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CHE Department History
Prehistory
The Chemical Engineering Department at UF was born in 1916, but before there
was a Chemical Engineering Department there was Engineering and there was
Chemistry. Curricula in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering were
offered when UF began in 1905. Chemistry also started in 1905, and if you
happened to take Chemistry VII, the first semester was Quantitative Analysis
lab—but the second semester began to smell a little like chemical engineering.
A peek at the university catalog for 1905 tells us:
During two hours a week a course is given in chemical technology which
comprises a consideration of the chemical principles involved in the
manufacture, refining and preparation of the leading products of commercial
importance. "Thorp's Outlines of Industrial Chemistry" is used as a text,
lectures being given occasionally enlarging upon or explaining the subject
matter of the book. Among the subjects studied may be mentioned fuels,
sulphuric acid, the soda industry, the chlorine industry, fertilizers,
cements, glass, pigments, coal tar, mineral oils, soap starch, sugar,
fermentation industries, explosives, textile industries, paper, leather, etc.
In connection with this visits will be made to such factories and chemical
industries as may be accessible.
To those who desire it, a short course during this time is offered in the
assaying of gold, silver and lead. (Seven hours a week throughout the
Senior year. Required of students in the Chemical course.)
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