Mary Lura Sherrill (1888–1968): Pioneer of Physical Organic Chemistry
Mary Lura Sherrill was a transformative figure in 20th-century American chemistry. As a researcher, educator, and administrator, she played a pivotal role in establishing Mount Holyoke College as a premier center for chemical research and was a leading voice in the study of molecular structures. Her work, particularly in the synthesis of antimalarial drugs during World War II, bridged the gap between theoretical physical chemistry and practical medicinal application.
1. Biography: Early Life and Academic Trajectory
Mary Lura Sherrill was born on May 4, 1888, in Salisbury, North Carolina, to Miles and Sarah Sherrill. Her academic journey began at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, where she earned her B.A. in 1909 and her M.A. in Physics in 1911.
While teaching as an instructor at Randolph-Macon and later at the North Carolina College for Women, Sherrill pursued summer graduate work at the University of Chicago. It was there that she came under the mentorship of the renowned chemist Julius Stieglitz. She completed her Ph.D. in 1923, defending a dissertation on the synthesis of esters of hydrazinecarboxylic acids.
Her career was defined by her long tenure at Mount Holyoke College, which she joined in 1921 as an assistant professor. She rose through the ranks to become a full professor in 1930 and served as the Chair of the Chemistry Department from 1946 until her retirement in 1954. Even after retirement, she remained an active figure in the scientific community until her death in 1968.
2. Major Contributions: Spectroscopy and Synthesis
Sherrill’s research was characterized by a meticulous approach to physical organic chemistry, a field then in its infancy.
Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy:
Alongside her colleagues Emma Perry Carr and Lucy Pickett, Sherrill pioneered the use of ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy to investigate the structures of organic molecules, particularly hydrocarbons. This was a revolutionary shift; they moved away from purely "wet chemistry" toward physical instrumentation to understand chemical bonding.
Dipole Moments:
Sherrill conducted extensive research into the dipole moments of organic compounds. By measuring how molecules responded to electric fields, she could infer their precise geometric arrangements, contributing significantly to the understanding of isomerism.
Medicinal Chemistry (Antimalarials):
During World War II, Sherrill redirected her laboratory's efforts toward the national defense. Under the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD), she led a team in the synthesis of new antimalarial drugs. With the supply of quinine cut off by the war in the Pacific, Sherrill’s work on synthetic alternatives like quinacrine (Atabrine) was vital for Allied troops.
3. Notable Publications
Sherrill was a prolific writer, contributing dozens of papers to the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). Key works include:
- "The Relation of the Structure of Organic Compounds to their Physical Properties" (1923): Based on her doctoral research, this laid the groundwork for her future explorations into molecular geometry.
- "The Preparation of 1-Pentene and 2-Pentene" (1930): A foundational paper on the synthesis and purification of isomers, co-authored with students.
- "The Synthesis of Antimalarial Intermediates" (1946): Published in the Journal of Organic Chemistry, summarizing the critical wartime research conducted at Mount Holyoke.
- "The Dipole Moments of Some Derivatives of Cyclopropane" (1948): This paper showcased her expertise in using physical constants to determine the spatial orientation of atoms within a ring structure.
4. Awards and Recognition
Sherrill received the highest honors available to women in chemistry during her era:
- Garvan-Olin Medal (1947): Awarded by the American Chemical Society (ACS), this is the most prestigious award for distinguished service to chemistry by a woman. She was the eighth recipient of the prize.
- Honorary Doctorate (1948): Awarded by her alma mater, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, in recognition of her contributions to science and education.
- Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): A testament to her standing in the broader scientific community.
5. Impact and Legacy
Sherrill’s legacy is twofold: scientific and pedagogical.
Scientifically, she helped transition organic chemistry from a descriptive science to a quantitative physical science. Her work on hydrocarbons provided the data necessary for later theoretical models of chemical bonding.
Pedagogically, Sherrill was a champion of the "Mount Holyoke Research Group" model. At a time when women were often excluded from major research universities, Sherrill and her colleagues turned Mount Holyoke into a "research college." They treated undergraduate students as junior collaborators, involving them in high-level publications. This pipeline produced a disproportionately high number of female Ph.D.s in chemistry during the mid-20th century.
6. Collaborations: The "Mount Holyoke Trinity"
Sherrill’s most significant partnership was with Emma Perry Carr and Lucy Pickett. Known informally as the "Mount Holyoke Trinity," these three women dominated the department for decades.
- Emma Perry Carr was the visionary who brought UV spectroscopy to the college.
- Lucy Pickett specialized in X-ray crystallography.
- Mary Lura Sherrill provided the expertise in organic synthesis and physical measurements.
Together, they created a collaborative, non-hierarchical research environment that was decades ahead of its time.
7. Lesser-Known Facts
- WWI Service: Before her famous WWII research, Sherrill served during World War I as a research assistant for the Chemical Warfare Service, working on the synthesis of "gas-mask-proof" irritants, though her later work focused entirely on life-saving medicine.
- The "Sherrill" Method: In the lab, she was known for her "micro-synthetic" techniques—the ability to synthesize and purify tiny amounts of substances with extreme precision, a skill that was essential before the advent of modern automated chromatography.
- A Global Perspective: In 1928, she took a sabbatical to study at the University of Oxford and later visited the University of Brussels, bringing European physical chemistry techniques back to the United States to modernize the American curriculum.