History of Chemistry - Chemical Heritage Foundation

The Chemical Heritage Foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the progress of science. Located in Philadelphia, CHF maintains world-class collections, including instruments and apparatus, rare books, fine art, and the personal papers of prominent scientists, all related to the chemical and molecular sciences.

CHF’s programs and publications provide insight on subjects ranging from the social impact of nanotechnology to alchemy’s influence on modern science.

New museum and conference center
Space opening fall 2008: Read all about it and send an e-card!
New permanent exhibition: Learn more and read the curators’ blog.

Quick links

Othmer Library catalog

Classroom resources

Events calendar

CHF blogs

Periodic Tabloid: President Tom Tritton’s blog

The Collective Voice: CHF curators’ blog

Upcoming events

13 May: Brown Bag Lecture: "The Transfermium Wars: Chemistry, Physics, and the Politics of Naming"

	Chemical Heritage CHF's newsmagazine Spring 2008 • Making Modernity • Lavoisier's Tools • Not Counting Chemistry		Distillations CHF's weekly podcast High tech in high school: hear all about “New Media Technology in Science Education”. Listen to the podcast.
	Policy Center for Contemporary History and Policy Leading initiatives in biotech, electronics, the environment, innovation, nanotech, and pharmaceuticals.		Featured book Women and children first From philosophers to farmers' wives, this Mother's Day special presents lively and lovely women found in CHF's rare books. Explore the books.
	Featured oral history Joseph Labovsky Joseph Labovsky played an important role in the invention of nylon, the world’s first totally synthetic fiber. Read more.		Molecular milestones The end of a molecule's era Banned for regular cars in the 1970's, why was lead, specifically tetra-ethyl lead, used in NASCAR engines until 2007? Learn more.