Marvel, Carl “Speed

Carothers spent six years in Illinois warm and convivial atmosphere. For the first time, he was surrounded by passionately enthusiastic scientists, several of whom became staunch pillars of support in times of difficulty. Carl Speed Marvel, two years older than Carothers but already Adams right-hand man, took the new student under his wing. Marvel found... 

Professor Mark s story is told in three chapters by the Editor and four reminiscences by Rudolf Brill (whose association with Mark dates back to 1922), Hans Mark (his son), Linus Pauling, and Maurice Morton. The history of polymer science is given in separate chapters by the Editor, Robert Simha (who has worked with Professor Mark in two countries), and Carl Speed Marvel. One chapter by Charles Carraher gives an up to the minute report on the status of polymer education. The remainder of the book is a collection of reviews and previews of specific, timely topics in polymer science. Despite the diversity of topics, each area covered has contributions from Herman Mark. 

As World War II loomed with America pushed into the war by the Pearl Harbor attack, the need for an independent rubber supply was critical. The government instituted several nationwide efforts including the Manhattan and Synthetic Rubber Projects. Carl Speed Marvel was one of the chemists involved in the Synthetic Rubber Project. 

One of the pioneers in designing high-temperature, high-performance polymers was Carl Speed Marvel (1894-1988). Marvel obtained his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois, where he then spent 41 years as a faculty member in the chemistry department. One of the first students in his organic class was Wallace Carothers, who was just beginning his doctoral studies. Marvel soon became interested in polymers, and was probably the first person to synthesize linear polyethylene, although he did not pursue it. 

Like Herman Mark and Paul Flory, Carl "Speed" Marvel was involved in polymer science research and education for about a half of a century. One half of his academic life was spent at the University of Illinois and the other half at the University of Arizona where he continued his research activities until his dealdi in 1987. The University of Arizona named its chemistry building after him on the occasion of "Speed" Marvel s 90th birthday. 

In 1916 Roger Adams was invited by William A. Noyes (1857-1941) to come to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Over the next 38 years he mentored more than 250 graduate students. He was the editor of Organic Syntheses and had a major impact on natural products chemistry. One of his best students was Wallace Carothers. Another chemist with whom he worked was Speed Marvel. Carl was known for being eager for breakfast and the nickname stuck. 

The timing of this volume is appropriate. Last year was the 50th anniversary of Gibson and Fawcett s polymerization of ethylene, an accidental discovery that led eventually to the commercial manufacture of polyethylene by England s Imperial Chemical Industries. Parenthetically, Carl S. ( Speed ) Marvel made linear polyethylene with a metal catalyst 54 years ago. However, the opportunity presented by his discovery was not exploited by industry. 

Dr. William J. Sparks, bom in Wilkinson, Indiana, on February 26, 1904, lived on the family farm until he started his college education at Indiana University. He worked as an industrial chemist before entering graduate school at the university of Illinois in 1934. in 1935, Dr. Sparks received the Ph.D. degree under the direction of Dr. Carl S. ("Speed") Marvel at the University of Illinois. This may be considered an early indication of his interest in tile economic importance of research. 

Carl Shipp Marvel, more popularly known as Speed Marvel, was born in Waynesville, Illinois in 1894. He received his A.B. and M.S. degrees at Illinois Wesleyan University, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Illinois. 

---