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i ~~E FOR Sc/E~~~ 4 \ 4~ ~ / ~n ~ ~ S R ~ : ~ N E W S NOVEMBER 1963 Devoted to Fundamental Research in the Natural Sciences Number 14 New Building Dedicated To Memory of Dr. Allan T. Gwathmey; Governor Harrison, Dr. Julius A. Stratton, MIT President, Speak The new VISR laboratory building was dedicated' on October 3, 1963 to the memory of Allan Talbott Gwathmey, founder and first president of VISR and -----•-• professor of chemistry at the University of Virginia. About 600 guests attended the moving ceremony held on the second floor of the new building. Dr. Julius A. Stratton, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Honorable Albertis S. Harrison, Jr., Governor of the State of Virginia, were the principal speakers. "We have come here for a familiar purpose," said Governor Harrison, "but one which in this instance takes on an unique quality, because this institution is in itself unique. Nothing better illustrates this char- acteristic or the value of this institution to Virginia than the caliber of its Board of Trustees and those who have assembled with them. "Presidents of colleges and universities, men of stature among our elected representatives, leading minds in the sciences, in education and in industry have come," the Governor continued, "not only to recognize that a building has been completed, not only to approve,the growth of a Virginia enterprise,, not only to pay homage to science and research, but because this institute represents for Virginia a center of the creative, scientific thought from which all material progress springs." Governor Harrison pointed out that, "Virginia is replete with laboratories. We can count more than a hundred industrial firms engaged in research and de- velopment. Their business, and' that of our college laboratories, is largely the application of what is known, and -they all do a great and good work.. The business of this Institute is the production of new knowledge, the unlocking of the secrets of pure science," he declared. "Its single product, basic research, sets the upper limits of our technology. Our progress is bound by the limits of its fundamental condusions and proven theorems. "Outstanding students from the University of Rich- mond have been introduced into its atmosphere, and productive communications established with the Uni- versity of Virginia. and with Virginia Polyt'echnic Institute. Through its contracts, the laboratory here is providing the distilled secrets of science -to our industries in an ever increasing flow. - "For a Governor, there is a special delight in any indication of progress for his state. I wish I could convey to you fully in mere words the particular and personal pride that I feel in the Institute, and the importance I attach to it in the demanding process of moving Virginia forward. "It is the capstone of our efforts to attract and assemble trained minds, and to project -their powers to the benefit of all our people and of this nation," Governor Harrison concluded. Dr. Stratton, president of MIT, commented on his friendship with Dr.. Gwathmey and said, "I am certain that it was through this Virginia Institute for Scientific Research that Allan Gwathmey achieved the most complete fulfillment of his hopes and beliefs. The progress of this Institute expressed his faith in the good and useful purposes of science, and here he worked for the welfare of a state and country which he loved. "For a fine harvest there must be good seed and a fertile soil," the MIT president continued. "And for great ideas to prosper there must also be a productive land and a favorable climate. I know that it is your intent, through this Institute for Scientific Research, to create and maintaini just such a productive en- vironment for ideas and to aW the cultivation of science to the genius for government and public affairs that has been the pride of Virginia since the founding of our country," Dr. Stratton declared. "Yours is still 'a modest young research institute,' as Dr. Gwathmey called it. Yet I believe that you have the potential to make great contributions to the community, to the Commonwealth, and' to the nation.. "And how will this come about? What is the role of the small scientific establishment in this age of multi-million-dollar laboratories?" Dr. Stratton ques- tioned. "First, it is to serve-along with your neighbor, the University of Richmond-as a focus for the scientific life of the community. By the quality of its research, by the intrinsic importance of the problems it attacks, an institution of this kind can set the tone

NOVEMBER 1963 VISR NEWS is an information bulletin for friends of the Virginia Institute for Scientific Research, an independent, non-profit corporation, whose programs of fundamental research are supported by indust'ry,, Government agencies, the State of Virginia, and gifts. VIRGINIA INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH P: O. BOx 8315, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23226 VISR Briefs • The Institute gratefully acknowledges the Uni- versity of' Richmond's symposium on Structure and ;Activity held in honor of VISR on October 18, 1963. Speakers were Dr. William R. Krigbaum, Duke Uhi- versity; Dr. Clifford G. Shull, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Dr. Carroll M. Williams, Har- vard University. • Books and back issue journals have been given to the rapidly growing VISR Science Library by the following: Albemarle Paper Company, Reynolds Metals Company, A. H. Robins Company, and Vir- ginia-Carolina Chemical Corporation. • Dr. Henry Leidheiser, Jr., VISR Director, is mak- ing 14 talks during November as an American C'hem- ical Society tour speaker in the Southeastern states. His subject is Key Problems and Recent Advances in the Field of Surface Chemistry. • New research equipment recently received in- dudes a Nippon Electric Company, Type NV-11, Infrared Microscope and an Autoclave Engineers high pressure hydrogenation apparatus, 5000 psi to 650°F.• Gifts totalling $31,277 have come to VISR in the last few months from the following generous donors: MR. FITZGERALD BEMISS MR. AND MRS. L. A. BLACKBURN MR. FRANK E. BROWN JOHN' STEWART BRYAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION MR. EDWIN COX MRS. ROBERTA GWATHMEY MRS. ELIZABETH JEFFRESS THOMAS B: JEFFRESS MEMORIAL, INC. MR. J. AMBLER JOHNSTON NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING CO. FOUNDATION MR. LLOYD U. NOLAND, JR. REYNOLDS METALS COMPANY A. H. ROBINS COMPANY MR. J. HARVIE WILKINSON, JR. MR. LANGBOURNE M. WILLIAMS MR. A. CHURCHILL YOUNG, JR. A total of $530 has also been received from a number of donors in memory of Dr. Allan T. Gwathmey. • New Institute Officers elected after the death of Dr. Allan T. Gwathmey, VISR first president, are: President, Dr. Hiram R. Hanmer, vice president of -VISR News GOVERNOR, MIT PRESIDENT SPEAK-CONT'D. Continued f rom page 1 and style for scientific achievement. Through the op- portunities which you offer for advanced study you hold within the Commonwealth gifted young men and women for careers in science. By your example. you stimulate an interest and a reliance upon research on the part of industry in the region. Your efforts are cumulative. As time goes on you are adding -to the human as well as -to the technical resources of Vir- ginia. Your influence begins locally and spreads far. "And then, too, I believe you are fulfilling another role that in the long term may be even more im- portant. I am deeply convinced of the need in our society for variety in the character of our institutions," Dr. Stratton stated. "It has been said again and again that the strength of American education lies in the diversity of its forms. We have public and private institutions, sec- tarian and nonsectarian, large state universities, and small liberal arts colleges. Taken together these con- stitute the pattern of our culture. Each contributes something of its own to the whole. I can imagine no more tragic loss to the spirit of this country than a leveling off, an ultimate reduction to a single, monolithic educational establishment. And it is in that context that I want to support the case for diversity in our approach -to scientific investigation. "You in the Virginia Institute for Scientific Re- search must recognize your own special qualities and the opportunities that lie before you. Whether you succeed in your hopes and aims will depend upon your skill in the choice of problems, your encourage- ment of the younger people who will come to you to strike out in new and interesting paths in their own fashion. There will -always be areas of science and technology for which your resources are un. fitted fields which will always be inaccessible to you because of the vast outlays required for equip- ment and the vast numbers of people that are needed. "But there will long remain areas of science where the imagination and perceptive understanding of the thoughtful scientist working alone or with a small group will yield a tremendous result. There lies your mission and your challenge," the MIT president concluded. N © O American Tobacco Company and Vice President, Dr. (~ James W. Mullen, II, president of Texaco Experi- N ment, Inc. The new position of Chairman of the.~1 Board was established and Mr. Robert M. Jeffress, formerly chairman of the Board of Wortendyke Manufacturing Company, was elected. Dr. Robert ; H. Kean continues as Secretary and Mr. A. Churchill ,: Young, Jr., as "hreasurer.