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:
