©2003 The Johns Hopkins University
Following Ira Remsen's death in 1927, his papers were acquired gradually by Johns Hopkins University over a period of years. In September 1931 the Chemistry Alumni of Johns Hopkins University established the Remsen Memorial Collection with addresses, reports, articles, recollections and reminiscences. A considerable quantity of material was collected which was at first lodged in the Library of the Chemistry Department at Johns Hopkins University, before it eventually came to the Eisenhower Library. The Collection was catalogued in about 1950 and consists of ca. 4,000 items of correspondence, speeches, lectures, publications, notes, notebooks, ledgers, photographs, newspaper clippings, annotated books, and memorabilia.
Permission to publish material from this collection must be requested in writing from the Manuscripts Librarian, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Md. 21218.
Ira Remsen Papers Ms. 39
Special Collections
Milton S.
Eisenhower Library
The Johns Hopkins University
Ira Remsen, American chemist, educator and second President of Johns Hopkins University was born in New York City on February 10, 1846, the son of Rosanna Secor and James Vanderbilt Remsen. At the age of 14 Ira Remsen became a freshman at the New York Free Academy (later the College of the City of New York). It was at that time that a series of popular lectures on chemistry and physics given by R. Ogden Doremus first stirred Remsen's interest in the science to which he would later contribute so much. However, before the completion of his college course Remsen's father decided that his son should enter the medical profession. Ira Remsen was removed from college and placed under the tutelage of a practicing physician who also occupied the chair of chemistry in a local homeopathic medical school. Although Remsen's college course was thus abruptly terminated, he later received the degree of A.B. nunc pro tunc from the College of the City of New York. He enrolled as a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons and in 1867 he graduated with honors as a Doctor of Medicine. He then became apprenticed to a physician in New York City and for about a year was actively engaged in the practice of medicine. By 1868, however, Remsen decided to abandon his medical career and devote himself to the serious study of chemistry. to this end he went to Germany and commenced work at the University of Munich in the autumn of that year under the laboratory instruction of Jacob Volhard and attending the lectures of Justus von Liebig. the following year Remsen went to Gottingen to work under Rudolf Fittig, and he received his Ph.D. degree in 1870. Remsen next accompanied Fittig as his assistant to Tubingen where he remained for two years. It was at this time that Remsen first met Sir William Ramsay. This marked the beginning of a lifelong association.
Remsen returned to the United states in 1872, and after some delay took up the post of Professor of Physics and Chemistry at Williams College. He remained at Williams for four years during which he published 9 papers on the results of original investigations and a book on theoretical chemistry which became one of the leading textbooks of the day. In 1876 Remsen was offered and accepted the chair of chemistry at the newly established Johns Hopkins University, and in 1877 he delivered his first lecture on advanced organic chemistry. Thus began that course of instruction in chemical science which ultimately became the accepted pattern of American universities.
Perhaps the best known of Remsen's many discoveries was that of benzoic sulfinide or saccharin, in collaboration with one of his students, Constantine Fahlberg. Fahlberg quickly recognized the financial potential of benzoic sulfinide and secured patent protection for its manufacture under the trade name saccharin, ensuring his exclusive control of its future production. Fahlberg thus denied Remsen any financial benefits, and also sought to discredit Remsen's claim to any connection with the discovery of saccharin.
In 1879 Remsen established the American Chemical Journal of which he remained editor until 1915. Remsen's numerous published works include: The Principles of Theoretic Chemistry (1876); Organic Chemistry (1885); Introduction to the study of Chemistry (1887); Elements of Chemistry (1888); A Laboratory Manual (1889); Chemical Experiments (1895); Inorganic Chemistry (1898); The University Movement (1915).
Remsen performed many services of a civic nature. In 1881 he was called upon for advice on major problems in the Boston water supply. After the Baltimore fire in 1904 he was the most important member of a commission to design a new system of sewage disposal for the city. In 1909 he was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt the Chairman of a Board commissioned to study administration of the Pure Food Law. Remsen found distasteful all the publicity and the political and commercial influences connected with this work.
Many honors were conferred upon Remsen. He was made a member of the National Academy of Science in 1882 and was President of the Academy from 1907 - 1913. He was President of the American Chemical Society in 1902; of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1903; of the Society of Chemical Industry in 1910. He was honorary member of the Societe Chimique de France; of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain; of the American Chemical Society. He was medalist of the Society of Chemical Industry in 1904, and received the Willard Gibbs Medal in 1914 and the Priestly Medal in 1923. He was awarded many honorary degrees: LLD Columbia University 1893; Princeton University 1896; Yale University 1901; University of Toronto 1902; Harvard University 1909; Pennsylvania College 1910; University of Pittsburgh 1915; DCL University of the South 1907.
While Daniel Coit Gilman was absent in Europe from 1889 - 1890, Ira Remsen served as Acting President of Johns Hopkins University. When Gilman retired in 1901 Remsen was chosen as his successor. Remsen's administration was a period of steady progress against difficulties and marked the founding of the School of Engineering and the removal of the University to the Homewood site. Remsen retired from Johns Hopkins University in 1913. After that he devoted his time to travel, to revising his books, in work for the Government as Chairman of the Referee Board, and consulting work for one of the largest American industrial corporations. He married Elizabeth H.Mallory in 1875. They had two sons, Ira M. Remsen and Charles M. Remsen. Ira Remsen died in Carmel, California on March 4, 1927.