Roles of the Chemical Societies

The apparent interest of chemists in joining the chemical societies is evident from the tables and the previous chapters. Therefore let us consider what made the societies attractive to the chemical community and ponder on their multiple roles, although it is not possible to specify here all functions the societies took on as shown in the individual chapters. It is observable that the key tasks and activities were common to many of the societies across national boundaries. As mentioned already, the edition and publication of an in-house journal was given high priority in most societies. Besides journals, several societies published or subsidized university textbooks, handbooks, monographs or other chemical literature. 

Acquisition of literature and maintenance of book collections or libraries represented important tasks for many of the societies amongst others in the Czech Lands, France, Great Britain, Hungary and Russia. The libraries often provided the members with very good access to the new literature published at home or abroad. Books were not only obtained through purchase but also as 

The journals deserve a separate section as they have played a crucial role in constituting scientific disciplines and have usually represented (as they still do today) a central activity of almost every professional association. 

Establishment of a journal was one of the first actions of most chemical societies in some cases, however, a chemical journal had existed in the country long before any society was formed, for example in Germany, France or Portugal. As can be expected, each journal has developed its own typical features. There are nevertheless many similarities in the structure of the journals. 

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The diversity in attitude between the different societies towards the admission of women is striking. It can be interpreted in terms of how much the society was a pure professional society and how much a men s club. In particular, as the Royal Institute of Chemistry was the accrediting body, the role of the Chemical Society was much more towards the socialising end of the spectrum and therefore more hostile to women s admission. What comes through strongly is the importance of key individuals, particularly the pair of Ida Smedley and Martha Whiteley,100 who had each established themselves as respected chemists. However, as women were excluded from the governing body, it was supportive male chemists, such as William Tilden and William Ramsay, who had to argue the women s case in the Council of the Society. 

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