This website is dedicated to the history of the Midland, Michigan, Section of the American Chemical Society, which recently celebrated 100 years since its charter in 1919.
The website also features “A Century of Science and Service,” a traveling historical exhibit associated with the centennial and related events. The exhibit is free to the public and open from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Check back frequently—this website is updated regularly with new articles, event updates, and biographies of significant figures in section history.
Members and some programming will be featured here, but a more complete source of Midland Section news can be found at www.midlandacs.org.
You can access the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Centennial Exhibit here. You can also visit online through our Virtual Exhibit, from the 2019 version of the exhibit, here.
Institutions interested in becoming the next host of “A Century of Science and Service” can learn more through our Traveling Exhibit Packet.
Upcoming and Recent Events
Section News
Dr. John C. Saam, a well-known Dow Corning Scientist and Midland ACS member held in high regard passed away on July 10, 2022, at the age of nearly 93. John held many patents on subjects from esterification via biphasic catalysis, emulsion polymerization, and enzymatic hydrolysis of silicones to hydrophobing silica, filler treatment for silicone polymers, manufacture of nitrogen-containing polysiloxanes and the development of storage-stable silicones with micro-encapsulated catalyst.
John earned a BS in Chemistry from St. Thomas University (St. Paul, MN) and his master’s and PhD degrees at the University of Iowa. He worked at the Dow Corning Corporation as a silicone scientist from 1956 to 1991. He was a visiting professor at the University of MN (1982-83) and also worked at the Michigan Molecular Institute (now MSU-St. Andrews) in Midland. John and his wife raised five children; he enjoyed cross-country skiing, and painting (see “Let It Snow” (below.) He was an ACS member for almost 69 years.
