Hartshorn Medal Awarded

In memory of the late Elden Bennett Hartshorn '12, Professor of Chemistry, a medal bearing his name has been awarded for the first time this spring to the senior going on to graduate study in chemistry who shows greatest promise of distinction in teaching or research. The first recipient is Karl B. Sharpless '63 of Haverford, Pa., who will study organic chemistry at Stanford next year as the holder of a regular National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.

A mounted copy of the medal is displayed in Steele Hall, along with the following description of Professor Hartshorn's career:

ELDEN BENNETT HARTSHORN

Elden Bennett Hartshorn was born on July 30, 1889, in Emmetsburg, lowa. He died in Hanover, New Hampshire, on February 27, 1961. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1912 and was appointed Instructor in Chemistry in 1913. During World War I he served in the U. S. Army Chemical Warfare Service, working on the preparation and properties of mustard gas. Following this he did graduate work at the University of Minnesota, from which he received the Ph.D. degree in 1922. That same year he was appointed Assistant Prof essor of Chemistry at Dartmouth. In 1929 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry, which position he held until his retirement in 1954. During 1930-1931 he studied at the University of Munich and during World War II he directed research at Dartmouth on the synthesis of potential anti-malarial drugs.

During his long career at Dartmouth Professor Hartshorn was known not only for his interest in sound scholarship but also for his ability, as a teacher, to inspire the same interest in his students. He gave generously of his time and energy to these students and encouraged many of them to go on to graduate work, some to distingiushed careers in teaching and research.

In grateful recognition of this his students and friends have established the ELDEN BENNETT HARTSHORN MEDAL to be awarded annually to that Senior major planning to enter upon graduate study in chemistry who, in the opinion of the Department of Chemistry, shows the greatest promise of distinction in teaching or research.