The Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois

The C. S. Marvel Fellowship Fund supports graduate student fellowships within the Department of Chemistry.  Named for Professor Carl Shipp "Speed" Marvel, the fund allows for the support of "Carl S. Marvel Fellows" in Chemistry.

C. S. Marvel was born in Waynesville, Illinois in 1894.  Marvel was first introduced to chemistry while a freshman at Illinois Wesleyan on the recommendation that "the next generation of farmers was going to need scientific knowledge to get the most out of their work". After receiving his B.S. degree, he entered graduate school in 1915 at the University of Illinois.  

During his first semester at Illinois, Marvel took an overload of course work which gave rise to his earning the nickname, "Speed". In 1920, Marvel earned his PhD in chemistry while studying with the well-known chemical pioneer William A. Noyes.  He then began work as a faculty member at the University of Illinois, where he remained until his retirement in 1961.

Marvel had an immense role in establishing chemistry in this country as we know it. He served to teach many who were to become our foremost chemists and he pioneered many areas of chemistry for which this country has become so well known. At Illinois, Marvel will be remembered with great fondness as one of the initiators of the great Illinois tradition in chemistry.

Click here to make a donation to the C. S. Marvel Fellowship Fund.