Craig, William M 1973-03-05
Dr. William Craig recalls his education, particularly his graduate studies and doctoral research at Harvard University, various professors with whom he worked, and early teaching positions he held. He also recounts his teaching career at Texas Tech University and the development of its Chemistry Department.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Dr. William M. Craig
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: March 5, 1973
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Beth Schneider
Length: 3 hours, 55 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Recollections of President Clifford B. Jones,
Spectrograph obtained for Chemistry Department,
Dr. C. W. Seibel received first honorary degree from Tech,
Editor of chemical journal who visited Tech recalled,
Romance of friends Dr. Thornton Read and Roxie Clark at University of Texas described
Tape 1, Side 2:
Dr. C. W. Seibel discussed,
Craig's doctoral work at Harvard related,
Worked with Dr. Theodore W. Richards, Nobel Prize winner,
Experiments with arsenic and gallium reviewed,
Hospitalized for arsenic poisoning
Tape 2, Side 1:
Reminiscences of Dr. Thornton Read, former head of Tech's,
Chemistry Department,
Mentions Dr. E. P. Schoch at the University of Texas,
Recollections of graduate studies at Harvard,
Illness with pneumonia at age 15 described,
Education recalled,
Skipped two elementary grades,
Attended Southwestern University at Georgetown
Tape 2, Side 2:
Review of education (continued),
Graduate studies at University of Chicago,
Taught at Hendricks College, Conway, Arkansas,
Was high school teacher in Wichita Falls for three years,
Graduate studies at the University of Chicago discussed again,
Professor named Milliken recalled,
Researched gallium at Harvard,
Other studies on gallium described
Tape 3, Side 1:
Recollections of graduate studies at Harvard,
Anecdote about Mrs. Richards, professor's wife,
David McCord recalled,
Commencement exercises described,
Worked for the Department of Interior,
Meeting with Professor Frankfurter recalled,
Contracted arsenic poisoning at Harvard
Tape 3, Side 2:
Graduate research at Harvard again related,
Reminiscences of Dr. Richards,
Story of Marie Curie told,
Experiments in gallium described,
Began teaching at Texas Tech in 1926,
Dr. Horn requested he come,
Taught freshman chemistry
Tape 4, Side 1:
Teaching at Texas Tech recalled,
Explains method of teaching freshman chemistry,
Recommended Dr. R. C. Goodwin as chairman of Chemistry Department,
Took doctoral examinations at Tech,
Exercise program outlined,
Reminiscences of Dr. William L. Ray
Tape 4, Side 2:
Career at Texas Tech (continued),
Early years of the Chemistry Department described,
Establishment of Rice Institute noted,
Dr. Richards of Harvard was instrumental,
Reminiscences of Dr. Gerald Wendt,
Story of the chemical symbols on the Tech Chemistry Building narrated,
Early Chemistry Department described,
Graduate student Roberts recalled,
More information on graduate research at Harvard
Range Dates: 1926-1973
Bulk Dates: 1926-1973
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
