Carl Shipp Marvel
| Carl Shipp Marvel | |
|---|---|
| Born |
September 11, 1894 Waynesville, IL |
| Died | January 4, 1988 (aged 93) Tucson, AZ |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Fields | Organic chemistry |
| Institutions | University of Illinois, University of Arizona |
| Alma mater | Illinois Wesleyan University, University of Illinois |
| Doctoral advisor | William A. Noyes |
| Doctoral students | H. E. Carter |
| Known for | Polymer Chemistry |
| Notable awards |
Willard Gibbs Award (1950) Priestley Medal (1956) Perkin Medal (1965) National Medal of Science (1986) |
Carl Shipp "Speed" Marvel (September 11, 1894 – January 4, 1988) has been considered "one of the world's outstanding organic chemists." Throughout his career, almost no area of polymer chemistry escaped his interest. He made important contributions to U.S. synthetic rubber program during World War II, and later worked at developing polybenzimidazoles, temperature-resistant polymers that are used in the aerospace industry, in fire-fighting equipment, and as a replacement for asbestos. He received numerous awards, including the 1956 Priestley Medal and the 1986 National Medal of Science, presented by President Ronald Reagan.
Carl Shipp Marvel was born on September 11, 1894, in Waynesville, Illinois, U.S., to farmers John Thomas Marvel and Mary Lucy Wasson Marvel. An uncle urged him to study chemistry. Marvel attended Illinois Wesleyan University from 1911 to 1915. He graduated with an A.B. and M.S. in chemistry. On the recommendation of his advisor, Alfred W. Homberger, Marvel obtained a $250 scholarship to the University of Illinois.
Marvel had to take extra classes to "catch up" during his first year at University of Illinois. He obtained the nickname "Speed" early on in his career as a chemist from his habit of rushing to breakfast after studying all night. While at Illinois, Marvel became a friend of fellow student Wallace Carothers. Marvel received his M.A. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1916.
Marvel's studies were interrupted by World War I. As the war cut off previous sources of supply, it became difficult to obtain many of the chemicals used in synthetic organic chemistry and related industrial processes. Clarence Derick set up the Organic Chemical Manufactures unit at Illinois to make and sell chemicals that had previously been imported from Germany. From 1916 to 1919 Marvel worked at the production unit under Roger Adams. His work in the Organic Chemical Manufactures unit gave him extensive experience in chemical preparation. Students were required to take careful notebook records of each preparation, including the cost of chemicals, apparatus, and the time needed. Marvel was known for his ability to modify poor procedures to make them more effective, and to describe procedures so that others could follow them. Many of these laboratory procedures were later published, first as pamphlets on Organic Chemical Reagents, by Roger Adams, O. Kamm, and C. S. Marvel, and later in the journal Organic Syntheses.
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