Robert Taft (chemist and author)

Robert Taft
Born(1894-03-24)March 24, 1894
Tokyo, Japan
DiedSeptember 22, 1955(1955-09-22) (aged 61)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Professor, writer, photographer[2]
TitleProfessor of chemistry
Parent(s)George and Jessie Taft[3]
Academic background
Alma materGrand Island College (A.B.)[1]
University of Iowa (M.S.)[1]
University of Kansas (Ph.D)[1]
ThesisOxidation and Reduction (1925)
Doctoral advisorH. P. Cady[1]
Academic work
DisciplineChemistry
Sub-disciplinePhysical chemistry
InstitutionsUniversity of Kansas

Robert Taft (March 24, 1894 – September 22, 1955) was a professor of chemistry at the University of Kansas. He was known for his contributions to American studies, including photography and Western art and illustrations. His two books in these fields were Photography and the American Scene (1938) and Artists and Illustrators of the Old West (1953). The historian Bernard DeVoto said of Taft: "For one man to produce two books so original and fundamental, so comprehensive, so authoritative, and I may add so delightful—surely this is one of the most remarkable scholarly achievements in our time."[4] Taft's extensive papers, documenting the research he did in all fields, were donated by his children to the Kansas Historical Society.[3] His personal papers, especially relating to his Mt. Oread books, are at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.[2]

  1. ^ a b c d Raft, Robert (1925). Oxidation and Reduction (Ph.D dissertation). University of Kansas. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference spencer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference khs_papers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ DeVoto, Benjamin (June 1953). "The Visual Instrument". Harper's Magazine.