Arnold Thackray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arnold Wilfrid Thackray
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Arnold Thackray, 2005
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| Born | July 30, 1939 northwest England
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Cambridge University |
| Occupation | Science historian |
| Known for | Founding President of the Chemical Heritage Foundation |
| Title | Joseph Priestley Professor Emeritus |
| Awards | Dexter Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | (1966) |
| Doctoral advisor | Mary Hesse |
Arnold Thackray (born 30 July 1939) is a British historian of science. He is a professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania. This means he is a retired professor who still holds his title. He is famous for starting or expanding several important organizations. These include the Chemical Heritage Foundation (now the Science History Institute).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Arnold Thackray was born in northwest England on July 30, 1939. When he was 10, he became a special scholar at the Manchester Grammar School. This school was known for helping very bright students.
In 1960, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He graduated with top honors from Bristol University. After working as a chemical engineer, he decided to study the history of science. In 1963, he joined the doctoral program at Cambridge University. He studied under Mary Hesse, a leading expert in the philosophy of science. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1966.
Building a Career in Science History
In the 1960s, the United States was a leader in science and the new field of science history. After getting his PhD, Thackray decided to move to America. In 1967, he became a visiting lecturer at Harvard University. He enjoyed the competitive spirit of American universities.
He then chose to join the University of Pennsylvania. Instead of just joining the existing faculty, he helped create a new department. This was the Department of the History and Sociology of Science. It was the first university department to focus on modern science, technology, and medicine in their social context. He joined the faculty in 1968.
Shaping a New Department
As the head of this new department, Thackray brought together experts from many fields. These included history, philosophy, and chemistry. His goal was to study how modern science, technology, and medicine fit into society. He wanted to look at the last 250 years, especially America's contributions.
Thackray taught at the University of Pennsylvania for 28 years. He retired in 1996 as the Joseph Priestley Professor Emeritus. His studies focused on how modern science grew after Isaac Newton. He also looked at how scientists and society interact. He guided many PhD students and wrote many books and articles.
He was also involved with the History of Science Society. He edited their main journal, Isis, and relaunched Osiris. He also taught as a visiting professor at other famous places. These included the London School of Economics and the Institute for Advanced Study.
Founding the Chemical Heritage Foundation
In the early 1980s, there was a need for a center to study the history of chemistry. Arnold Thackray suggested that this center be at the University of Pennsylvania. He got help from Penn chemist Charles C. Price. Price introduced Thackray to John C. Haas, a leader in the chemical industry. Haas then got other important people interested, like Edward G. Jefferson from DuPont Co.
In 1982, the American Chemical Society gave $150,000 to start the center. The University of Pennsylvania matched this amount. This led to the creation of the Center for the History of Chemistry (CHOC). Its goal was to share information about the history of chemistry. It also wanted to encourage research and writing in this field. Later, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) joined as a co-sponsor.
Growing the Foundation
In 1987, CHOC received a large gift of $2 million from chemist Arnold Beckman. This gift had to be matched by other donations. Soon after, another large pledge of $5 million came from Donald Othmer. This was to create an Othmer Library of Chemical History.
By 1992, both the Beckman Center and the Othmer Library became part of a new organization. It was renamed the Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF). Thackray wanted CHF to have its own building. They found a historic building in Philadelphia, near Benjamin Franklin's old home. This building was once the First National Bank.
It took over a decade to plan and build out the new facility. The renovated building opened in 2008. It included offices, archives, and the growing Othmer Library. It also had a large public museum designed by Ralph Appelbaum. This museum was made to help people learn about science history.
Under Thackray's leadership, CHF grew a lot. It added more sponsoring organizations and welcomed many visiting scholars. In 1997, the annual Othmer Gold Medal was started. This award honors people who have made great contributions to science. Thackray was president of CHF until 2009. He then served as Chancellor for seven more years. During his time, he helped raise $130 million for the foundation.
The Life Sciences Foundation
After leaving CHF, Thackray moved to Silicon Valley. There, he started the Life Sciences Foundation in 2011. He realized that the history of biotechnology was not well known. The foundation aimed to record the stories of the industry's founders. It also wanted to raise awareness about biotechnology's importance. They did this through interviews, public events, and a free magazine.
The Life Sciences Foundation quickly became successful. In 2015, it merged with the Chemical Heritage Foundation. In 2018, the combined organization was renamed the Science History Institute. This new name showed its wider focus. It now covered the history of chemical sciences, engineering, life sciences, and biotechnology.
Thackray also started Science History Consultants (SHC). This company helps individuals and businesses tell their stories. He has encouraged books about important companies and people. These include Journey: 75 Years of Kodak Research and Fred Kavli: The Man and His Legacy.
Awards and Honors
Thackray has received many awards for his work. In 1983, he won the Dexter Award for his work on the history of chemistry. In 1984, he received the George Sarton Memorial Lecturer Award. He was also given fellowships twice from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
He is a Fellow of several important groups. These include the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Historical Society. The American Chemical Society held a special event in his honor in 2009.
Personal Life
Arnold Thackray became a citizen of the United States in 1981. He first married Barbara Thackray, a physicist and teacher. They had three children: Helen, Gillian, and Timothy.
Since 1994, his wife has been Diana Thackray. His hobbies include walking, gardening, and raising roses.
Selected Publications
- Chinese translation Moore's law: the life of Gordon Moore, Silicon Valley's quiet revolutionary (2017) Renmin University of China Press ISBN: 978-7300239231
- Italian translation Atomi e force (1981) Bologna
