Chambers, Robert F.

Robert Foster Chambers (1887-1947), professor of chemistry, was born in Providence on October 8, 1887. He received a bachelor of philosophy degree in 1909, a master of science in 1910, and a master of arts and Ph.D. in 1912, all from Brown, specializing in the study of organic chemistry under Professor John E. Bucher. After working briefly at the research laboratories of General Electric, he studied at the University of Friburg and the University of Göttingen. He became assistant in chemistry at Brown in 1914-15, and was promoted to instructor in 1915, assistant professor in 1916, and associate professor in 1922. He was appointed chairman of the chemistry department in 1929 and named Newport Rogers professor of chemistry in 1932. He was an enthusiastic stamp collector and served as curator of the Webster Knight Stamp Collection at the John Hay Library. He died in Providence on November 17, 1947, having been stricken shortly after presiding at a meeting at the University.