CHAPTER III 



THE CALL TO AMHEKST 

 1868-1882 



IN May 1868 Dr. Goessmann was invited by the 

 Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural College to 

 the professorship of chemistry recently established by 

 them. In December he removed to Amherst and 

 entered on his duties. Henceforth the teaching of 

 chemistry, research, and the diffusion of science in its 

 relation to agriculture, became the absorbing occupa- 

 tions of his life. 



Some years before the election of William S. Clark 

 to the presidency of the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College several letters had passed between Goessmann 

 and his old friend respecting a teaching position at 

 Amherst. In a letter dated June 10, 1865, Colonel 

 Clark writes: 'How would you like to teach practical 

 chemistry or to be connected as teacher with a New 

 England college?' Writing nearly two years later, on 

 March 16, 1867, he says: 'This is to urgently beg you 

 to visit me here in the month of May next. . . . We are 

 about starting OUT new Agricultural College here and 

 possibly may have work for you.' And again, in 

 November following, 1 he writes: 'President Stearns [of 



1 A few months earlier Colonel Clark had resigned the chair of chemistry 

 at Amherst College to accept the presidency of the Massachusetts Agricul- 

 tural College, and his successor had not yet been appointed. 



