Photographs from the Papers of James Curtis Booth

James Curtis Booth was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 25, 1810 to George and Ann Bolton Booth. He was an analytical chemist and metallurgist who spent the bulk of his professional life as an employee of the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, where he was Chief Melter and Refiner. He also taught chemistry and, partnered with Matthew Boye and later with Thomas Garretson, ran a successful analytical laboratory-cum-training school for chemists, the first institution of its kind to be opened in the United States. Both was educated in the United States and also spent two years in Germany studying with chemist Friedrich Wöhler. He married Margaret Martinez Cardeza in 1853 and together they had four children, James (1854-1857) Ann, Laurette and Margaret.