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How It All Began

Jan 24, 1912
New Haven, Connecticut  

Previous to the year 1908, when the American Chemical Society held its spring meeting in New Haven, the advisability of forming a local section had been discussed, and after that meeting the discussion became more serious. However, several years passed without definite action toward organization. This hesitation may have been due, in a measure, to the feeling on the part of some individuals that our local Chemical Club served all necessary purposes. 

In the fall of 1911, the writer of this article, returning from his summer vacation, stopped off at Durham, N. H., to call on his friends, C. L. Parsons and C. James, who were then connected with the New Hampshire College. During this short visit the growth of the American Chemical Society was discussed, and Doctor Parsons stated in no uncertain terms his feeling as to the duty of the New Haven chemists. As the result of this conversation, conferences were held shortly, afterward with H. W. Foote, of the Sheffield Scientific School, and with John P. Street, of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, and the self-appointed committee of three sent to all chemists in the city and its vicinity a card asking them to meet on the evening of January 24, 1912, at the Sheffield Chemical Laboratory, to organize a New Haven Section of the American Chemical Society.  

---- Philip E. Browning, "History of the New Haven Section"

New Haven Section Founders

Meeting Minutes from 1912 Meeting Minutes from 1913