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History of Lincoln Seminar Series Organic Division, Department of Chemistry University of Wisconsin - Madison |
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History |
Founded by graduate students Chris Ciolli and Jason Pontrello, the Lincoln
Seminar Series is named after Azariah Thomas Lincoln, the first person to
be awarded a chemistry Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.1
Lincoln first graduated from the U.W. with a B.S. in natural science in
1894. In 1896, Lincoln was granted a fellowship, and he undertook
graduate research with Professor Louis Kahlenberg. Lincoln's
graduate work dealt with the capacity of various solvents to cause
dissociation of electrolytes. His doctoral thesis was entitled "The
electrical conductivity of non-aqueous solutions", and he was granted his
Ph.D. in 1899. Since his thesis defense was the first ever in chemistry at
Wisconsin, Professor Kahlenberg decided to make it a public spectacle,
inviting faculty, students, and local dignitaries to the occasion. Due to
the almost disastrous results of the defense, this was the last Ph.D.
examination at Wisconsin to be conducted in public. After leaving
Wisconsin, Lincoln went on to a successful academic career, which included
instructor positions at the University of Cincinnati and the University of
Illinois, and professorships at Rensselaer and Carlton College. (1) Ihde, A.J. Chemistry, as viewed from Bascom's Hill; Dept. of Chem., Univ. of Wis.: Madison, 1990. |