The Johann Josef Loschmidt & Archibald Scott Couper Collection

Collection

Identifier: 2010-013

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

For a more detailed inventory, please view this record in our library catalog: https://othmerlib.sciencehistory.org/record=b1063485~S6

The original materials and research files are somewhat thin but the research files appear to be fairly comprehensive. The materials were arranged by the processing archivist.

Dates

Creation: 1853-1997
Creation: Majority of material found within 1990-1997

Creator

Bader, Alfred, 1924-2018 (Person)
Wiswesser, William J. (Person)

Language of Materials

Text in German and English.

Biographical sketch

Johann Josef Loschmidt was an Austrian chemist and physicist. In certain circles he is regarded as the Father of Structural Chemistry because he recognized truths about the nature of molecular bonds that Kekule denied outright or only belatedly accepted. Archibald Scott Couper was a Scottish chemist educated in Berlin and Paris. His paper on the structure of molecules was written before Kekule's, but only published after, thus denying him primacy of discovery. Couper never recovered from this set back and a resultant nervous breakdown essentially put an end to his career as a working chemist.

Extent

3.2 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

This is a collection of original and research materials centered on Josef Loschmidt and A. Scott Couper and their relationship to their work to that of August Kekule.

Arrangement

Arranged in series : Series 1. Johann Josef Loschmidt original materials; Series 2. Archibald Scott Couper orignial materials; Series 3. Research files on Johann Josef Loschmidt and Archibald Scott Couper.