Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-24
CHEMIST HONORED
!. ON GOTH BIRTHDAY
Or. Charles E. Munroe of
Mine Bureau Given Lunch
eca for Achievements.


In the rields of chemistry and 1nven-
ton was honored yesterday when a
luncheon was rendered Dr. Charles z.
Munroe, chief explosive chemist Of the
United States Bureau Of Mines, By his
fellow employees of the bureau and
few close friends at the Cosmos Club, to
mark his eightieth birthday a1nlver-
gary. A feature was the presentation
to DR. Munroe Of a bronze medal bear
ing his portrait. the outlines Of which
were literally blown in the metal by
means of the "Munroe effect. Ths Is
a phenomenon discovered by DR.. Mum
roe which permits the reproduction of
drawings and designs upon metal
through the defamation against the
metal of an explosive upon the surface
Of which the design has been impressed
as from a zinc etching
Q. F. Hood, acting director OF the Bu-
reau Of Mines, presided and presented
the medal Other speakers were DR..
Henry S. Washington, of the Geophysl-
cal Iaboretory N. S. Greensfelder, edi-
tor of the Explosives Engineer: Or.
Charles L. Parsons, secretary OF the
American Chemical Society, and G.
St J. Perrott. supervising engineer,
Pittsburgh Experiment Station OF the
Bureau Of Mines.
DR.. Munroe's career has dealt spe-
cially with the technology OF explosives.
recent article, referred to him as the
''Nestor Of the science Of modern ex-
plosives." Among Or. Munroes out
standing achievements are his develop
rnent of a sniokeleSs powder called IN
durit." made in the course Of investiga-
items conducted for the Navy Depart
ment.
Specializes in Problems
During his years Of service with the
Bureau of Mines he has specialized In
problems dealing with the safe manu-
facture and use of explosives, and has
been closely associated with the de-
recommended by the bureau. after
thorough tests. as being safer than
other types of explosives for use in
gaseous and dusty coal mines. Another
notable service rendered by DR.. Mum
roe was his demonstration OF the TACT
that military explosives could be rem
dered available for industrial uses, this
resulting in the utilization oy peace
time industries of millions OF pounds
OF high explosives which otherwise
would have been destroyed.
Dr. Munroe was born in Cambridge
Mass. in l849. After graduation from
Harvard University he was made as
sistant to Wolcott Gibbs. the outstano-
ing American chemist OF his time ana
from 1871 to 1874 was intrusted WIN
the lectures at Harvard on Quantltative
chemical analyses laboratory practice,
and chemical technology. In 1874 ne
was awarded the chair Of chemistry
at the United States Naval Academy,
ANNAPOLIS. Nd. and it was in this
position that he had the opportunity
to begin specialization in the tech
nology of explosives.
In 1886 Dr. Munroe was selected as
the most desirable man to investigate
certain problems connected with the
manufacture and use of gun cotton. for
the rapidly developing American Navy.
From 1886 to 1892 he conducted chem
zeal investigations for the United States
Naval Torpedo Station and the War
College, Newport, r. I. In 1892 DR..
Munroe was given the first professor
ship Of chemistry In George Washing
ton University here. which was then
holding this professorship, he was dean
Of the Corcoran Scientific School Of the
university from 1892 to 1898 and dean
Of the faculty Of graduate studies from
1893 to 1918. He Is at present dean
emeritus Of the graduate school.
On Assay Commission.
Or. Munroe acted as member Of
the United states Assay Commission In
1885, 1890 and 1898.
In the Spanish American War Of
1893 he, organized and directed on
Analostan Island voluntary torpedo
corps. He also acted as consulting ex-
pert of the engineer board on the de-
tense of Washington.
He was expert special agent in charge
OF the chemical industries of the United
States for the censuses Of 1900, 1905
and 1910.
When the United States entered the
World War. in 1917, DR.. Munroe was
made chairman of the section of ex-
plosives in the the newly organized Ma
tional Research Council. a position
which he held until July, 1928. DR..
Munroe has been associated with the
Bureau of Mines practically since the
creation of the bureau, in 1910, and
since 1919 has headed the explosives
division.
In 1901 Dr. Munroe was made COM
mendant Of the Order of Medjidieh by
the Turkish government. He also has
been made member of the Order of
Leopold II by the Belgian government
Both decorations were conferred In rec
ignition Of his outstanding work in
the study Of explosives.
He is a former president Of the
Cosmos Club and Is q member Of ru-
merous scientific societies. both for
eign and American. He is now chair
man Of the committee on explosives in
vestigations of the National Research
Council
DR.. Munroe is the author Of numerous
contributions to the literature of ex-
plosives. His most important literary
work Is perhaps a treatise entitled
Chemicals and Allied Products" One
Of his most notable literary achieve
ments is his work, extending over four
decades. on the compilation of q COM
plete photography Of explosives. which
includes the writings Of foreign as well
as English authors.
Approximately one hundred letters of
felicitation on the occasion OF his
eightieth birthday have been received
by Dr. MUnroe, half Of these coming
from distinguished chemists and ex-
plosives engineers, government offcials
and friends in England, Germany,
France, Belgium. Spain and Italy. The
Institute Of Makers of Explosives, New
York. adopted formal resolution Of
congratulations on behalf Of the explo-
stves industry of the United States