Clara de Milt

Clara de Milt
Clara de Milt, from a 1926 newspaper
Born(1891-05-08)May 8, 1891
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedMay 10, 1953(1953-05-10) (aged 62)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
OccupationsChemist, historian of science, college professor

Clara Marie de Milt (May 8, 1891 – May 10, 1953) was an American chemist, historian of science, and college professor. She taught at Newcomb College from 1919 to 1953, and chaired the division of physical sciences at Tulane University.

Early life and education

De Milt was born in New Orleans and raised in Biloxi, Mississippi, the daughter of Daniel de Milt and Carrie Barnard de Milt. She graduated from H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College in 1911, and earned a master's degree from Tulane University in 1921, and completed her Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Chicago, with a dissertation titled "Phenylstearic Acid" (1925). She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Later, she was director of the Newcomb Alumnae Loan Fund.

Career

De Milt taught high school after college, to help her younger sisters attend college. She returned to Newcomb College as a chemistry instructor in 1919, and became an assistant professor in 1926. She was promoted to full professor status in 1930, and was head of the chemistry department. De Milt was named chair of the chemistry department in Tulane's graduate school in 1941, and in the university's division of physical sciences in 1946.

In 1937 de Milt was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); she was also active in the American Association of University Women (AAUW). In 1946 she was elected vice-chair of the Louisiana section of the American Chemical Society. She was on the editorial board of Chymia, a journal in the history of chemistry.

Personal life

De Milt organized an 8500-mile road trip through Western states with three other women in 1923. She died in 1953, at age 62, at her home in New Orleans. Her papers are at Tulane University.

Publications

Scientific

Historical and pedagogical

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McConnell, Virginia F. (1964). "Clara de Milt, Historian of Science". Chymia. 9. University of California Press: 201–215. doi:10.2307/27757241. ISSN 0095-9367.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dr. Clara de Milt dies Here at 62". New Orleans States. 1953-05-11. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-10-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Tucker, Susan; Willinger, Beth (2012-05-07). Newcomb College, 1886–2006: Higher Education for Women in New Orleans. LSU Press. ISBN 978-0-8071-4338-4.
  4. ↑ "Newcomb Seniors Dine Under Oaks". New Orleans States-Item. 1911-05-11. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-10-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ de Milt, Clara Marie. "Phenylstearic Acid." PhD diss., The University of Chicago, 1925.
  6. ↑ "Newcomb's Chemistry Head Leaves for Research". New Orleans States. 1940-03-08. p. 14. Retrieved 2026-10-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Tulane Appoints Dr. Clara deMilt". The Times-Picayune. 1946-03-12. p. 19. Retrieved 2026-10-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Marriage Made Profession in College Course of Study". The Times-Picayune. 1926-12-12. p. 76. Retrieved 2026-10-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Ward is State Head of Chemical Society". New Orleans States. 1946-02-12. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-10-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Industry Uses Her Formula to Lubricate its Gas Engines; There's Room at the Top". New Orleans States-Item. 1949-10-25. p. 15. Retrieved 2026-10-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Return from Long Trip". Sun Herald. 1923-09-05. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-10-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Scott, John Mark (1954-08-01). "Clara Marie deMilt (1891-1953)". Journal of Chemical Education. 31 (8): 419. doi:10.1021/ed031p419. ISSN 0021-9584.
  13. ↑ Clara de Milt papers, Tulane University.
  14. ↑ de Milt, Clara; van Zandt, Gertrude (1936-10-01). "Diazotization of Weakly Basic and Insoluble Amines. The Use of Pyridine, Quinoline and Isoquinoline as Solvents for the Amines". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 58 (10): 2044–2046. doi:10.1021/ja01301a064. ISSN 0002-7863.
  15. ↑ Milt, Clara de; Sartor, Mildred (1940-08-01). "The Preparation of 4,4'-Dicyano-diphenyl and Certain Diketones of Diphenyl". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 62 (8): 1954–1955. doi:10.1021/ja01865a014. ISSN 0002-7863.
  16. ↑ De Milt, Clara (1939-11-01). "Robert Hook, chemist". Journal of Chemical Education. 16 (11): 503. doi:10.1021/ed016p503. ISSN 0021-9584.
  17. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1941-11-01). "Early chemistry at le Jardin du Roi". Journal of Chemical Education. 18 (11): 503. doi:10.1021/ed018p503. ISSN 0021-9584.
  18. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1942-02-01). "Christopher Glaser". Journal of Chemical Education. 19 (2): 53. doi:10.1021/ed019p53. ISSN 0021-9584.
  19. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1947). "The Origins of Our Numeral Notation". School Science and Mathematics. 47 (8): 701–708. doi:10.1111/j.1949-8594.1947.tb06213.x. ISSN 1949-8594.
  20. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1948). "Carl Weltzein and the Congress at Karlsruhe". Chymia. 1. University of California Press: 153–169. doi:10.2307/27757121. ISSN 0095-9367.
  21. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1949-01-01). "The value of the historical approach in the teaching of general chemistry". Journal of Chemical Education. 26 (1): 39. doi:10.1021/ed026p39. ISSN 0021-9584.
  22. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1951-08-01). "The Congress at Karlsruhe". Journal of Chemical Education. 28 (8): 421. doi:10.1021/ed028p421. ISSN 0021-9584.
  23. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1951-04-01). "Auguste Laurent—Guide and inspiration of Gerhardt". Journal of Chemical Education. 28 (4): 198. doi:10.1021/ed028p198. ISSN 0021-9584.
  24. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1952-07-01). "The value of the history and philosophy of science in the training of graduate students in chemistry". Journal of Chemical Education. 29 (7): 340. doi:10.1021/ed029p340. ISSN 0021-9584.
  25. ↑ de Milt, Clara (1953-01-01). "Auguste Laurent, Founder of Modern Organic Chemistry". Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences. 4: 85–114. doi:10.2307/27757164. ISSN 0073-2672.