SIGMA XI: The Scientific Research Society
| Northwestern University Chapter 22 |
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HAPPY 100TH+ ANNIVERSARY TO CHAPTER 22!! Northwestern University was founded and established in 1851 to serve the people of the Northwest Territory, an area that now includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. In 1853, the founders purchased a 379-acre tract of land on the shore of Lake Michigan twelve miles north of Chicago. The town that grew up around the University was named Evanston in honor of one of the University's founders, John Evans. After completing its first building in 1855, Northwestern began classes that fall with 2 faculty and 10 students. |
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Broadly speaking, Northwestern was in the forefront of the country's universities by admitting females into it's student body. In 1871, President Erastus Otis Haven compelled the University to open it's doors to the female population - 93 women were admitted. Within its first fifty years Northwestern will have grown to include 7 undergraduate and graduate schools with 2,700 students and an annual budget of more than $200,000. In 1892, Professor Henry S. White joined the faculty at Northwestern University as an associate professor of mathematics, being promoted to full professor two years later. The thirteen years White spent in Evanston proved fruitful for him both mathematically and relative to the wider arena of the developing American research community. |
The Northwestern Chapter of Sigma Xi was organized largely through his efforts. However in 1905, just before Sigma Xi was officially recognized, White moved to the east coast as he was appointed professor at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. This may seem like a rather strange career move, but the reason was a personal one, namely the illness of his mother. Vassar College began as an academic institution of higher learning founded (1861) to provide women with a quality of education previously only available to men. (White retired from Vassar College in 1936.) The first petition to the national organization from the NU Sigma Xi committee was signed by only nine members but this was reinforced by a number of additional signatures and was finally sent to the National Sigma Xi Society on the 25th of May, 1905. FIRST YEAR: The installation of the chapter was authorized by National President Edward L. Nichols (of Cornell University) dated January 17, 1906 . The charter bears this date and contains the names of twenty five Northwestern charter members. This date being the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin, an appropriate celebration of this event was observed that evening. Professor J.A. James of Northwestern University gave an address on "Franklin as a Diplomat", while President Nichols gave an address on "Is Investigation Worth While?" A reception was hosted by the University Guild with reinactments of Franklin's electrical experiments shown in the room next door. The first annual election of officers occurred on April 2, 1906 upon which date the by-laws of the Northwestern Chapter were adopted. Three seniors and three graduate students, as well as some university professors were elected to membership on June 13, 1906. Professor W.A. Locy, president of the chapter, delivered an address upon "Investigation" illustrating it with work done the previous year in his department. |
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SECOND YEAR: On December 14, 2006 the membership again grew by three seniors to an approximate total of 50 members. Professors Henry Crew, George W. Hough, and John H. Long were appointed delegates to the New York Sigma Xi Convention meeting on December 31, of that year. On January 25, 1907, Professor Crew and Professor Locy gave a careful discussion of the question: "What Sciences Should be Required in a College Course." In the spring there were two addresses, " The Life of Linnaeus, and his Special Service to Natural History" and "Linnaeus as a Botanist". Throughout 1907, the various topics were: "Osmosis" discussed from the points of view of Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology by members R.R. Tatnall, A.V.E. Young, C.B. Atwell, and E.H. Harper respectively, and "The Aims and Achievements of Modern Mathematicians", as well as "Some Problems in the Making of a Large Telescope". |
Invitation to 1st event |
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Another early influence on the success of the Sigma Xi chapter on the Northwestern campus was Professor of Geology U. S. Grant (no relation to the Civil War General/President of the United States). During the summers, students would clammer to be on field trips into the Lake Superior wilderness organized by Professor Grant. They were there not only for the opportunity of acquiring geological knowledge and experience but also for the chance to absorb some of Grant's love for and understanding of the forests, lakes, and other elements of life outdoors. On November 19, 1907, the semi-annual membership election occured adding one alumni member, one faculty member, two graduate students and three seniors into the ranks of Sigma Xi. Professor Grant gave an address on "Water as a Geological Agent". An indication of Grant's ability to excite and motivate Northwestern students to do their best was matched with enthusiasm from the chapter. He was selected that evening as the second president of the campus Sigma Xi chapter. |
Prof. U.S. Grant |
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From this time on the chapter grew incrementally, by the 30's yearly active membership reached approximately 300 scientists. From the 30's through the 50's, the chapter would hold monthly dinners at the Orrington Hotel which included spouses and friends. Talks were centered on astronomy, medical (i.e., "Cutaneous Sensations") geological, physical, general research and theoretical topics, etc. In 1934 Professor Oliver J. Lee, chapter president and the director of the Dearborn Observatory, approached the concept that "science has gone too fast and too far", in terms of scientific research. His letter to the chapter stated that "The suggestion has been made by various responsible persons during the last decade, that science and invention should take a vacation of ten years or more to enable humanity to adjust itself to the changes they have brought about in the conditions of living." He continues, "Comments have ranged from thoughtful analyses to the use of hard words. We have heard and read that science has made this a 'machine age'; that it has developed a mechanical Juggernaut which threatens to crush humanity; that the further discovery and use of new forces in nature must stop, by legal compulsion if necessary. |
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Whether we, men and women of science, like it or not, the fact remains that many thoughtful people believe science has gone too fast and too far, even if they admit that the main difficulty matters lie in the relative failure of students of social and economic matters to propose adequate methods of adjustment, or that humanity has been too stupid and too selfish to proceed in making such adjustments. It would probably be easier to stop the ceaseless ebb and flow of the ocean tides than to keep science from seeking out secrets of nature. Intrinsic curiousity and the inner drive to investigate is too deep seated. As we all know, the position of scientific research in the next few decades is of much more than academic interest. Your officers have earnestly considered how to bring these matters explicitly before the members of our Chapter. In the course of this school year at least two meetings will be devoted to consideration of this question from various angles. The first [talk titled "Industry - A Catalyst to Science"] will be addressed by Mr. Harry L. Wells." Signed, Oliver J. Lee (1934) Post-World War II through the 1980's, the Sigma Xi chapter continued to present insightful lectures to its membership and guests. Topics ranged from "AIDS: Health Crisis of the 1980's" to "Air Pollution: Everybody's Business". Student research awards were given annually. Events and participation dwindled in the 1990's so that by 1999 the Chapter was put on an inactive status. Upon the 100th anniversary of Chapter 22, University Vice-President Dr. Morteza Rahimi began the process of reinvigorating the chapter so that it would once again sponsor a lecture series and promote the brother and sisterhood of colleagues in the life sciences, engineering, and social sciences. Currently the chapter sponsors afternoon lectures, the Science Cafe Evanston program, and scholarships for budding scientists within the University. [Source: Northwestern University Archives] |
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