An Electrobat cab
A brief history of the first ECS Meeting
The newly formed American Electrochemical Society (which would become The Electrochemical Society) held its first meeting from April 3–5, 1902.* Earlier, Charles John Reed III, an independent electrochemistry consultant, had proposed creating a new electrochemistry section of the American Chemical Society (ACS). When ACS dragged its heels, Reed appealed to Joseph W. Richards, Professor of Metallurgy at Lehigh University, who agreed to become involved. Reed, Roberts, Carl Hering, E. F. Roeber, Samuel P. Sadtler, and William H. Wahl sent 30 letters to engineers, chemists, and scientists, which said:
“The rapidly growing importance of the subject of electrochemistry and the want of suitable occasions in this country for the discussion of papers and questions pertaining thereto by those specially interested have suggested the advisability of founding a National Electrochemical Society…”1