In the 2019 International Year of the Periodic Table, it seems appropriate to revisit Mary Elvira Weeks’s contributions to the history of chemistry through her publication of the “Discovery of the Elements.” Weeks (1892-1975) was born in Lyons, Wisconsin, received her B.A. degree in 1913 from Ripon College, Wisconsin, and finished her M.A. in 1914 from the University of Wisconsin. In 1921, she became an instructor in chemistry at the University of Kansas, where she simultaneously worked on her PhD, finishing her degree in 1927. In 1932, Weeks started publishing a series of twenty-one articles in the Journal of Chemical Education on the discovery of the elements. In 1933, she combined these published articles in book form: the first edition of “The Discovery of the Elements” was published by the Chemical Education Publishing Company of Easton, PA. Six editions followed, ending with the 7th edition in 1968 with co-author Henry M. Leicester. These books were heavily illustrated with photos of chemists collected by her Kansas colleague, Frank B. Dains. The style of the books and changes between the editions will be discussed.

Mary Elvira Weeks and The Discovery of the Elements

2019 Fall National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.