Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-15
Dr.. Charles Parsons,
Ex-Chief Chemist. al
Mines Bureau

DR.. Charles Lathrop Parsons,
SO, outstanding chemist who was
formerly chief chemist of the
Bureau of Mines and for many
years secretary of the American
Chemical Society, died Saturday
in Barnstable County (Mass.)
Hospital after a months illness.
DR.. Parsons formerly lived
here at the Cosmos Club, but for
the last year he had been max
ing his home with a daughter.
Mrs. James R. Vaughan. in
Woods Hole. Mass.
DR.. Parsons had a leading part
in creation of chemical branches
of the armed services.
He made a major contribution
in his work on nitrogen flxation
the conversion Of nitrogen
from the air into ammonia-and
the conversion of ammonia to
nitric acid for use in making ex-
plosives, dyes and other products.
Received Medals.
Early in his career he made a
name for himself through his
research on the atomic weight
Of beryllium for which he re-
ceived Nichols Medal for Re-
search in 1905. In 1882 he re-
ceived the Priestley Medal for
distinguished service, the Special
Gold Medal of Honor in 1916 and
an award in 1852 bearing his
name for outstanding public
service by chemists and chemical
engineers. The three awards
were from the American Chemi-
cal Society.
Through his work with the So
ciety. DR.. Parsons took an i'm
portant part in stimulating the
growth of a strong American
chemical industry. He had been
credited with contributing more
than any other individual to the
development of the society into
one of the largest and most &C
tive scientific and professional
organizations in the world. He
was secretary of the society from
1907 to l945. and was on the
board of directors.
DR.. Parsons was born in New
Marlboro, Mass, and got degrees
at Cornell University, University
OF New Hampshire and the Uni
versity Of Maine.
Came Here in 1911.
He was professor of chemistry
at New Hampshire College from
1890 to 1911. when he came to
Washington as chief of the divi-
sion OF Mineral Technology of
the Bureau of Mines Five years
later he was the bureaus chief
chemist.
During his association with
the Bureau of Mines he directed
attention to the fact that Ameri-
can deposits of Fuller's earth
are as good as those in Europe
and developed the use of carno-
tlte as source of radium. It is
also a source of uranium.
During World War 1 he was
a member of the Nitrate Com
mission and on the Advisory
Board on Gas Warfare and was
chairman of the Committee on
the Use of Chromium in Light
Armor. In 1919 he conducted
a special investigation for the
War Department on nitrogen
flxation processes in Europe.
DR.. Parsons left Government
service after World War l to
work full time for the Chemical
Society. In 1881 he was also
made business manager of the
society.
Wrote for Magazines.
DR.. Parsons was a fellow of the
American Association for the
Advancement Of Science, former
deputy governor general of the
Society of Colonial Wars, a mem
Der of the Society of Mayfower
Descendants, the Society of
Colonial Governors and many
international scientific groups.
He had written many articles for
magazines and scientific publica-
tionS.
His wife. Alice Douglas Rob-
ertson Parsons, died in 1886.
They had five children.
Following cremation in Boston,
his ashes will be buried here at
Fort Lincoln Cemetery Saturday.