Slyke Lucius Lincoln Van

Background

Van Slyke was born on January 6, 1859, at Centerville, New York. He was the son of William J. and Katherine (Keller) Van Slyke.

Education

After a preliminary education in the local schools, Van Slyke entered the University of Michigan, where he received the degree of A. B. in 1879, that of A. M. in 1881, and that of Ph. D. in 1882.

Career

Van Slyke was assistant in the chemical laboratory at Michigan (1882 - 85), professor of chemistry at Oahu College and government chemist of the Hawaiian Islands (1885 - 88), lecturer in chemistry at the University of Michigan (1888 - 89), chief chemist at the New York state agricultural experiment station at Geneva, New York (1890 - 1929), a position which he filled with great distinction, and professor of dairy chemistry in the New York State Agricultural College, Cornell University (1920 - 29).

As a chief chemist, it was the duty of Van Slyke to carry on and supervise research in all phases of chemistry connected with agriculture and to examine feeds, fertilizers, and insecticides in connection with the enforcement of the New York state agricultural laws. He also directed the enactment of helpful legislation for the control of agricultural products and gave valuable advice in regard to the enforcement of regulations. At the time of his appointment to the position at Geneva, the butter and cheese factory system of handling milk, which was firmly established, had given rise to many dairy problems of a purely chemical nature. In connection with these Van Slyke began work on the chemical composition of the constituents of milk and their relation to one another, a subject on which there was very little definite knowledge.

The results of his work are classic. Special mention should be made of his researches on milk casein, which had a practical value in the improvement of the art of cheese making and an immense scientific value in contributing to an understanding of the nature and behavior of colloids. Van Slyke wrote easily and forcefully.

Achievements

• Van Slyke is best remembered for his valuable pioneer work in the field of dairy chemistry. During his long career, he was the author or joint author of more than a hundred and thirty experiment station bulletins and reports, and he was a constant contributor to scientific journals. He was the author of four textbooks: Modern Methods of Testing Milk and Milk Products (1906); The Science and Practice of Cheese Making (1909), with C. A. Publow; Fertilizers and Crops (1912); and Cheese (1927), with W. V. Price. He was also a contributor to A. H. Allen's Commercial Organic Analysis. In 1897, he was president of the New York State Dairymen's Association, and in 1901 president of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Course in Cheese Making for Movable Schools of Agriculture (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Course in Cheese Making for Movable Schools ...)

  • Fertilizers and Crops: Or, the Science and Practice of Plant-Feeding; a Presentation of Facts, Giving Practical Methods for Using Fertilizers in Crop ... Use, and On the Conditions of Their Greate

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • The Science and Practice of Cheese-Making: A Treatise On the Manufacture Of American Cheddar Cheese and Other Varieties, Intended As a Text-Book for ... : Prepared Also As a Handbook and Work Of

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • A Study Of Enzymes In Cheese, Volumes 197-225

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

  • Some Of The Compounds Present In American Cheddar Cheese

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

  • Report Of Analyses Of Commercial Fertilizers For The Spring And Fall Of 1900, Volumes 174-196

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

  • Modern Methods of Testing Milk and Milk Products: A Handbook Prepared for the Use of Dairy Students 1907

    (Originally published in 1907. This volume from the Cornel...)

Religion

Lucius Lincoln was for many years elder of the Presbyterian Church of Geneva.

Personality

Van Slyke was a man of pleasing personality, with a keen interest in civic, social, and religious life. He was a tireless and exacting worker, under whom many able chemists received their early training.

Connections

Van Slyke was married three times: first to Lucy W. Dexter on June 15, 1882, by whom he had two sons; second, he was married to Julia Hanford Upson of Honolulu, Hawaii on April 5, 1888, by whom he had one son; and third to Mrs. Hedwig Shaul of Geneva, New York on June 2, 1926, who survived him.

Father:

William J Van Slyke

6 May 1816 - 1 October 1894

Mother:

Catherine Keller Van Slyke

29 May 1816 - 11 May 1898

Brother:

Frank Van Slyke

25 March 1856 - 21 November 1907

Sister:

Emma Van Slyke Lillibridge

1847 - 1908

Sister:

Lana Van Slyke Quackenbush

1842 - 1912

Wife:

Lucy W. Dexter

Wife:

Julia Hanford Upson

Wife:

Mrs. Hedwig Shaul