Waring, Charles E.

Charles E. Waring was born in Phildelphia, PA, in 1909 and attended Muskingum College for his undergraduate work (B.Sc., 1931). He then went to Ohio State University where he earned the Ph.D. in 1936. While at Ohio State, he met Geraldine Howald . On December 19th, 1936, Waring with a bright new Ph.D. also acquired a wife, Geraldine. In 1936, Waring was hired as instructor of chemistry at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn . In 1939, he was one of five to be awarded the Lalor Foundation award for proficiency in chemical research. He chose to carry on his research at Oxford University, England, in collaboration with the internationally famous authority on chemical kinetics, Dr. C. N. Hinshelwood .

In the period 1936 to 1946, he rose from instructor to assistant professor at Brooklyn Poly . It was during this period that he initiated his research in the fields of kinetics and mechanism of gas and liquid phase reactions and free radical reactions; kinetics of fast reactions at ultra-high pressures; kinetics and thermodynamics of solid and liquid propellant systems; and combustion mechanisms of high energy fuels.

In 1946, Waring joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut as Head of the Chemistry Department. There were eight on the teaching staff in the department at the time. When he relinquished his administrative duties in 1966 to return to full time teaching, the department had grown to 22 members. Waring was able to carry on a full research program in addition to his administrative duties. During his tenure at the University, he served as adviser for 24 Ph.D. students and nine M.S. students. It was under Waring's leadership that the department was one of the leaders in the University to institute the Ph.D. program.

In addition to the academic research carried on in his research laboratories, Waring was very much involved in the application end of the science. From 1942 to 1946, he was a member of London Mission, OSRD . From 1946-1966, he was a Technical Aide, Division 16, NDRC . He spent the summers of 1951 to 1953 in Europe and England on a scientific and technical assignment for the U.S. Government . In 1961, while on leave from the University, he served as technical director and head of the Research Department, Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake. For his wartime service, he was awarded the Presidential Citation for Merit (WWII) for contributions in the field of physics, optics, and technical intelligence.

Charles Waring died on February 16, 1981 .

[Biography researched by John Tanaka, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 2008.]

From the guide to the Charles E. Waring Papers., undated, 1914-1988., (Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center .)