Sometimes if I’m getting something from the photo files I’ll idly open up a nearby folder just to see what’s in it. I did that today and was most pleased to find these three fantastic pictures of Chemistry Professor Henry O. Nicholas giving the lab equipment (does anyone know what these instruments are?) a workout in the fall of 1949:
They’re all good but I especially like this one, with it’s obsolete technology and the glimpse out the window:
As I sat there scanning these images I realized both that I really like this fellow with his rolled up shirt sleeves and that I knew nothing about him at all. Assuming him to be a short-timer I didn’t expect to find much, but hey, I have to look.
It turns out that I was very wrong. Nicholas arrived at the Institute in 1921 after doing a Fellowship at Yale and stayed until he retired in 1956. Surprisingly, in addition to teaching Chemistry he served as Athletic Director for some period of time I haven’t yet been able to ascertain. Here’s the article announcing his appointment in January, 1934:
If I have a minute I’ll check out what happened with the Presbyterians.
Something really wonderful turns up in Part II, coming Monday . . .
Bonus: This time will be different.
Lined up like soldiers:
That equipment certainly takes me back. I believe that’s very similar to what we used in freshman chem lab in the late 70s. Assuming you mean the middle picture, the “jar” on the right is a desiccator, which would be very important with Houston’s humidity. As I recall, the item on the left, that looks like a rectangular glass case, is a balance.
Looks like some issues being addressed in athletics.
M
Sent from my iPad
The cypresses are obviously recent imports from Rome … haven’t learned to recline yet.
Dr Nicholas was my Father-in-law. He was AD for one year,1934, when Rice won its first SWC football championship. He was Chairman of the Rice Athletic Committee for 20 years.
Thanks, John! He looks like a nice man. Wait until you see the pictures on Monday!
Dr. Nicholas was my grandpa. Many happy memories of being with him on Carson Court in Houston! Thank you.
The glass object in the top photo is called a volumetric pipette. It would have had a single mark that indicated when a specific volume of liquid had been sucked up into the tube. These types of pipettes were used in chemistry experiments and analysis — in conjunction with balances for weighing solids — for creating solutions with precise concentrations of their various constituents.
I’m fascinated by his necktie! Were paramecia a precursor to paisley? 😉
Someday I’m going to do a collage of neckties through Rice history. I’ve seen some crazy stuff.
Those are the right answers on the lab equipment.
Dr. Nicholas was my grandfather. I had never seen these photos before so thanks so much for posting!
This is awesome!!! I was named after Dr. Nicholas. Nick Wolda
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