BOOTH, James Curtis, American chem ist: b. Philadelphia, 28 July 1810; d. West Haverford, Pa., 21 March He was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1829, spent one year at the Rensselaer Poly technic Institute, and in December 1832 went to Germany and entered the private laboratory of Prof. Friedrich Wohler in Cassel, being, it is thought, the first American student of analytical chemistry to study . in Germany. Later he studied in Berlin and made a practical study of applied chemistry in European manu facturing centres. Returning to Philadelphia in 1836 he opened a laboratory for instruction in chemical analysis and applied chemistry, the first institution of its kind in the United States. This soon became widely known and attracted students from all parts of the country. Among the many distinguished chemists who studied at this institution were: Campbell Morfit, R. E. Rogers, J. F. Frazer, Thomas H. Garrett and
R. T. McCulloh. In 1836 he was made pro fessor of chemistry applied to the arts in the Franklin Institute; during 1837-38 he had charge of the geological survey of Delaware, and assisted in that of Pennsylvania; in 1849 he was appointed melter and refiner at the United States mint in Philadelphia, an office he held until his resignation, 7 Jan. 1888. His studies of the nickel ores of Pennsylvania led, in 1856, to the adoption of nickel as one of the components of the alloys used in the coinage of the 1857 cent. Publications:
Re port of the Delaware Geological Survey' (1839);