Preliminary Guide to the Washington State University Chemistry Department Records, 1970-1980

Chemistry has been taught at Washington State University since the school opened in 1892. Under the division Literary and Scientific Studies, a Course in Chemistry included classes in Theoretical, Industrial, Analytical, and Organic Chemistry. The course was designed to give students a thorough technical knowledge of chemistry. In 1894 the college was reorganized by President E.A. Bryan and the Department of Chemistry was formed. With the formation of the department students first began pursuing chemistry as a major course of study.

During the years 1895 to 1897 the Department of Chemistry included Pharmacy, which then became a separate school. In 1916 the College was reorganized by President E.O. Holland and the Department of Chemistry became a unit of the College of Sciences and Arts; where it still resides today. Also around this time period the Chemistry Department began a curriculum leading to a Master of Science degree. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in 1919. This name change remained until 1951 when Chemical Engineering became a separate department, and the name reverted back to Department of Chemistry.