Carl S. Marvel the Grand Old Gentleman of Polymer Science

Abstract

Like Herman Mark and Paul Flory, Carl “Speed” Marvel was involved in polymer science research and education for about a half of a century. One half of his academic life was spent at the University of Illinois and the other half at the University of Arizona where he continued his research activities until his death in 1987. The University of Arizona named its chemistry building after him on the occasion of “Speed” Marvel’s 90th birthday.

In the 1940’s the National Association of Manufacturers established a Modern Pioneers Award to recognize Americans who have been awarded over 40 U.S. patents. While he did not receive the NAM Modern Pioneers Award he has received over 20 awards for his outstanding achievements in polymer science.

In addition to receiving the prestigious award of the American Chemical Society at the 9th Biennial Polymer Symposium in 1978, Professor Marvel has received more than 20 awards including honorary doctoral degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University (1946), University of Illinois (1963), and the University of Louvain Belgium. He has received the ACS awards in Polymer Chemistry (1964) and in Organic Coatings and Plastics (1973).

Other ACS awards include the Nichols medal (1944) and the Willard Gibbs medal (1956). He received the International Award of the Society of Plastics Engineers (1964), the Perkin award of the Society of Chemical Industry the Pioneer award (1967) and the Gold Medal award (1955) of the American Institute of Chemists. He was named a pioneer in polymer science by Polymer Mews in 1978.

He has been a member of the U.S. National Academy of Science since 1938, the American Academy of Arts and Science since 1960, the Philosophical Society, also since 1960, and sewed as president of the American Chemical Society in 1945. One of the large conference rooms in the American Chemical Society Building in Washington, D.C., is named Marvel Hall.

In addition to publishing “Introduction to the Organic Chemistry of High Polymers” and three other books, Dr. Marvel published almost 500 articles in scientific journals throughout the world. He also served on the editorial board of Macromoleeules, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and the Journal of Polymer Science.

One may ask, “What was this man’s secret for such outstanding productivity?” Part of the answer is that Carl Marvel was born in 1894 and continued to be active during all of the 93 years of his life. Like many outstanding scientists, he was born on a farm in the Midwest (Waynesville, IL) and went to school not far from his birthplace. He received the AB and MS degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University (1915) and AM and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois (1916,1920).

His professional career was also launched close to home at his alma mater, where he was associated with Roger Adams, Oliver Kamm, Wallace Carothers, Butch Hanford and many other eminent chemists at the University of Illinois where he retired as research professor at the age of 67 in 1961.

He was a professor of chemistry at the University of Arizona and professor emeritus at the University of Illinois since that time. Carl Marvel married Alberta Hughes in 1933. The senior Marvels have two children Mary Catharine and John Thomas Marvel. Dr. John Marvel, who received his Ph.D. degree from MIT, is now a research administrator at Monsanto.

In addition to finding time to raise a family while setting the pace in polymer science, Professor Marvel spent a share of his time outdoors. Included in these general articles are: “The Unusual Feeding Habits of the Cape May Warbler” (1948) and “The Blue Grosbeck in Western Ontario” (1950).

The coauthors of his scientific articles supply an insight into the professional relationships of an Illinois chemist who worked for over 40 years in the only job offered to him and spent over 26 years after retirement in his second job. Some of his coauthors were WA Noyes (1917), Oliver Kamm (1924), Roger Adams (1920), V. du Vigneaud (1924), W.A. Lazier (1924), W.C. Rose (1929), R.L. Shriner (1935), William J. Sparks (1936), John Cowan (1936), G.G. Overberger (1944), Rudolph Deanin (1947), G.E. Inskeep (1948), John Stille (1956), James Economy (1956), William DePierri (1958), P.V. Bonsignore (1959), J.E. Mulvaney (1960), and Pat Cassidy (1965).

Since Professor Marvel was one of the world’s outstanding organic chemists who accidently specialized in polymer chemistry in the late 1920’s his publications covered a wide range of subjects. They ranged from the “Responsibility of American Chemists” to “Thermally Stable Polymers with Aromatic Recurring Units.”

Few organic chemists have shown an interest in the chemistiy of polymers or what they may call the “sloppy stuff” left over from many reactions. Hence, one may ask why Dr. Marvel has demonstrated a different viewpoint.

According to Marvel, “There are still many organic chemists who have no idea of what a polymer is, why they form, nor do they seem to care.”

Fortunately for polymer science and the polymer industry, which comprises a major fraction of the chemical industry, Professor Marvel did care about polymers and knew why they form. Hopefully, other competent orgamc chemists will continue to follow his example.