Pilgrimage through the History of German Natural Science,
University City Göttingen
Kaoru Harada
Email:babna800@jttk.zaq.ne.jp(Received 17May 2002, Accepted 27 May 2002)

nonscientific areas.

Introduction
We left Bonn early morning to Göttingen. On the way,

Göttingen belongs to Niedersachsen, an area with unusual

we changed trains aFt Frankfurt am Main, and arrived athistory. When Queen Ann of England died, all of her legal

Göttingen via Fulde at 11 o’clock. Most of the Houses insuccessor in England died except for Georg of Hannover (1660-

Göttingen are red roofed and are surrounded by the green trees.

1727), grandson of the James Ⅰ of England.
The famous English Astronomer William Herschel (1738-

First, I make a hotel reservation at the tourist information in frontof Göttingen station. The hotel is on Goethe Alee in the center

1822) was born in Hannover.

He went to England as aof the old town, but it was quiet and convenient.

A charming

musician because the two countries were reigned by the same

old lady at the reception greeted us in English, but soon we foundKing. Herschel studied astronomy and telescope making, andout her English was only for every day salutation(Fig.1- 2).

he became a Great astronomer in England by the help of his
sister Caroline Herschel (1750-1848).

After William died(1822), Caroline returned to Hannover to study astronomy,
becoming first female astronomer in the modern days. There isa small museum of William and Caroline Herschel in Bath,England. Caroline’s grave is in a small church cemetery of
Gartenkirche, Mariem Strasse, Hannover.
George Ⅱ King of England was the son of George Ⅰ,
and he established the University of Göttingen in 1737. Thus
Fig.1. Göttingen is one of the famous University City in Germany. We
arrived at Göttingen by DB (Deutshes Bahn).

the university is not particularly old, but grew by the help of
George Ⅱ, attracted many students from all over Germany, due
to the high level of education and famous professors. And in
the latter days, the University of Göttingen has been a center oflearning especially in the field of Natural Science.
The name of Göttingen has been known in Japan from theold days, and 「Göttingen」was written as 「月沈原」whichmeans literally “moon sinking field”, stimulating our romantic
imagination which was certainly influenced by the 19th century

Fig. 2. On the wall of a storage house adjacent to the Göttingen station, aprofile of the city of Göttingen is drawn..

German Romanticism.

Histrory of Göttingen and the University

Göttinger Sieben
Hannover enjoyed a relatively liberal Constitution since

In the old days, Göttingen was a small trading town,
which grew into a learning and studying city by the1833, however, in 1837, new King of Hannover

establishment of the University of Göttingen by Elector Georg

August” abolished the constitution and attempted to issue new

August of Honnover in 1737. Therefore, the University has

law. Seven professors in Göttingen listed below were against

been called officially “Georg August Universität zu Göttingen”,

the new law and supported the 1833 Constitution. Many ofand numerous intellectuals emerged from both scientific andthem were expelled from Hannover, but the liberalistic

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
© 2002 by SSOEL Japan- 79 -“ErnstViva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
movement was well supported by the general public, and all of
the professors were finally able to obtain their positions invarious universities. This is the famous liberalistic movement
at the University of Göttingen. The seven professors werecalled the “Göttinger Sieben”. Wilhelm Weber (1804-1891,
physicist) costudied with Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855,
mathematician, physicist) came back again to Göttingen.
Historian Dahrmann was also expelled from Hannover, andobtained professorship at the University of Bonn. Wilhelm andJacob Grimm were invited to Berlin University.
Fig. 4 A strange statue is at the crossing point of the main street in a busy
old town. The woman has holding a mask in her left hand, therefore,
this statue may be related to drama.

Göttingen Declaration
I remember another declaration issued from Göttingen in
They

We turn to right at the crossing and we reach the Markt Platz,

declared that Germany should not have atomic weapons andwhere the old City Hall is there(Fig. 5- 6). The bronze statue ofshould never be involved with the preparation and testing ofa girl Gänseliesel is a symbol of Göttingen(Fig. 7). Two bronze

atomic weapon. The Göttingen declaration was certainly based

statues commemorating Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (Physicist,on the humanities.

Critic, 1742-1799) were recently erected in the Markt Platz andApr. 12, 1957 by famous physicists in Germany.

also in a Hof of the Library (1997 ?). Both statues are uniquereflecting the character of Lichtenberg(Fig. 8- 9).

From DB Station to Markt Platz
As we approached Goethe Allee and Prinzen Strasse fromOld university building are distributed throughout the old

DB station, we can see State and University Library in right side.

town. Some of the new buildings were constructed in the north

There is a beautiful marble bust of Carl Friedrich Gaussside of the old town. The new chemistry buildings are about(Mathematician, 1777-1855) in the Library. When we proceed

3km north of the old town. We pass through Humboldtallee,

further we can see a strange bronze statue at the crossing point tothen Robert Koch Strasse, and we reach the new chemistry

Weender Strasse(Fig. 3). It looks as though a couple is inbuilding. On the way to the chemistry building, there are many

quarrel, but the woman has a mask in her left hand, therefore, theuniversity buildings. Among these I saw a building signed

figure may have some relation with play or drama(Fig. 4).

“Geistwissenschaft”.

The word“wissenschaft”

mean“systematized knowledge”.

Fig. 5. Old city hall is in the Markt Platz. A Tourist Information is in thefirst floor of the building.
Fig. 3. If we proceed Goethe Allee from DB station, we can see State andUniversity Library in right side.

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Hotel room number
I recalled the room number problem I experienced years
ago, when I visited Göttingen and stayed at another hotel. My
room number was No. 123. At that time the number 123 had
special meaning for Japanese.

One day before I left Japan, adomestic JAL flight 123 took off from Narita Airport andcrashed in the mountainous area, killing most of the passengers.
In our flight, many passengers were waiting nervously andFig. 6. There are four churches in Göttingen. A copper plate indicating
the directions to the churches is buried on the paved ground in the cornerof the Markt Platz.

watching TV news of yesterday accident (Fig. 10). I checked
my escape route in this hotel in case of accident.

Fig. 7. The bronze girl is called “Ganseliesel”, which is a nickname (orabbreviation) of “Elithabeth accompanying goose”. The statue wasmade in 1901, and is now a symbol of Göttingen.

Fig. 10. One day before I left Japan by JAL. Flight No. 123 crushed in
the mountainous area of Japan. The key number I received in my Hotelis No. 123. I checked escape way in case of emergency.

To the Department of Chemistry
When we turn Koch Strasse to right, we can see chemistrybuilding on the left, and the Geoscienc building in the right side.
The road leading us to the chemistry building is Tammannstrasse (Gustav Tammann, 1861-1938), and the road togeoscience building is V. M. Goldschmidt Strasse (Victor Morilz
Goldschmidt, 1888-1947)(Fig. 11-13).
Fig. 8. Two bronze statues commemorating Georg Christoph
Lichtenberg, were erected in the Markt Platz and also in the Hof of the
Library in about 1997. Both statues are unique reflecting the characterof Lichtenberg.

Tammann was aprofessor at Göttingen. He is famous as an expert of alloy
metallography, and he was a editor of “Zeitschrift füranorganische und allgemeine Chemie”.

Fig. 9. Bronze statues commemorating Georg Christoph Lichtenberg,
who is a physicist and also a critic were elected in the Markt Platz andalso in the Hof of the Library in about 1997.Both statues are uniquereflecting the character of Lichtenberg.

Fig. 11. The road to the Chemistry Building is Tammann Strasse, andthe way to the Geoscience building is Goldschmidt Strasse.

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Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
Göttingen(Fig. 15- 17).

Fig. 12.

Fig. 15. Dr. Gunther Beer is in charge of the Museum for past long years.

Fig. 13.
Fig. 12, 13. Chemistry building is composed of three large buildings,
these are from left to right Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry andPhysical Chemistry.

Goldschmidt was a professor of Geochemistry at
Göttingen. He has interested in the geochemical circulation ofmatter and proposed a new image of the planet Earth. He

Fig. 16.

escaped to Norway in 1938 and he engaged in cosmochemical
studies.
The chemistry building in Göttingen is composed of threelarge buildings of similar size, and each building is occupied by
Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Physical
Chemistry, respectively. At the present time (2002 AD), newconstructions of additional research buildings are going on (Fig.
14).
Fig. 17
Fig. 16, 17. The Chemistry Museum collect and displayed many kindsof chemistry related materials such as old books, documents, letters,
photographs, medals, certificates, glass wares and old apparatus etc.
Many things are displayed systematically showing the history of the
Department of Chemistry, University of Göttingen.

In the early days(Fig. 18-19), medical professors taught
chemistry, but the first “real” chemistry professor in Göttingen

Fig. 14. There is a Chemistry Museum called “Museum der Göttinger
Chemie” in the building of Inorganic Chemistry.

Old Chemistry Department , University of Göttingen
The history of the Department of Chemistry in the
University was briefly summarized by Dr. Günther Beer who isFig. 18

in charge of the Chemistry Museum in the University ofFig. 18, 19. The chemistry professors in the old days (1735-1775) before
J. F. Gmelin, were Erxleben and Vogel.

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Fig. 19.

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
was Johann Friedrich Gmelin (1748-1804).

He taught

chemistry for more than twenty years. He came from thefamous scholar family in Tubingen. He is the father of Leopold
Gmelin (1788-1853, Chemist). Leopold was born in Göttingen.
J. F. Gmelin taught Chemistry, Pharmacology, Botany,
Mineralogy and History of Chemistry and he wrote several
Textbooks(Fig. 20- 21). The next professor of chemistry isFriedrich Stromeyer (1776-1835). He studied mineralogy at
Göttingen and Paris and found the element Cadmium. Leopold

Fig. 22.

Gmelin is a pupil of F. Stromeyer. The famous chemist RobertFig. 22, 23. A portrait of the second chemistry professor Friedrich
Stromeyer (1776-1835) and his book “Grundris der theoretischen
Chemie”(1808) are displayed.

Bunsen studied for short time (1835-1836) in Göttingen. Later

Fig. 23.

Friedrich Wöhler became a professor of chemistry and studied
for forty-four years in Göttingen, making the department ofchemistry famous. Wöhler was a student of J. J. Berzelius(1709-1848) and Leopold Gmelin (1788-1853).

Fig. 24

Fig. 25.

Fig. 24, 25. Leopold Gmelin (1788 –1853) and his book “Handbuch
der theoretischen Chemie”.

Wöhler and the Laboratory of General Chemistry
Wöhler(Fig. 26- 29) was famous for his abiotic Urea
Fig. 20

Fig. 21.

synthesis and isolation of metallic aluminum and coresearch

Fig. 20, 21. A portrait of chemistry professor Johann Friedrich Gmelin(1749-1804) and his boook “Grundris der algemeinen Chemie”(1789) are displayedwith Justus Liebig. William S. Clark (1826-1886), who isfamous in Japan for his saying “Boys be ambitious”, wasoriginally a chemist and he was the first American student under

Leopold Gmelin

F. Wöhler. He obtained a Ph D degree from the University of

Leopold Gmelin (1788-1853) is a son of J. F. Gmelin

Göttingen by his study on the elemental analysis of various ironand he was born in the house at Hospital Strasse 10 Göttingen,which is now called “Wöhler Hause”.

meteorites.

He was a great

Wöhler’s laboratory was organized as the“Laboratory of General Chemistry” (Allgemeines chemisches

organizer of the developing chemistry in the early 19th century.

Laboratorium) and the following chemists took the director’s

F. Wöhler (1800-1882) was a pupil of L. Gmelin, and Leopold

position.

was a student of F. Stromeyer (1776-1835)(Fig. 22- 23). He

Laboratory of General Chemistry
Director of the Laboratory
in Position
Johann Friedrich Gmelin,
1783 -1803

was interested in physiological chemistry and he is famous of
his “Handboch der theoretischen Chemie”(Fig. 24- 25). He
stayed in Heidelberg rest of his life after he got the position ofFriedrich Stromeyer,

1776 -1800

chemistry professor.

Friedrich Wöhler,1836 -1880

Hans Hübner,

1874 -1884

Viktor Meyer,

1885 -1889

Otto Wallach,1889 -1915

Adolf Windaus,

1915 -1945- 83 -

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
Chemical Laboratory for the “Institute of General Chemistry”(1842-1977)
First Chemical Laboratory was constructed in 1842 (Fig30) for Wöhler (1800-1882).

The Development of the

Chemical Laboratory of the “Institute of General Chemistry” isshown in the photographs (Fig. 30-33). In 1860 additionalbuilding (Fig.31) was constructed and later the Laboratory
expanded further as shown in Fig. 33. Many great researches
Fig. 26. Friedrich Wöhler (1800-1882) was a chemistry professor in
Göttingen.
There are many Wöhler related materials in thisMuseum.

have been accomplished in the Laboratories by Friedrich Wöhler
(1800-1882), Victor Meyer (1848-1897), Otto Waldach (18471931) and Adolf Windaus (1876-1959).

However, totallaboratory buildings were demolished in 1977.

This is ahistorical building in chemistry.

Fig. 27. A portrait of young Wöhler is in the museum, and a plasterbust is displayed in the Wöhler Auditorium in the chemistry building.
Fig. 30. First chemical laboratory was constructed in 1842 for F.
Wöhler.

Fig. 31. The development of Chemical Laboratory between 18421977 is summarized as shown in the Figure .
Fig. 28. Wöhler’s photograph is wearing fur court and having a stick.

Fig. 32. Additional adjacent building was constructed in 1860.

Fig. 29. Large medal celebrating Wöhlers 80th birthday in 1880 .

Fig. 33. Further additional building was constructed and the final
laboratory building is shown as in the bottom of the page. However, allof the buildings were demolished in 1977.

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Victor Meyer
Victor Meyer (1848-1897)(Fig. 34-35) studied in
Heidelberg under Robert. Bunsen (1811-1899), and in Berlin
under Adolf. Beayer (1835-1917), and became a professor ofchemistry at Turich Hochschule. He later became a professorof Göttingen and then at Heidelberg. Meyer synthesized manyorganic compounds. He found Thiophen in Benzene, structure
Fig. 38. Otto Wallach was the successor of V. Meyer and he establishedthe terpentine chemistry and received Nobel Prize Chemistry in 1910.

of Oxim, and he introduced the technical term “stereochemistry”.
We can visit his grave at the “Berg Friedhof”, Heidelberg.

Adolf Windaus
Adolf Windaus (1876-1959)(Fig. 39) studied medicine
first, then became interested in chemistry by the influence ofEmil Fischer (1852-1919).

In 1913, he was appointed

professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Innsbruck.
In 1915, he became a professor of chemistry after Wallach. He
studied on Steroid and Vitamin D related compounds and hereceived Nobel Prize chemistry in 1944(Fig. 40). He retired
and became a professor of “Laboratory of General Chemistry”.
Fig. 34.

Fig. 35.

Identification and the synthesis of human sexual hormone by

Fig. 34, 35. Victor Meyer was the successor after Hübner. Meyer’s
photograhp and plaster bust are in the Museum.

Adolf F. J. Butenand’t (1903-1995 ) is an extension of Windaus’s
work. Butenandt was a pupil of Wallach, and received Nobel
Prize in 1939(Fig. 41-42).

Otto Wallach
Otto Wallach (1847-1931)(Fig. 36- 37) studied under F.
Wöhler in Göttingen and under August Kekule (1829-1896) inBonn and became a professor at Bonn. He established terpene
chemistry, which Kekule thought was too complex to develop
into a research field. Otto Wallach (1847-1931) moved to
Göttingen after Victor Meyer left to Heidelberg, and hecompleted his productive research. Otto Wallach, the founderof terpene chemistry, received Nobel Prize in 1910(Fig. 38).

Fig. 36

Fig. 39. Adolf Windaus(1876 –1959).

Fig. 40. Adolf Windaus’s celebration
medal for his 75th birthday. Windaus
was a steroid chemist and he received
Nobel Prize of Chemistry in 1928.

Fig. 41.

Fig. 42.

Fig. 37.

Fig. 36, 37. Wallach’s students made a memorial medal for him with hisrelief on it.
Fig. 41, 42. Many samples were collected during the chemical researchof terpene and steroid in the laboratories of Wallach and Windaus.

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Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
Nernst lamp. He received Nobel Prize for the establishment ofInstitute of Physical Chemistrythchemical thermodynamics. A book entitled “Rise and Fall ofIn the year 1890 , Walther Nernst (1864-1941) started his
In 1891, the new

German Science, by Mendelssohn” is a book describing several“Institute for Physical Chemistry” building was constructed, andscientists including Nernst working in Berlin from the end of the

Nernst became the first professor of physical chemistry. The

19th century to the beginning of the 20th century.

lectures on physical chemistry(Fig. 43).

professors of the Institute for Physical Chemistry are as follows.
Directors of Institute of Physical Chemistry
Watler Nernst(Fig. 44)

in Position.
1895 -1904

Friedrich Dolezalek (Stellvertreter bis 1906)
Gustav Tammann(Fig. 44)

1908 -1929

Arnold Eucken(Fig. 44)

1929 -1950

Ewaled Wicke (stellvertreter bis 1953)
Wilhelm Jost

1953 -1971

Werner Bingel

1963 -

Heinz-Georg Wagner

1965 -

Jurgen Troe

1975 –

Fig. 45

Fig. 46.

Fig. 45, 46. Walther Nernst was the first professor of physical chemistryin Göttingen. The lecture of physical chemistry by Nernst started in1891 Nernst’s photograph, Nernst lamp and photograph of balance areon display.

Gustav Tammann (1861-1938)
Tammann(Fig. 47-49) was an assistant of Carl Schmidt,
who was a professor of Ostwald, and studied interdiciplinary
areas of chemistry and physics. Later he met Arrhenius andVan’t Hoff, becoming lifelong friends. He contributed to the
newly born physical chemistry. Tammann was a specialist of
metals, alloys and metal compound.
Fig. 43. The physical chemistry building is at the Burgerstrasse 30.

Kotaro Honda, who

studied in Tammann’s laboratory, created a strong magnetic steel(KS steel) which is a Cobalt containing Tungsten steel.
Tammann was an experimental scientist just as Kotaro Honda.

Fig. 44. There are three plaques on the building. The first one is for
Walther Nernst (worked 1891-1905), The second and third plaques arefor Gustav Tammann (worked 1908-19309) and for Arnold Eucken(worked 1929-1950).

Hermann Walther Nernst (1864-1941)

Fig. 47

Nernst showed signs of his brilliant capabilities early in his
career(Fig. 45-46). When he was twenty-five years old, heproposed the equation of electromotive force, by a combinationof chemical theory and thermodynamics. Thus, he establishedthe foundation of physical chemistry of cell and extended thefield of physical chemistry.

He became a professor ofchemistry at Göttingen in 1891. In 1905, he moved to theFig. 48.
Fig. 49.
Fig. 47, 48, 49. Gustav Tammann was a second professor of physicalchemistry. His portrait and his books are on display. The photographin the bottom right is his death mask.

University of Berlin and found the Third Law ofThermodynamics, studied chain reaction, and designed the- 86 -

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
Arnold Eucken (1884-1950)(Fig. 50-51)
He studied physics and mathematics at Kiel and Jena, thenhe studied under Nernst in Berlin, and developed chemical
kinetics and catalytic reactions.

Eucken’s father (Rudolf

Eucken, 1846-1926) was a professor of philosophy at Jena andreceived Nobel Prize of Literature. Eucken named “Chemical
Physics” on the subject he studied.

On the other handed,

Ostwald called “General Chemistry” and Nernst gave the name
“Theoretical Chemistry”.

Fig. 52. The colloid chemist Richard Zsigmondy (1865-1929) invented

Fig. 50. Arnold Eucken (1884-1950) was the 4th professor of physicalFig. 53. There is a Lecture Hall named “Zsigmondi-Horsaal” in thechemistry building.

supermicroscope.

chemistry.

Richard Zsigmondy (1865-1929)
Zsigmondy worked initially at a glass company in Jena.
He invented the ultramicroscope and studied colloid chemistry,and he became a professor of inorganic chemistry at Göttingen in1907(Fig. 52). The ultramicroscope is an optical device toobserve colloid particles which could not observe by using
normal optical microscope, in a dark background employing the
Tyndal phenomenon.

Fig. 51. Gauss Weber Medal.

Institute for Inorganic Chemistry
Institute for Organic Chemistry.

After establishment of “the Institute of Physical

University of Göttingen had a strong tradition for the study

Chemistry”, “Institute of Inorganic Chemistry” was established.

of organic compounds. The research conducted by V. Meyer,

The first professor of the Institute was G. Tammann, and theO. Wallach and A. Windaus indicate high levels of researchsecond professor was R. Zsigmondy(Fig. 52- 53). Directors ofability.

the “Institute of Inorganic Chemistry” are as follows,
Directorin Position

Gustav Tammann

1903 -1907

Richard Zsigmondy

1908 -1929

However, research institution for organic chemistry in

Göttingen were established after the 2nd World War (1945〜).
The first professor of the “Institute for organic chemistry”
was Hans Brockmann (1945-1972, Professor in office).

Peter A. Thiessen (Stellvertreter bis 1933)
Hans von Wartenberg

Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry

1933-1937, 1945-1948

Josef Goubeau (Stellvertreter bis 1952)
Oskar Glemser

1952 -1980

Anton Meller

1973

George M. Sheldrick

1978-

Herbert W. Roesky

1980-- 87 -in Position

Hans Brockmann

1945 -1972

Wolfgang Luttke

1960 -

Ulrich Schollkopf

1964 -

Lutz F. Tietze

1978 -

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
used for living. After him F. Wöhler and O. Wallach lived in

Chemistry Museum in Göttingen University
University of Göttingen has a chemistry museum on thethe same house. Leopold Gmelin, a son of J. F. Gmelin, wasground floor of the Inorganic Chemistry building(Fig. 14). The

born in this house. The old historical house is now called

official name of the Museum is “Museum der Göttinger“Wöhler Hause”, and is used by the Metal Research Institute.

Chemie”. This organization is composed of university staff andFriedrich Wöhler(Fig. 54)

members of the general public of the city of Göttingen, and the
management of the museum was carried out by Dr. Günther

Friedrich Wöhler who is well known for the abiotic

Beer of the University(Fig. 15). The history of chemistry is one

synthesis of urea in 1828, stayed at Göttingen more than fortyof his areas of specialty. Dr. Beer is a very generous person,

years as a director of the Institute of General Chemistry.

and every time I visited Göttingen, Dr. Beer has generously
provided information on what I am interested in.

He hasimproved the quality of display in the Museum over theyears(Fig. 16- 17). The museum is not always open, and if you
wish to visit the museum, you must make a reservation.
The area of the museum is about 20m x 15m, and the 200
year history of the university is displayed chronologically using,photographs, printed matter, books, certificate, memorial metal,
Fig. 54. Photograph of Friedrich Wöhler (center) surrounded by many
students and assistants.

glassware, old instruments and prepared chemicals.
In the 18th century chemical education in Göttingen was
carried out by J. O. P. Erxleben and R. A. V. Vogel, bothOn the west side of the Wöhler house along Hospital Strasse, aprofessors of medicine(Fig. 18- 19). There are two silhouettes

small laboratory building for the “Institute of Generalof the above mentioned professors and a textbook written by

Chemistry” was constructed in 1842 as shown Fig. 30, 31. As

Vogel on display.

Wöhler’s chemical research progressed, the laboratory building
was expanded further to west -side in 1860 as shown in Fig. 32,
and again the research building expanded further as shown in Fig.

J. F. Gmelin(Fig. 20-21)
J. F. Gmelins, who established his laboratory in the

33. A part of these research building were used by Wallach andHospital Strasse, Copies of two books written by Fmeline are

Windaus. Thus all of the chemistry research laboratories along

shown on the wall. These are a) Grundstaze der Lechnichen

the Hospital Strasse were completed. But these buildings at

Chemis (1786), b) Grundris der allgemeine Chemie (1789).

Hospital Strasse were all destructed except “Wöhler Haus”

There is a portrait of J. F. Gmelin in his first book.

(hospital strasse 10), which is the oldest and most historicalbuilding.
F. Wöhler’s bronze statue formerly stood in front of theF. Stromeyer(Fig. 22-23)“Herbart Schule”, but it was moved to the west -side of theF. Stromeyer was a expert of chemical analysis. He
He“Wöhler Hause”, and the mosaic chemical structure of Urea iscontributed to the foundation of modern chemistry andon the ground in front of the statue(Fig. 55- 56). Thermal

mineralogy. Stromeyer has also been known as a finder ofconversion of ammonium cyanate to Urea (H2N-CO-NH2) is a

Cadmium. A copy of Stromeyer’s book cover “Grundriss

simple chemical reaction, but the reaction is an epockmaking

der theoretischen Chemie” was on the wall, and his portrait wasachievement in chemical history. The formation of urea by thein display. Leopold Gmelin (1788-1859) and Robert Wilhelm

Wöhler’s method denied the presence of a vital force for the

Bunsen (1811-18999 were the pupil of Stromeyer and theirformation of organic compounds.

became famous by analyzing strontium in aragonite.

portraits were also in display near Stromeyer’s portrait on thewall.
A photograph of J. F. Gmelin’s laboratory on “Hospital
Strasse (10)” was on the wall. The laboratory building was also

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Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
of royal family of Romanov is on the document.

Fig. 55

Fig. 56.

Fig. 55, 56. Friedrich Wöhler’s standing bronze statue is now in the
Hospital Starasse. Chemical structure of urea is expressed in front of thestature. The statue was formerly in front of the Herbart Schule, which is
now moved to the present site.

Fig. 58. Certificate of honorary membership for Wöhler given by asociety in Frankfult.

1873 was the fiftieth anniversary since F. Wöhler received
his Ph D at Heidelberg University. The fiftieth anniversary inmarrage is usually celebrated as “golden wedding”.

Thecertificate (goldene Doktorurkunde) displayed on the wall.
During the fifty years, the chemistry section where Wöhler
belonged to reorganized to the Department of Philosophy fromthe Department of Medicine.

Eighteen signs are on the“Goldene Doktorurkunde” to celebrate the Wöhler’s anniversary.
Scientists signed on the document are Robert Bunsen

Fig. 59. Member certificate of Petersburg Academy of Science for F.
Wöhler.

(1811–1899), Hermann Kopp (1817-1892) and Gustav R.
Kirchhof (1824-1887)(Fig. 57).

On the certificate of Swedish Academy of Science, we cansee Berzelius’s sign(Fig. 60). Wöhler became a member of theacademy when he was a young teacher at a technical school in
Kassel.

Fig. 57. Congratulatory address for commemoration of 50th anniversary
after F. Wöhler received Ph D degree. We can see signatures ofHermann Kopp and Robert Bunsen in the bottom of the certificate.

Fig. 58 is a certificate of honorary member of anorganization to encourage the development of learning and arts
Fig. 60. Member certificate of Swedish Science Academy for F. Wöhler.
We can see Berzelius’s signature who was a secretary of the Academy atthat time.

in Frankfurt. am Main.
Fig. 59 is a member certificate of Science Academe inPetersburg. This was given to Wöhler from Nicolai I (17961855). On the top of the certificate, two-headed eagle, the crest- 89 -

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
that arose here was Whether the isolated organic compounds

In the corner of the museum, a beautiful white marble

were of biological or inorganic origin.

portrait of Wöhler was displayed (diameter 30 cm) (Fig. 61).
th

This marble relief was given to Wöhler to celebrate his 80

Later, after the World WarⅠ,Ⅱ fundamental methods tobirthday(Fig. 62). Herman Kopp (1817-1892) wrote a booklet

analyze organic compounds in meteorite was established, andentitled “AUREA CATENA HOMERI” to celebrate theLunar sample have been analyzed in similar ways.

thWöhler’s 80 birthday. In this article Kopp praise Wöhler’svarious contributions in chemistry. The text of the booklet
starts with the words “Lieber Wöhler!・・・ . It seems that Kopp
is not only a noticeable person, but he was a talented man withtender heart.

Fig. 63

Fig. 61. Marble relief of F. Wöhler was made to celebrate his 80thbirthday.

Fig. 64.
Fig. 63, 64. Wöhler made various kind of research. Analytical studiesof metallic and stony meteorites were carried out by Wöhler. The
photograph shows stony meteorite fell in Costa Rica in 1850. Wöhler isa pioneer of cosmochemistry.

In the museum
In the museum of Göttingen University, there is ameteorite specimen which was studied by Wöhler(Fig. 63, 64).
This stony meteorite is Heredia meteorite that fell in San Jose,
Costa Rica on April 1st 1857, according to the “Catalog ofFig. 62. AUREA CATENA HOMERI is a booklet written by Hermann
Kopp to congratulate F. Wöhler’s 80th birthday in 1880.

Meteorite” published by the British Museum. According to the

Many people do not know that Wöhler was a pioneer ofIn the same display box, there is a small glass bottle containing

cosmochemistry(Fig. 63- 64). He was interested in analyzing,

purified Selenium. It is said that the small glass bottle wasiron meteorite and also stony meteorite. In 1838, a strange

prepared by Berzerius by glass blowing(Fig. 65).

stony

meteorite,(carbonaceous

Coldwockeweld, South Africa.

chondrite),fell

catalog, the weight of the meteorite kept in Göttingen is 422 g.

inLater, in 1857, a similar

carbonaceous meteorite fell in Caba, Hungary. Carbonaceous
chordrites contain some organic compounds and other volatile
matter.

Wöhler analyzed organic compound of above

mentioned two carbonaceous meteorites, and obtained organic
compounds, but he could not identify them, because thetechnical level of chemical analysis was not sufficiently high at
the time.

Wöhler’s analysis of organic compound in

carbonaceous meteorite was the first attempt to analyze organic

Fig. 65. A small glass container in the right is said to be made byBerzelius.

compounds in extraterrestrial matter. One interesting question

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Chemists after Wöhler
If we move to the younger generation of scientists in
Göttingen, we can see the display of , H. Hübner (Fig. 66) andVictor Meyer (1848-1897)(Fig. 34-35). There is a photographof Victor Meyer in which he was lecturing with two assistants
Traugott Sandmeyer (1854-1922) and Ludwig Gattermann(1860-1920). Both Wallach(Fig. 36-38) and Windaus(Fig. 39Fig. 68. Bunsen medal (bottom right) is awarded for the research ofphysical chemistry (Bunsen Society).

40) received Nobel Prizes in chemistry by the development
terpene and steroid chemistry.

Fig. 69. Plaster bust of August Wilhelm Hofmann (1818-1892).
Fig. 66. Hans Hübner was a student of F. Wöhler, and later a successor of
the Chemical Laboratory.

Tammann (1861-1938) was a director of Institute ofInorganic Chemistry. He developed Metal Sciences based on
his physical background. Richard Zsigmondy (1865-1929) is acolloid chemist and he developed the ultramicroscope to observe
colloid particle.
Nernst (1859-1927)(Fig. 45- 46) studied under Ostwald,and he was the second generation of physical chemists. Jacobs

Fig. 70. Plaster bust of Heinrich Rose (1795-1864).

Henricus van’t Hoff (1852-1911), and Svanate Arrhenius (1859In Wöhler auditorium, which is located in the

1927) were among the first generation of physical chemists.

development of chemistry, Wöhler’s bust can be found(Fig. 27).

Nernst is a pioneer in the field of chemical thermodynamics, andWhen we pass through the building of inorganic chemistry wefounder of third law of thermodynamics.

also found “Zsigmondy auditorium”, and we can observe a large

The Bunsen medal for physical chemistry and A.

photograph of the old chemical laboratory (Wöhler’s first

Windaus’s 75 years celebration medal were displayed in thecabinet(Fig. 40, 67- 68).

laboratory) and other laboratories along Hospital Strasse.

In the preparation room of theMuseum, three Plaster busts were found on the shelf. These are
August Wilhelm Hofmann (1818-1892)(Fig. 69), Victor. Meyer(1848-1897) and Heinrich Rose (1795-1864)(Fig. 70).

Fig. 67. Robert Bunsen (1811-1899) was a chemist of same generation as
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history, discovered the “method of least squares” where he was a

On the front wall and above the entrance of the “Wöhler
House” on Hospital Strasse 10(Fig. 71), there were three plaques

teenager.

He attended University of Göttingen, when hefor F. Stromeyer, J. F. Gmelin and F. Wöhler which are written

showed an interest in a wide range of subjects such aswith classic German letters. However, rather recently (1990 ?),mathematics, astronomy and physics. He became a professor

an additional plaque of Leopold Gmelin was added, and at theof mathematics and astronomy in 1807.

same time, the letters of the old plaques were changed to the“Disquisition’s Arithmetical” in 1801, which contains various

contemporary letters(Fig. 72- 73).

principles of new and higher mathematics. He recorded EarthHe publishedmagnetism. The unit of magnetism is expressed by the unit ofGauss referring his name.

Fig. 71. The old “Wöhler House” is in the Hospital Strasse 10. The
building has been used for living and also for research. Many famous
chemists lived here as shown in the plaques.

Fig. 74. Gauss and Weber coworked for long time especially on theelectric telegram. They are regarded as a pioneer of telegram system.

Old Physical Chemistry Building
Weber was once expelled from Göttingen because he wasone of the Göttinger Sieben. After he came back to Göttingen,Weber continued cowork with Gauss. As we pass by theFig. 72. In the past, most of the chemistry professor of the University of
Göttingen lived here. J. F. Gmeliln lived 1783-1804. Friedrich
Wöhler lived 1836-1882. Leopold Gmelin lived 1788-1804 and Otto
Wallach lived 1889-1915. Leopold Gmelin was born in this house andlater he became a professor of Chemistry in Heidelberg. At the present
time, Institute for Metalphysics occupy the building.

Gauss-Weber Denkmal, we can see the old Institute of Physical
Chemistry across Burger Strasse(Fig.43). Here, we were able
to find three plaques, mentioned before one for W. Nernst (asdirector, 1896-1905), another for G. Tammann (as director,
1908-1930), and finally for A. Eucken (as director, 19291950)(Fig. 44- 51).
Astronomical Observatory
After we visit the old physical chemistry building, we go
to the Kepler Strasse(Fig. 75). There is an old observatory inthe southern part of Kepler Strasse. The building is, making ofFig. 73. Recently old plaques were replaced with new one. The oldplaques were written in old style.

stone and there is a small dome for the telescope in the middle ofthe building(Fig. 76).

Gauss -Weber Monument

On the wall of the observatory, there are two plaques.

On the south side of the building along the Hospital

One of the plaque is to memorize Gauss and Weber, who

Strasse, there is a garden with lawns, where a monument of

together invented the telegram(Fig. 77). The other plaque is for

Gauss (1777-1855) and Weber (1804-1891) stand(Fig. 51,74 ).

Karl Schwarzschild (1873-1916), who is the founder ofGauss, who has been called one of the greatest mathematician in

astrophysics(Fig. 78). He wrote an astronomical article at the- 92 -

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
age of 16, and became a professor of astronomy at the University
of Göttingen. He was in the position between 1901-1909, andduringthistime, developed

his astronomical theory.

Unfortunately he became ill in the battlefield and died at the age
43 during the 1st World War.

Fig. 79. Astronomical telescope made by W. Herschell was in the display
room. Diameter of the mirror is about 20 cm and whole telescope bodywas made of wood.

Fig. 75

Fig. 76

Fig. 75, 76. There is an astronomical observatory of the University of
Göttingen near Kepler Strasse.

Fig. 80

Fig. 81Fig. 80, 81. In the display room upstairs. There are two portraits ofyoung C. F. Gauss and Friedric Wilhelm Herschell (1738-1822).

Fig. 77. Two plaques are on the wall of the observatory. The one is theplaque for Gauss and Weber..

Fig. 78. The second plaque is for astrophysicist Karl Schwarzschild who
worked here between 1901-1909.

Fig. 82

We are allowed to enter the observatory building, where
we are able to see various historical objects related to Gauss andWeber(Fig. 79- 81). Many small optical instruments, Gausses
black cap he used to, Herschel’s telescope and its mirror, andportraits of young Gauss and Wiliam Herschel are displayed on
the wall(Fig. 82- 83). Herschel’s telescope is made of woodwith a metallic mirror. I heard some years later the original

Fig. 83
Fig. 82, 83. In the glass cabinet, various small tools for astronomical
observation are displayed. Among these 1) black silk cap which Gauss
always put on his head and 2) the metallic mirror for Herschell’stelescope are especially interesting to me.

telescope mirror disappear. In the dome of the observatory,
there is still small refractive telescope(Fig. 84). The dome andthe telescope are both manually operated. The telescope isrelatively small, with what looks like a 15cm objective lens.

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Viva Origino 30 (2002) 79 - 94
In the small lecture Hall, oil-painted portraits of Gauss andWeber’ of similar size are displayed on the wall(Fig. 85).
When we came back the exhibition room, we find a large metal
plate for Gauss given by Georg  (1851-1866) in 1855
celebrating Gauss’s accomplishments(Fig. 86). The year 1855
was the year Gauss died.
It will continue to the following issue. All of thephotographs shown in this article were taken by the author.

Fig. 87.

Fig. 84. In the center of the observatory building, there is a small dome
for astronomical telescope. The old and small telescope in the dome is
now a historical instrument for museum.

Fig. 88.
Fig. 87. 88., There are oil portraits of Gauss and Weber in an auditoriumof the observatory. The lady guided us kindly open the curtain to
introduce more light. The light is still not enough but I got acceptable
photographs under the conditions. The portrait of Gauss comes from the
10 DM note.

Fig. 85. In the small lecture Hall, oil-painted portraits of Gauss andWeber’ of similar size are displayed on the wall.

Fig. 86. Georg V sent this plaque to Gauss appreciating the whole studies
done by Gauss.

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