Anna J. Harrison
Encyclopedia
Anna Jane Harrison was an American organic chemist
and a professor of chemistry at Mount Holyoke College
for nearly forty years.
. Her parents were farmers, Albert Harrison and Mary Katherine Jones Harrison. She attended high school in Mexico, Missouri
where she became interested in science. She received her B.A. in 1933, a M.A. in 1937, and her Ph.D. in 1940 in chemistry, all from the University of Missouri
in Columbia, Missouri
.
She died in Holyoke, Massachusetts
at the age of eighty-five.
In 1945, she joined the chemistry department at Mount Holyoke College
. She became a full professor in the department in 1950 and serverd as the chair from 1960-66. She retired from Mount Holyoke in 1979.
In 1978 she became the first woman president of the American Chemical Society
. She also served as president of the AAAS
in 1983. In 1989 she co-authored a textbook with colleague Edwin Weaver entitled "Chemistry: A Search to Understand."
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
and a professor of chemistry at Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
for nearly forty years.
Life
She was born in Benton City, MissouriBenton City, Missouri
Benton City is a village in Audrain County, Missouri, United States. The population was 122 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Benton City is located at ....
. Her parents were farmers, Albert Harrison and Mary Katherine Jones Harrison. She attended high school in Mexico, Missouri
Mexico, Missouri
Mexico is a city in Audrain County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,543 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Audrain County. The Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Audrain County...
where she became interested in science. She received her B.A. in 1933, a M.A. in 1937, and her Ph.D. in 1940 in chemistry, all from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
.
She died in Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...
at the age of eighty-five.
Career
She taught chemistry at Sophie Newcomb College where she worked from 1940 to 1945. During World War II, she was employed by the National Defense Research Council, working on toxic smoke.In 1945, she joined the chemistry department at Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
. She became a full professor in the department in 1950 and serverd as the chair from 1960-66. She retired from Mount Holyoke in 1979.
In 1978 she became the first woman president of the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
. She also served as president of the AAAS
AAAS
AAAS may refer to:* American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an organization dedicated to scholarship and the advancement of learning* American Association for the Advancement of Science, an organization that promotes cooperation between scientists...
in 1983. In 1989 she co-authored a textbook with colleague Edwin Weaver entitled "Chemistry: A Search to Understand."