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Vermilye medal dinner
Journal of The Franklin lnstilule Devoted to Science and the Mechanic Arts Vol. 242
NOVEMBER, 1946
No. 5
VERMILYE MEDAL DINNER.* T~E FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, Friday, October 4, x946
It is with much pleasure that, as President of The Franklin Institute, I welcome you tonight. We are here to do honor to a great man and a great Philadelphian. This honor is being bestowed by a great institution in which we all.take a pardonable pride. As I stand here I wonder what those men who, in 1824, founded The Franklin Institute would think if they could return to us today and view their child grown to maturity. Were that possible we would take them on a tour of our great museum. We would tell them of the thousands upon thousands of men, women, and, particularly, children who, year after year, profit by the educational exhibits here available. We would take them to a planetarium demonstration and amaze them with the device which makes it possible to so clearly demonstrate the wonders of the skies. We would take them to our library, one of the finest and most complete scientific libraries in the country. We would show them the files of the JO~JRNAL which for I2I years has disseminated scientific information throughout the world. We would show them the complete records of our Committee on Science and the Arts which, through the years, has been seeking out men and women who have done notable scientific work, and recommending them for Franklin Institute awards which are known and prized throughout the world. We would take them into our lecture hall and satisfy them t h a t their original desire, that opportunity be given our citizens to see and hear at first-hand those who are doing notable scientific work, is still being carried on. We would take them to Swarthmore and show them the Bartol Research Laboratories where pioneer work is being done in pure physics. * Address delivered on the occasion of the award of the Vermilye Medal to M. W. Clement, October 4, I946. (Note--The Franklin Institute is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors in the JOURNAl..) 343
344
VERMILYE MEDAL DINNER.
[J. F. I.
Then, on to Newark, Delaware, to the Biochemical Research Although those laboratories are not an integral part of The Franklin Institute, they are administered by the Institute. They would be intrigued by the fine work which is being done there in developing ways and means for combating disease. We would take them into this great hall, dedicated to the memory of our patron Benjamin Franklin, and they would gaze with admiration upon this beautiful statue. Then we would tell them something of the fine research and development work which was so successfully done within these walls for the Armed Services during the late war and of the honors received by the Institute and its staff for that work.. Then we would tell them of our decision to continue our research and development work into peace times, both for the government and industry, not only because it affords an opportunity for further service but also because we expect it to provide the means for enlarging the other institute services. They would be surprised that within these walls we now have 338 individuals at work, and that in the Bartol and Biochemical Laboratories we have an additional 87, making a total payroll of 425. Then, finally, we would bring them to this dinner at which they would witness the presentation of one of our newer medals, the Vermilye Medal, and now I shall ask Mr. Philip C. Staples, a Past President of the Institute and a member of its Board of Managers, and Chairman of the Vermiiye Medal Committee, to speak to them and to you. Mr. Staples. C. S. REDDING.
Laboratories.
NOVEMBER, 1946
No. 5
VERMILYE MEDAL DINNER.* T~E FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, Friday, October 4, x946
It is with much pleasure that, as President of The Franklin Institute, I welcome you tonight. We are here to do honor to a great man and a great Philadelphian. This honor is being bestowed by a great institution in which we all.take a pardonable pride. As I stand here I wonder what those men who, in 1824, founded The Franklin Institute would think if they could return to us today and view their child grown to maturity. Were that possible we would take them on a tour of our great museum. We would tell them of the thousands upon thousands of men, women, and, particularly, children who, year after year, profit by the educational exhibits here available. We would take them to a planetarium demonstration and amaze them with the device which makes it possible to so clearly demonstrate the wonders of the skies. We would take them to our library, one of the finest and most complete scientific libraries in the country. We would show them the files of the JO~JRNAL which for I2I years has disseminated scientific information throughout the world. We would show them the complete records of our Committee on Science and the Arts which, through the years, has been seeking out men and women who have done notable scientific work, and recommending them for Franklin Institute awards which are known and prized throughout the world. We would take them into our lecture hall and satisfy them t h a t their original desire, that opportunity be given our citizens to see and hear at first-hand those who are doing notable scientific work, is still being carried on. We would take them to Swarthmore and show them the Bartol Research Laboratories where pioneer work is being done in pure physics. * Address delivered on the occasion of the award of the Vermilye Medal to M. W. Clement, October 4, I946. (Note--The Franklin Institute is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors in the JOURNAl..) 343
344
VERMILYE MEDAL DINNER.
[J. F. I.
Then, on to Newark, Delaware, to the Biochemical Research Although those laboratories are not an integral part of The Franklin Institute, they are administered by the Institute. They would be intrigued by the fine work which is being done there in developing ways and means for combating disease. We would take them into this great hall, dedicated to the memory of our patron Benjamin Franklin, and they would gaze with admiration upon this beautiful statue. Then we would tell them something of the fine research and development work which was so successfully done within these walls for the Armed Services during the late war and of the honors received by the Institute and its staff for that work.. Then we would tell them of our decision to continue our research and development work into peace times, both for the government and industry, not only because it affords an opportunity for further service but also because we expect it to provide the means for enlarging the other institute services. They would be surprised that within these walls we now have 338 individuals at work, and that in the Bartol and Biochemical Laboratories we have an additional 87, making a total payroll of 425. Then, finally, we would bring them to this dinner at which they would witness the presentation of one of our newer medals, the Vermilye Medal, and now I shall ask Mr. Philip C. Staples, a Past President of the Institute and a member of its Board of Managers, and Chairman of the Vermiiye Medal Committee, to speak to them and to you. Mr. Staples. C. S. REDDING.
Laboratories.