William H. Chapin Papers, 1904-1936, n.d.
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Administrative/Biographical History
William Henry Chapin, Professor of Chemistry at Oberlin College for 32 years (1904-38) is credited with transforming the teaching of chemistry at Oberlin and elsewhere, largely by means of his well-received textbook, Second Year College Chemistry (1922). Aware of ferment in the scientific method of the time and of the traditional content of the undergraduate chemistry courses, he decided his own courses in analytical chemistry were too concerned with method and detail when what was needed was knowledge of general principles tested through experience. Statements needed to be supported by experimental data and documented by reference to original papers. Since no course existed in the Oberlin Chemistry Department, he designed a laboratory course and manual and wrote his textbook. Published in 1922, it even included a chapter on atomic theories discussing new theories of Irving Langmuir and G. N. Lewis, noted chemists of the time. His course had a huge impact on Oberlin's curriculum and eventually the teaching of chemistry throughout academia.
William Chapin was born in Brownhelm, Ohio on 5 October 1872 to Almon and Julia E. (Broughton) Chapin. He spent a few years teaching in local area public schools before entering Oberlin College in 1900. As a senior he served as a laboratory assistant in the Chemistry Department before graduating in 1904. He immediately accepted a position as assistant in the chemistry lab at Oberlin College (1904-06). His value to the department is evidenced by his repeated academic promotions: Instructor (1906-07), Assistant Professor (1910-22), and Professor (1922-38). He left Oberlin (1907-10) to earn a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania (1909) and to pursue a graduate fellowship (1909-10) before returning to Oberlin in 1910. In 1936, Chapin suffered a stroke, which restricted his activity and led to his retirement in 1938.
A shy, somewhat aloof person whose manner concealed many acts of thoughtfulness and kindness, he was highly respected by his students who responded to his high standards of work and expectations for them. He held membership in the American Chemical Society, the National Geographic Society, and the First Church in Oberlin. He shared his expertise with the Oberlin community (Board of public works, 1922-25) and is especially noted for his efforts to assure pure, soft water for the city. As an amateur photographer, his images of California missions are noteworthy. He also taught some summer courses at USC.
Chapin's research and writings included historical pieces as well as articles devoted to chemistry. In addition to his textbook for chemistry, Chapin's writings included Exercises in Chemistry (1922), "Chemical Research Problems," and "Halide Bases of Tantalum." He wrote a series of articles for the Oberlin Alumni Magazine (1929-31) about the historic landmarks of Oberlin College and the town. His writings also include reports and an article concerning the Oberlin water supply system.
He was married to Bertha Alice Staver (b. Canton, Ohio, August 3, 1878; d. February 11, 1962) on June 27, 1906. She was active in civic and women's clubs in Oberlin. The couple had four children: Almon Joel (OC 1926-27, 1928-29; b. Oberlin, Ohio, 6 April 1907; d. Bellevue, Ohio, 10 December 1976), Margaret E. (OC '36; b. 18 July 1913; d. Pasadena, CA, 3 Feb. 1996), Mary Elizabeth (b. 16 July 1910; d. 3 Feb. 1996), and Herbert Arthur (b. 5 March 1917; d. 2 March 1928). William Henry Chapin died on 5 December 1962 at the age of 90. William and Bertha Chapin were buried in Westwood Cemetery, Oberlin, Ohio.
Sources Consulted
Faculty file of William H. Chapin (RG 28/3); Student File of William H. Chapin (RG 28).
Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationThe papers of Harry N. Holmes (30/265) and the records of the Department of Chemistry (9/10).
W.H. Chapin's pamphlet "First Church in Oberlin, History and Hopes" is filed in RG 31/4/1 Records of First and Second Congregational Churches, Subgroup I, Series 15, Box 1, and is also available in the Oberlin College Library.
The papers of William H. Chapin, consisting of correspondence, writings (published and unpublished), teaching and research files, photographs and plans, primarily document his career as a teacher, researcher, and writer in the field of chemistry. Among the publications in the collection is Chapin’s textbook Second Year College Chemistry (1922, 1933), which he used to stress that the general principles of chemistry should be tested through experience. Also included are laboratory notes and drawings for physics (n.d.), notes for Qualitative Analysis II (1904), and a copy of Organic Chemistry by James Conant (1936). The notes for physics and Qualitative Analysis appeared to have been compiled by Chapin while he was a student at Oberlin College.
Two folders contain miscellaneous published writings (reprints and articles) and one unpublished writing of William H. Chapin (1909-25, 1929-31, n.d.). Some of the titles are "Halide Bases of Tantalum" (1909), "A Course in Analytical Chemistry" (1924), and "Chemical Research Problems" (1925). In addition, he researched and studied ways to assure a pure water system for the community of Oberlin. His writings, a "Report of the Oberlin Water Works Board” (n.d.) and "Water Softening as Practiced at Oberlin, Ohio" (n.d.), address the water supply, soil composition, and water delivery systems for the Oberlin community. Chapin also wrote "Landmarks of Early Oberlin" (1929-30)—a series of Oberlin Alumni Magazine articles concerning buildings and sites of the college and the town.
The photographs include images of Oberlin and the campus, the chemistry laboratory, and one images of William H. Chapin with an unidentified woman with an apparatus. The photographic copies of plans are hand-drawn diagrams of the chemistry building floors.
The papers are arranged into the following five series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Materials Associated with Second Year Chemistry; 3. Teaching and Research Files; 4. Writings; and, 5. Photographs and Plans.