Finding Aid for John C. Bailar Papers, 1852-65, 1900-23, 1928-88 | University of Illinois Archives

Title: John C. Bailar Papers, 1852-65, 1900-23, 1928-88

ID: 15/5/25

Primary Creator: Bailar, John Christian (1904-1991)

Extent: 7.3 cubic feet

Arrangement: Chronological.

Subjects: American Chemical Society, American Chemical Society, Colorado, Boxer Rebellion, Chemical Education, Civil War, Faculty Papers, Indiana, Inorganic Chemistry, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Methodist, Missionaries, Music -- China - History and Geography, Placement, University of Colorado, University of Michigan

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Papers of John Christian Bailar, Jr. (1904-1991), professor of Chemistry (1935-72), including tape-recorded (1964) and videotaped (1988) recollections relating to parents, youth, interest in chemistry, high school at Golden, University of Colorado, teachers, chemistry courses, master's work at colorado, doctoral work on free radicals under Moses Gomberg at Michigan, 1928 appointment at Illinois, general chemistry courses, complex ions, administrative duties, placement work, chemical industry, Chemical Society building, Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, Division of Inorganic Chemistry, family, philosophy of science, university training, evaluation of students and research and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

The series includes reprints of publications on inorganic chemistry, the stereochemistry of complex inorganic compounds and chemical education (1928, 1930-31, 1933-34, 1936-38, 1940, 1944-55, 1956-69) and a program and autographed volume for the John C. Bailar Jr. Symposium on Coordination Chemistry (1969).

The series also includes Taylor-Hickey family letters (1852-57); Manson Martin Civil War letters (1862-65); Emma and Lizzie Martin notes and diary as medical missionaries in Beijing, China during the Boxer Rebellion (1900-01); and copies of Emma Martin's letters from China (1900-04, 1910-12, 1921-23). Florence Catherwood Bailar was a niece of Emma Martin and a granddaughter of Manson Martin.

John Christian Bailar, Jr., (1904-1991) was instructor (1928-30), associate (1930-35), assistant professor (1935-39), associate professor (1939-43), professor (1943-72), and professor emeritus (1972-91) of chemistry at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He also served as head of the Division of Inorganic Chemistry (1941-67). He is best known for his pioneering research in the field of coordination chemistry and for his impactful role as educator.

Bailar was born in Golden, Colorado, on May 27, 1904, to Rachel Ella Work and John Christian Bailar. He earned a B.A. (1924) and M.A. (1925) in chemistry from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1928). Bailar joined the staff of the University of Illinois in 1928, and, over the course of his career, became known as a highly effective educator, advising some 90 Ph.D. students during his tenure. His many research interests included homogeneous catalysis, isomerism, polymers, dyestuffs, and solid-state reactions.

Bailar published more than 200 scientific papers; almost 40 articles on chemistry education and the chemistry profession; and 11 textbooks and monographs. He was cofounder (and editor in 1959) of the Inorganic Syntheses series (1953) and cofounder of Inorganic Chemistry (1962). Bailar served as president of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1959, and he was widely recognized in the field of chemistry. His awards included the ACS Award in Chemical Education (1961), ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry (1972), the ACS Priestly Medal (1964), the Alfred Werner Gold Medal of the Swiss Chemical Society (1966), Heyrovsky Medal of the Czechoslovakian Academy of Science (1978), and the Chernyaev Jubilee Medal of the Kurnakov Institute of Moscow (1989). In 1972, the UIUC Chemistry Department established the Bailar Medal and Lectureship to recognize achievements in inorganic chemistry research. The Bailar twist in coordination compounds is named in his honor.

Bailar was married to Florence Catherwood and had two sons, one of which was the academic John Christian Bailar III (1932-2016). He died in Urbana, Illinois, on October 17, 1991.

Sources:

Wikipedia, s.v. "John C. Bailar Jr.," accessed May 6, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Bailar_Jr.

"About John C. Bailar, Jr.," UIUC Department of Chemistry, accessed May 6, 2020, https://chemistry.illinois.edu/newsroom/events-seminars/lectures/john-c-bailar-jr-lectures-inorganic-chemistry/about-john-c-bailar.

Gregory S. Girolami, "John C. Bailar, Jr. 1904-1991: In Memoriam," Inorganic Chemistry 31, no. 15 (July 1, 1992): 3183â??3184, accessed January 11, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1021/ic00041a001.

"John Christian Bailor III: 1932-2016," accessed January 14, 2021, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?pid=181400778.

American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society, Colorado
Boxer Rebellion
Chemical Education
Civil War
Faculty Papers
Indiana
Inorganic Chemistry
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Methodist
Missionaries
Music -- China - History and Geography
Placement
University of Colorado
University of Michigan

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

Accruals: 4/1/1965; 5/27/69; 1/12/84; 6/20/91; 4/6/11

Other Note: 7 Pages

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/1505025.pdf

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