the Profession, cont. past 75+ years of its dissertations into the current buried alive, that had become an obsession in 18th issues—thus you will find titles dating back into century Europe. the 1920s. While there are no abstracts for these earlier works you can pull up the full text of these Seminar’s Program dissertations. • Introduction: Marco Beretta (Università di Bologna) Savant Relics: Brains and • Anke Timmermann (Cambridge University): Remains of Scientists Of Death and Elixirs: The Remains and Resting Places of Alchemists. Commentator 4th Watson Seminar in the Material and Visual Brigitte Van Tiggelen (Chemical Heritage History of Science - University of Pavia, Pavia Foundation – Europe) September 4th, 2015 • Stefano Gattei (IMT Lucca): From Banned Organized by Marco Beretta, Maria Conforti, Paolo Mortal Remains to Worshipped Relics of Mazzarello in cooperation with the Museo Galileo a Martyr of Science: The Beginning of the in Florence Galileo Myth. Commentator John Heilbron In contrast to what we may assume, relics of (Oxford University) scientists are numerous and the practice of • Rob Iliffe (University of Sussex): The Mask of Galileo's finger. Courtesy Museo Galileo – Florence preserving and studying them covers a surprisingly Isaac Newton: Secular Hagiography and the long period, from the late medieval time to the Creation of Genius. Commentator Rebekah • Silvano Montaldo (Università di Torino): mid-twentieth century. What inspired then Higgitt (University of Kent) natural scientists or the public of the curious and Between Positivism and Nationalism: savants to preserve the bodies of their ancestors • Ludmilla Jordanova (Durham University): The Relics of 19th Century Scientists. or scientific heroes as relics? What was the role of Science, Memory and Relics in Britain. Commentator Maria Carla Gadebusch these relics within scientific culture? Motivations Commentator Anna Maerker (King’s College Bondio (Technische Universität München) varied and included commemorative rituals; London) Admission is free. For registration and other strategies to perpetuate memory; establishing the • Valentina Cani (Università di Pavia): Pavia’s information contact Mrs. Marta Daffara at superiority of eminent scientists by investigating [email protected] or see the size and anatomy of their brains' phrenology Relics of Notable Scientists: A Journey between Science and Scientific Mythology. http://www.shpusa.com/2014/10/savant-relics- onwards; the institutionalization of the offering brains-and-remains-of-scientists/ to the fellow scientists the corpse for scientific Commentator Francesco De Ceglia purposes; and last but not least the fear of being (Università di Bari) 26 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter IWHC-2015-Tokyo: Lessons from an Enchanted Conference I Almost Missed by Dr. Pnina G. Abir-Am, Brandeis University

The IWHC-2015-Tokyo meeting [http:// kagakushi.org/iwhc2015] on “Transformations of Chemistry from the 1920s to the 1960s” was held on March 2-4, 2015 at Tokyo Tech (Tokyo Institute of Technology, or the Tokyo equivalent of MIT according to its students). The participation of historians of science from over half a dozen countries was made possible by a group grant to historians who studied the history of chemistry in Japan during the above period. IWHC-2015-Tokyo thus reflected its organizers’ desire to situate their findings in a Group photo at conference conclusion on 3-4-15 (all group photos by Masanori Kaji, Chair of Local wider, comparative and international context. Organizing Committee, 7th from left in first row) The meeting’s sponsors included the Japanese Society for the History of Chemistry; the scholars who encounter obstacles in participating Epstein, senior adviser to the Provost at Brandeis International Commission for the History of at international conferences. University, had all commented on the high quality of the IWHC-2015-Tokyo program. Modern Chemistry; the History of Science This meeting was organized by two committees. Society of Japan; and the Chemical Society of The first was the Program Committee, which The second committee responsible for the success Japan, among others. included eight members from five countries and of this conference was the Local Organizing In the spirit of “all is well that ends well” (a was chaired by Professor Yasu Furukawa of Nihon Committee, composed of members from twelve surprising statement since Shakespeare was University, (http://www.nihon-u.ac.jp/en/) Japanese universities, and chaired by Masanori all too familiar with the vast contrast between President of the Japanese Society for the History Kaji, a Professor of history & philosophy of outcome and process) I will first describe why this of Chemistry, (JSHC) who also gave the Opening science & technology at Tokyo Tech’s Graduate conference was so rewarding and worthwhile, even Address on JSHC’s history. This Committee School of Decision Sciences. He hosted IWHC- when one’s road to Tokyo was far from obvious. produced such an impressive program that 2015-Tokyo with amazing “cool” at several sites Second, I will reflect on lessons learned from the several distinguished senior colleagues to whom I in his home university. A team of resourceful “process” of getting to IWHC-20115-Tokyo, showed it, among them Roald Hoffman, a Nobel staffers coordinated by Ms. Makiko Shiba was so as to better address the predicament of many Laureate in chemistry; Margaret Rossiter, a long- available on site to ensure the smooth running of term former Editor of ISIS and Osiris; and Irving the conference. Continued on Page 28 27 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter IWHC-2015-Tokyo, cont.

IWHC-2015-Tokyo focused on various aspects speakers, from Holland); seven came from USA whose centennial is currently unfolding all over the of the history of chemistry between the 1920s (two additional keynotes speakers, Jeffrey Johnson world. Indeed, a session on the role of chemistry in and the 1960s, a period during which chemistry and Mary Jo Nye, as well as Carsten Reinhardt, WWI is currently being organized by IWHC-2015 was transformed by advances in quantum theory Ronald Brashear, Evan Hepler-Smith, Kevin participants Yoshiyuki Kikuchi & Brigitte van and the discovery of nuclear fission, by changes in Fujitani, and Pnina G. Abir-Am); and two came Tiggelen for the upcoming HSS annual meeting in its relationships to biology, and by changes in its from Japan’s neighboring countries (Buhm Soon San Francisco (November 16-19). relationship to physics, as reflected in the impact Park from Korea; and Ian Rae from Australia). of many new methods and techniques such as Regretfully, a scheduled speaker from India, “A Career at the Center: Linus Pauling and spectroscopy, electron diffraction, and X-ray Pankaj Kalita, who had an interesting topic, the Transformation of Chemical Science in crystallography, among others. The conference’s (polymer synthesis) did not arrive. Nine of the the 20th Century,” delivered by Mary Jo Nye, eight sessions thus covered the international 30 scholars on the program (i.e. 26 speakers and (Oregon State University) provided not only a context of the chemical community. Most sessions four non-speaker session chairs) were women. The comprehensive view of the famous chemist, but combined guest and host country speakers, as well conference was also attended by an additional fifty also an essential background for other talks which as professional diversity ranging from graduate or so historians of science and students from Japan touched on Pauling, e.g. those by Y. Kikuchi & students to professors emeriti. who participated in the Q&A periods. N. Hirota, as well as my own talk in Session 4, (Chemistry’s Relationships to Biology”). The contributions of the Japanese historians Three keynote addresses were delivered by focused on the international relationships of former recipients of the Dexter Prize (given by Following Kevin Fujitani’s (Ohio State Japanese chemists (N. Hirota, K. Kawashima, Y. the American Chemical Society for outstanding University) fascinating talk on the attribution of Kekuchi, and M. Wada); the history of research contributions to the history of chemistry). Ernst credit for the discovery of vitamin B1 to seven schools of quantum and organic chemistry in Homburg’s (Maastricht University) address “On scientists in session 4, I presented recent research Japan (Y. Furukawa and M. Kaji, respectively); Molecules, Men, and Mirrors: Different Ways to on “Pauling’s ‘boys’ and the mystery of DNA and theories and methods (S. Furuya, Mari Write a History of the Chemical Industry” was structure," conducted under a fellowship from the Yamaguchi, Makoto Yamaguchi, and T. Mine). a tour-de-force, deftly covering the periods well Special Collections and Archive Research Center Eight participants came from Europe (Susanne before and after the conference time frame. (SCARC) at Oregon State University. Having had Rehn-Taube, Victoria Lee & Jeremiah James no opportunity to present this research beyond Paulingblog. from Germany; Danielle Fauque & Pierre Laszlo “From bio-organic chemistry to synthetic biology: SCARC’s own Fellows series, ( wordpress.com/2012/11/21/dr-pnina-abir- from France; Brigitte van Tiggelen from Belgium, Fulfilling Emil Fischer’s dream," delivered by am-resident-scholar Galina Shindriayeva from UK; and last but not Jeffrey Johnson, (Villanova University, PA.) ) I was both surprised and least, Ernst Homburg, one of three keynote acquainted us with little known aspects of the great pleased to encounter a great interest in Pauling’s chemist’s broad vision and dutiful efforts in WWI, misadventures with DNA, especially on the part of 28 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter IWHC-2015-Tokyo, cont. our Japanese colleagues. A lively Q&A followed, day long tour of Tokyo. Our guide selected a rich mentioned above as a central theme in Japanese skillfully moderated by Togo Tsukahara of Kobe itinerary, ranging from the Hamarikyu botanical history & culture was obviously not among them. University, whose name was already mentioned to gardens, (with 300-year-old pine trees) to the me by a common colleague at UCLA. (see below) Meiji shrine (www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/); The only ray of hope came from UCLA (University In seeking to better understand the reasons for the the Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum; and of California at Los Angeles) where several pronounced Japanese interest in Pauling’s failed the Asakusa district with its many traditional colleagues (Soraya de Chadarevian, Ted Porter, foray into DNA, I began to quiz Japan experts Buddhist temples and Shintoist shrines. The tour Mary Terrall, Maura Resnick and Yoram Cohen) until I was able to confirm my hunch that such was punctuated by a tea ceremony in a tidal pond graciously ensured that the transpacific long haul an interest reflected not only Pauling’s fame as pavilion of a former seashore shogun villa from ahead of me should benefit from a friendly stopover both a great scientist and a humanitarian who the Tokugawa period in the 17th Century and by inviting me to give a couple of talks in the campaigned against nuclear testing, but also a a Japanese style traditional lunch (http://www. week prior to the Tokyo meeting. Also at UCLA, fascination with the culturally central theme of gonpachi.jp/?lang=en). Sharon Traweek and Sandra Harding generously the “nobility of failure," a theme going back to the shared with me their own experiences of Japan. South Pacific history of the Meiji restoration. Flying back to the US with the (Harding returned from a recent lecture tour in musical sound track in my ear set, I had time to Tokyo, while Traweek spent considerable time at Unfortunately, for reasons of space, it is not reflect on the fact that this unique experience had Tsukuba Science City researching her pioneering possible to comment here on all the talks, (about almost not happened. To make a long story short, Ph.D. thesis on the particle physics community in two dozen) especially since an electronic version of quite a few institutions and individuals in the US Japan and the United States. (better known in its the program, as well as of the revised conference proved to be distinctly unhelpful with my efforts published form of Beamtimes and Lifetimes, Harvard proceedings, is available on the IWHC- to secure matching travel funds for this conference. University Press, 1992). My uncertain situation was 2015-Tokyo website (http://kagakushi.org/ To be sure, some were a long shot, while others, resolved in the last moment only when, in a flash of iwhc2015). An English language special issue of HSS included, chose to focus on participation at inspiration and inclusivity, the Japanese organizers Kagakushi, the journal of the Japanese Society for their own meetings only. But there were some removed the last hurdles still standing between me the History of Science, will also include Japanese organizations and individuals whose official and their amazing conference. I can only hope that translations of the three keynote papers. mission revolved around promoting the history their good foresight is appreciated not only by me of chemistry, yet they strangely failed to foresee but also in pertinent professional quarters in both IWHC-2015-Tokyo provided ample opportunities that participation on the program of IWHC- Japan and the USA. for discussion during the Q&A periods as well as 2015-Tokyo was an excellent way of promoting during the coffee breaks, lunches, and receptions. such a mission. Whatever the reasons for such a In conclusion, I wish to share a key lesson from It concluded with two most memorable events: failure may have been, the “nobility of failure” my complex experience with participating at this a banquet in a traditional Japanese garden and a conference. During the prolonged “process” of 29 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter IWHC-2015-Tokyo, cont. leaving no stone unturned, one of many colleagues with whom I had consulted, Sally Gregory Kohlstedt (a former HSS President, Dean and academic fellowships available activist at the University of Minnesota) recalled that the National Science Foundation (NSF) once had and might still have a program for travel to The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced international conferences. Though my follow up Study at Harvard University awards For more information, with NSF-STS Program Director revealed that 50 funded residential fellowships please contact: processing such an application would have required each year designed to support several months (and hence it could not, by then, scholars, scientists, artists, and Radcliffe Application Office apply to IWHC-2015-Tokyo) such a program was 8 Garden Street immediately recognized as pertinent for another writers of exceptional promise and Cambridge, MA 02138 upcoming international conference, on “Gender demonstrated accomplishment. 617-496-1324 and Collaboration in Science," to be held in Prague. [email protected] A group proposal for seven US based speakers, the www.radcliffe.harvard.edu majority of whom having no other source of travel support, was prepared and submitted. Much as IWHC-2015-Tokyo, the Prague meeting is also a biennial conference co-organized by a IUHST Commission, this time its Commission on the History of Women in Science, Technology, and Medicine. It is hoped that this lesson should also be absorbed by those “fat cats” (even if occasionally disguised as lean and mean) who may not need such a group grant for themselves, but may still want to remember that for others, such a group travel instrument may well be the only way to attend key international conferences such as IWHC-2015- Tokyo without having to depend on last moment miracles in another country.

30 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015 History of Science Society Newsletter The Society: Donors to the Society 2014 Benefactors ($200+) Patrons ($100+) Jonathan Simon 7 Sarton Circle ($1000+) * 2, 5, * * Daniel Sokatch Garland Allen Tara Abraham 1 ‡ 1 * Otto Sonntag Miles Davis Katharine Anderson Dennis and Claudia Breiter * * * Eric Thelar Joyce Blackmore Jean Bronstein 8 0 * 1 John Tresch Educational Advancement Foundation Alvin Blank Stephen Brush 7 * 2, 6, * Virgina Trimble 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, †, * Paul Bronzo Richard Burian * Melanie Hunter-Kevin 8, * 3 Peter Westwick Joan Cadden John Burnham Marilyn Wilhelm 1 * * 2 Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Katz Jimena Canales Ronald Calinger Alan M. and Louise Wolf * Constance Clark 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, †, * Cathryn Carson 1 Alexei Kojevnikov * H. Floris Cohen 3, * Santos Casado de Otaola 3 Hamilton Cravens 1, 2, 8 Hasok Chang 8, * * KEY Ronald and Cecilia Kuzma Lorraine Daston 3, 7, 8, † Erik Conway 2, * 8, * 1, 3, 7 1 General Operating Fund Bernie Lightman * Dawn Digrius Alix Cooper Guy Emery 1, 2 Mary A. Cooper * 2 General Endowment Fund Michael D. Paris * Paul Farber 1, 2, 6, 7 Jean De Groot †, * Frederick Gensler * Charles Enzer * * 3 Bibliographer’s Fund Lynn K. Nyhart and Thomas Broman Sander Gliboff 1 Michael Friedlander 1 * * Karl Hall Jeffrey Goldsmith 4 Margaret W. Rossiter History 1, 2 1 President’s Circle ($500+) Bill Hassinger John Howard of Women in Science Prize Jo Hays 1, 2 Mentz Indergaard 1 * Adam Apt John Heilbron 2 Susan Jones 4, 6 5 Hazen-Polsky Matching 1 9, * David DeVorkin 1, 4, 6, 7 Kenneth G. Hellyar Sally Kohlstedt Fund (Education Fund) Pamela Henson 3, 4, 6 John Lesch 1, 2 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, †, * Michael Gordin Paul Israel 1, 2 Bruce Lewenstein 8, †, * 6 Nathan Reingold Prize Kristine Harper 7 Kenji Ito * Susan Lindee 1 Margaret Jacob 1 Pamela Long * 8, * 7 Sponsor-a-Scholar Program Robert Jay Malone Jeff Katz * Gregory Macklem * Philip Paris * Daniel Kevles 2, 5, * Sanjoy Mahajan * 8 Graduate Student Donation 2, 3 4 2, * Albert Lewis Rachel Maines Jessica Ratcliff Jacob and Joanne Lindy *† Stephen McCluskey 3 9 2014 Meeting - HSS Edward Ruestow 1, 3 Carla Nappi 1 John Michel 2, 7 Women’s Caucus Breakfast * 2, 3, 4, 5 Silvan Schweber 1, 2, 5, 7, * Mary Jo and Robert A. Nye Sara Miles Jim O’Connell * John Nanninga 1 0 Forum for the History of the Sherman J. Suter 1, 7, * Marilyn Ogilvie 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, † Barbara Nicholson * Mathematical Sciences Edith Sylla 2 Maureen O’Malley 1, 2 Melvyn Nizny * Paul and Anne Ornstein * Lynn Nyhard 2, 8 † Dependent Care for the HSS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, †, * Frederick Weinstein Katharine Park 4, * Ynez O’Neill 1, 7 Annual Meeting Kristin Peterson 1 Naomi Oreskes * * The Elizabeth Paris Sylwester Ratowt 3, † Joan Richards 2, 8, † Endowment for Socially Shawn Reeves 4, 5, † Marsha Richmond 9, * Robert Richards 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 Michael Robinson 2 Engaged History and Rachel Rosner * Nils Roll-Hansen 2 Philosophy of Science Barrett T. Schleicher * John Servos 2 ‡Watson Davis and Helen Miles Lawrence Sturman 1, * Jole Shackelford 1, 8 Davis Prize Robert Westman 2 Michael Shank 7 Thomas Williams 2, 3 Richard Shapiro * History of Science Society Newsletter The Society: Donors to the Society 2014, cont. Partners ($50+)

Amy Ackerberg-Hastings 3 Terry Christiansen 2, 3 Michael Janssen * Sherril Scott * Hanne Andersen 8 Kurt Christoffel 1 Allison Kavey 2 April Shelford 1, 4, * Robert Angevine * Matthew Cottrell 3 Jordan Kellman 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 Scott Spear 8 Carole Boyd 4 Anne Fausto-Sterling 4 Paula J. Klusman * Klaas van Berkel 2 William Bradnan 5 Nancy Fox * David Lubell * Laura Walls 3 Janet Browne 7, * Jimmy Frame 2 Michelle Martinez * Zuoyue Wang * Richard L. Buck * Margaret Garber 1, 2 W. Patrick McCray * Elizabeth Watkins * Joe Burchfield 2 Clayton Gearhart 1 Sandra Mitchell * Keren Wick 2 Richard Burkhardt 2, 3 Jan Golinski 2 Mark Paris * Elizabeth Williams 1, 2 Luis Campos 8 Judith Goodstein 6 Erik Peterson 2, 8, †,* Charles Withers 1, 2 Kara Carden * Sara Gronim 2 Christine Petto 4, 7 Audra Wolfe 8 Susan Carlson * Stanley Guralnick 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, † , * Gregory Radick 2, 8, * Qiong Zhang 2 John Carson 2, †, * Evelynn Hammonds 4 Dorothy Ross 1 Raz Chen-Morris 1, 3, * Jennifer Hubbard 3 Helga Satzinger 4

Supporters Anson ‘Joe’ Albree 6 Sybil de Clark 1, * Jeffrey Johnson 8 Andrew Ruis 8 Jinna Anderson 1 Johh Demenkoff 1 David Katz * Patience Schell 6, † Toby Appel 8 Michelle DiMeo 4 Gwen Kay 6 Charles Sebens 9 Monica Azzolini † Ronald Doel 8 Ramunas Kondratas 6 Suman Seth 2, 8 Massimiliano Badino 8 Richard Duschl 1 Sachiko Kusukawa 8 Alan Shapiro 2 Grant Barkley 1, 2, 4 Ruthanna Dyer 9, † Stefan Linquist 8 Kathleen Sheppard 3 James Bartholomew 2 Matthew Eddy * Christine Manganaro * Stephanie Shirilan † Jean Beetschen 7 Fa-Ti Fan 8, † Craig Martin 3 Pamela Smith 2 Muriel Blaisdell 4, 5 Eliseo Fernandez 1, 2 Kathryn Maxson 4, 6 Michael Sokal 2 Mieke Boon (PSA) Paula Findel 1 Victor McElheny 4 Gabriela Soto Laveaga † Kennard Bork 1, 2 Adam Fix 2 Mary Richie McGuire 4 Larry Spencer 3 Mary Ellen Bowden 2 S. Forgan 4 Camille McNutt * Alistair Sponsel * William Brock 3 Yulia Frumer 8 Joseph Mellett * Ida Stamhuis 4, 7 Eric Brown 2, * Ofer Gal 8 William Montgomery 1, 4 Donald Stanley 1 David Bruggeman 1 Lucille Garmon 1 Tania Munz * Cameron Strang 8 C. Sean Burns 3 Alexander Garron * Edmund Murad * James Strick 6 Julia Bursten * Eve-Marie Gendron-Pontbriand 1 Reno Parker 1 Lloyd Swensen 1, 6 Toni Carey 1 Bonnie Gidzak † Sharrona Pearl † David Sysma 1 David C. Cassidy 4 James Gleason 3 Allison Phillips * Liba Taub 8 Yun-Shiung Chang 1 Judith Grabiner 2 Dennis Pilarcyzk 1 Carol M. Temar * Bella Chiu 1, 4 Monica Green † Angela Potochnik * John Tidd * Kathleen Clark 2 Christopher Hamlin * Cathy Prugh * Roger Turner 7 Brendan Clark 8 Elizabeth Hoberman * Alisha Rankin 9, † Michael Wade 5 Jonathan Coopersmith 1 David Huberty * Alan Rauch 4 Gunter Wagner 8 Matthew Crawford * Bruce Hunt 1 Barbara J. Reeves 4 Colin Webster 2 Stephen Crowley 8, † Hajime Inaba 3 Lynette Regouby 1 Jung Hyean Won 2 Helen Anne Curry 6, 8 Benjamin Jantzen 8 Reuben and Shirley Ress * Antonio A. S. de Andrade 2 Alan Johnson 1 Peder Roberts 2 History of Science Society Newsletter History of Science Society Election Results Vice President: Council: Nominating Committee at Large: Bernard Lightman Mary Terrall (York University) (UCLA) Tara Abraham (University of Guelph)

Council: Council: Nominating Committee at Large: Babak Ashrafi Aileen Fyfe (Consortium for History (University of St. Andrews) Staffan Müller-Wille of Science, Technology and (University of Exeter) Medicine)

Council: Nominating Committee Nominating Committee at from Council: Large: Anita Guerrini (Oregon State University) Fa-ti Fan Harriet Ritvo (Binghamton University) (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Council: Nominating Committee from Council: Edna Suárez-Diaz (Universidad Nacional Audra Wolfe Autónoma de México) (Independent Scholar)

33 History of Science Society Newsletter • July 2015