Lstoryproject CKEMISTRY, EDUCATION, A.HD

University of California General ~ibrary/~erkeley Regional Cultural ~lstoryProject Joel H, Hildebrand CKEMISTRY, EDUCATION, A.HD !i!HE UIHTEESITY OF CALTPORHIA An InteFcrier Conducted By Edna Tartatil Daniel Berkeley 1962 All uses of this manuscript are covered by an agreement between the Regents of the University of California and Joel H. Hildebrand dated 11 June 1962, The manuscript is thereby made available' for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, includir~the right to publish, are reserved to the General Library of the University of California at Berkeley, No part of the manuscript may be quoted for publication without the written permission of the University of California at Berkeley, Joel Henry Hildebrand, professor emeritus of chemietq at the University of California, waa described as a nworld-renowned teacher of chemistry, formulator of wise educational policy, important and far-seeing military and government adviser in both World War I and IIn at the time of receiving the Willard Gibbe Medal in chemistry in 1953, Around the Univereity he is known also for his leadership as dean of the College of Letters and Science and the College of Chemistry, for hie effective and continuing concern with all phases of education, for his prominent part in the loyalty oath coritroversy of 1949-1950 -- and aa sn' inveterate mountain climber, skier, and Sierra Club member,* In 1913 he began his career as.= assistant professor in chemistry under Dr, Gilbert B, Lewis, and it was because of his ensuing long and influential association with the University of California at Berkeley that this interview was undertaken at the request of Professor Walton E, Bean as one of a series of interviews on the history of the University, Professor Hildebrand was intemiewed from February through March 1960 and again in August 1960, *General biographical material about Professor Hildebrand is most recently available in Chemical and Engineerinp News, April 2, 1962, p, 111, The interviews were tape recorded in his office In the Chemistry Building, ROO^ 228, at the top of two long, narrow flights of steps which placed him somewhat apart from student traffic among the building's laboratories, ,: The high-ceilinged room comfortably housed a deek, files, and several tall bookcases; its tall bay windows at one end opened onto a lazge outdoor panorama of trees and surrounding buildings. In this airy and pleasant room Professor Hildebrand responded openly in a resonant voice to the interviewer's questions, his replies enthusiastically spiced with anecdotes, At seventy-nine years his manner and appearance were resilient and fresh, Spare-framed, garbed in quiet- keyed and comfortable clothes, he moved quickly from file cabinets to bookshelves when in pursuit of paper8 or books to augment his remarks, After the interviews were transcribed, they were edited by the interviewer, and corrected, amended, and added to by Professor Hildebrand with the same thorough- ness and dispatch as has characterized everything he has undertaken, In addition he made available photographs of himself and printed materials illustrative of his work and philosophy, Miss Elizabeth Me Nutting of the Chemistry Library also gave valuable assistance in the preparation of the manuscript, Since the completion of the interviews, Professor Hildebrand has received two more awards: in 1962 the American Chemical Society's Priestley Medd for "distinguished services to chemistry," and the William Proctor Prize of S1000 awarded annually by the Scientifio Research Society of America to "a scientist or engineer I in recognition of notable accomplishment in scientifio 1 research or in the administration of ecientific research," ill This intedew Is part of a series of tape recorded autobiogra~hiesdone by the Regional Cultural History Project of the Library with individuals who have contributed significantly to the life of their times. The Project, under the administrative super- vision of Assistant Librarian Julian Michel, is headed by Willa Baum. Edna Tartau'). Daniel Interviewer Regional Cultural History Project University of California, General Library June 1, 1962 TABLE OF COMTErrmS . -. .....:> , . .......... ..... - . .............. ............... ...-. iv.:..- -1. ., .. TABLE OF CONTENTS ..*.: ........._ .:..;:::<:. ... -2;. , , . , ..... .; . .;. _.; - ....<. ,: -.......:...... :,.:.-..- r.-~.:::-.:;........ ~;:-....- .~. ............ ....... .-........... ~.. -. ....... ..., .. ,. FAMILY AM) CHILDHOOD . , . '1' - , . Ancestors 1 . , .. ... Earls .Years through Hipfi School . 6 " COLLEGE, GRADUATE STUDY, AHD FIRST INSTRUCTORSHIP . 17 ,. University of Pennsylvania, BoSo 1903, Ph.D. 1906 European Experience, 1906-1907 -- Physical Chemistry under Nernat Instructor in Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 1907-1913 33 CHEMISTRY AND THE UIU'mSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Call to the University of California, Berkeley, 1913 38 Teaching Freshman Chemistry Chemical Engineering Gilbert No Lewis Graduate Work in Chemistry Chemistry at UCLAand Other University of. California Cam~usea Television Teach-, of Chemistrg CHBfIC& WARFARE, WOZD WAR I COld6EllTS ON THE SCIENTIST AlJD SOCIETY interrelationships between the Military Services and Scientists , !he Social Responsibility of Scientists Science as a Way of Tbinkinq GOVEEIIJMENT SERVICE D ~ WORLDG WAR I1 S~ecialAssignment in Chile, July 1943 ' Advisor to the War Production Board Mission to London, Iday 1943 to'July 1944 National Academy of Sciences, War Service ACADIWIC ADMINISTRATIOX, UIJIVERSI!TY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Council of Engineerinp and A~pliedChemistry Reorpanization of the Academic Senate. 1920 Expansion to a Multi-Campus University Special Committee on Admissions Sele.ction and Prorcotion of Faculty Members Budpet during the Depression Dean of Letters and Science REFLECTIONS Chemistry around the World California Education BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDED MAZIrnIALS PARTIAL INDEX Ancestors JHEI: Hy maternal grandfather was a very remarkable man, He was born in a poor white family in the ShenantIoah Valley in Virginia of German stock, like my father's family, They are all of that group that came west and went down I into, the southeastern Pennsylvania region, spilled over into Virginia, My father and all the Hildebrands for generations were born in East Berlin, Adams County, Penn- sylvania, The Hildebrand tannery was on the west side of I Conawauga Creek, I The Germans who came over after the abortive revolu- I tion in 1848 from Germany were from the cities. They were. the revolutionists who didn't want to undergo military . service, and they didn't like it when Bismarck and others scotched their revolution, They settled such cities as I Cincinnati, Chicago and Milwaukee, and so on, They were a I different stock, My ancestors came over before the American Revolution. They were peasant and artisan classes from the upper Rhineland country. They went down the Rhfn-e--to-%o%land, whence they sailed to America, The name which the Dutch gave I - them corresponded to "immigranten They spoke the dialects of 4 1 the upper Rhineland country, which became corrupted gradually d I into what is now known as tTennsylvania Dutch," ,I Johannes Hildebrand came in 1851, He was German Swiss, born in Ziirich, The names of all my father's friends in I East Berlin were German, One of my grandmothers was a Shaeffer, another was a Raber, I recall my father's talking Pennsylvania Dutch to his cronies while visiting my grand- parents, We usually divided my father's summer vacation between Gettysburg, where my mother's father lived, my maternal grandfather, and East Berlin, only 14 miles distant, Bancroft Library I FAMILY AND CHILDHOOD Ancestors JHH: My maternal grand-father was a very remarkable man, He was born in a poor white family in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia of German stock, like my father's family, They are all of that group that came west and went down into the southeastern Pennsylvania region, spilled over into Virginia, My father and all the Hildebrarids for generations were born in East Berlin, Adams County, Pena- sylvania, The Hildebrand tannery was on the west side of Conawauga Creek, The Germans who came over after the abortive revolution in 1848 from Germany were from the cities, They were the revolutionists who didn't want to undergo military service, and they didn't like it when Bismarck and others scotched their revolution, They settled such cities as Cincinnati, Chicago and Milwaukee, and so on, !bey were a different stock, My ancestors came over before the American Revolution, They were peasaat and artisan classes from the upper Rhineland country, Tney went dorm the mine to Holland, whence they sailed to America, The- name which the Dutch gave them corresponded to nimmigrant,n 'Phey spoke the dialects of the upper Rhineland country, which became corrupted gradually i&o what is now ]mown as "Pennsylvania Dutch.' Johannes Hildebrand came in 1851, He was German Swiss, born in Ziirich, The names of all my father's friends in East Berlin were German, One of my grandmothers was a Shaeffer, another was a Raber, I recall my father's talking Pennsylvania Dutch to his cronies while visiting my grand- parents, We usually divided my father's summer vacation between Gettysburg, where my mother's father lived, my maternal grandfather, and East Berlin, only 14 miles distant. JHH: I swam in the Conawauga Creek in East Berlin and in Rock Creek at Get$ysburg, I astonished the boys in East Berlin very much by being able to swim the overarm side-stroke, They

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