First science history Ph.Ds return to campus

Seems like just yesterday when the Department of History of Science awarded its first doctorates . . . but in fact, it was exactly 50 years ago.

The inaugural recipients, Robert Siegfried and Glenn A. Sonnedecker, will attend a reception today, Sept. 13 at which they will be honored.

Siegfried earned a Ph.D. from the UW in both history of science and chemistry. After holding positions at Boston University, the University of Arkansas and the University of Illinois, he joined the UW history of science faculty in 1963. Specializing in the history of chemistry, Siegfried is an expert on 19th century British chemist Sir Humphry Davy, who isolated sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, boron, magnesium and strontium. Davy also established the elementary nature of chlorine, and the relationship between acids and hydrogen.

Sonnedecker also is a double major, receiving doctorates from Wisconsin in history of science and history of pharmacy. A pioneer in the latter field, Sonnedecker’s work spans over 400 years of history. He became a member of UW’s history of science faculty upon graduation in 1952.

The Sept. 13 event also will announce the new John Neu Distinguished Graduate Fellowship. Neu himself will attend the event. He is a UW librarian emeritus and former bibliographer in history of science at Memorial Library.

The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. in 8417 Social Sciences. For information, contact departmental chair Lynn K. Nyhart, (608) 262-3970, lknyhart@facstaff.wisc.edu.