The Science History Institute preserves and interprets the history of chemistry, engineering and the life sciences. During a June 10 ceremony in Philadelphia, the American Chemical Society (ACS) will designate the Institute as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.
"The Institute is significant because it gathers and shares stories of the innovators and scientific discoveries that affect our daily lives," says ACS President Judith C. Giordan, who will speak at the dedication ceremony. "Its collections and programs help the public and scholars understand the role of science and technology in shaping society's past, present and future."
The Institute was founded as the Center for History of Chemistry, which opened in 1982 on the University of Pennsylvania campus, with support from the university and ACS. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers became an additional sponsor in 1984. The organization was renamed the Chemical Heritage Foundation in 1992 and moved to its present site in Old City, Philadelphia, in 1996. After merging with the Life Sciences Foundation, it was renamed the Science History Institute in 2018, reflecting its broad interdisciplinary mission.
The Institute includes the Othmer Library of Chemical History, the Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry, Distillations magazine and podcast, an award-winning museum, an oral history center and digital offerings. Its collections include print books, the personal papers of numerous Nobel laureates, scientific equipment, photos and films, digital resources, fine art, and oral history interviews. Through these resources, as well as live and virtual events, the Institute makes the history of science accessible to the public and to researchers.
