 The Science History Institute in Philadelphia in October 2019 | |
 | |
Former name | Center for the History of Chemistry (1982–1992) Chemical Heritage Foundation (1992 – February 1, 2018) |
|---|---|
| Established | 22 January 1982 |
| Location | 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106, U.S. |
| Key holdings | Alchemy, History of chemistry, History of science, Instrumentation |
| Founder | Arnold Thackray |
| President | David Allen Cole |
| Public transit access |   SEPTA bus: 21, 42, 57, Market–Frankford Line |
| Website | www |
The Science History Institute is an institution that preserves and promotes understanding of the history of science. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it includes a library, museum, archive, research center and conference center.
It was founded in 1982 as a joint venture of the American Chemical Society and the University of Pennsylvania, as the Center for the History of Chemistry (CHOC). The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) became a co-founder in 1984. It was renamed the Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) in 1992, and moved two years later to the institution's current location, 315 Chestnut Street in Old City.[1]
On December 1, 2015, CHF merged with the Life Sciences Foundation, creating an organization that covers "the history of the life sciences and biotechnology together with the history of the chemical sciences and engineering."[2][3] As of February 1, 2018, the organization was renamed the Science History Institute, to reflect its wider range of historical interests, from chemical sciences and engineering to the life sciences and biotechnology.[4]
The institute focuses on the history of chemistry, the history of science, the history of technology, trends in research and development, the impact of science on society, and relationships between science and art. It supports a community of research scholars and an oral history program. As of 2012, it was the largest U.S. grantor of research fellowships for the history of science.[5][6]
- ^ "The History of CHF". Chemical Heritage: Newsmagazine of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. 18 (1): 16–22. 2000-02-01.
- ^ "History". Science History Institute. 2016-05-31. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "CHF and LSF Announce Merger". PR Newswire. Oct 14, 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ Salisbury, Stephan (January 3, 2018). "Chemical Heritage Foundation is morphing into the Science History Institute". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ Gussman, Neil (2012). "A philanthropic career: Arnold Beckman and chemical heritage" (PDF). Chemistry in Australia. October: 32–33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Honoring the Othmers: Generosity, Vision, and a Transformative Gift". Chemical Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on 2016-07-12. Retrieved 11 March 2015.