George Bergen Butler Polymer Chemistry Professor
GA (amended): support 1) chaired professor in polymer chemistry (first from tenured faculty in Butler Lab); 2) awards to depts superior research students; 3)visiting polymer chemistry scholar; & 4) instruction & research program including salary supplements for Lab members. (see GA for details).
George and Josephine Butler established this fund to support a chemistry professorship in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The couple met as students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Josephine graduated in 1941 with her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, and George received his doctorate in organic chemistry in 1942. The newlyweds moved to Philadelphia in 1942 but elected to return to academics and moved to Gainesville in 1946. They started what has become one of the oldest continuous polymer teaching and research efforts in a chemistry department in the United States.
A professor emeritus of polymer chemistry, George taught and researched at the University of Florida for more than 50 years. The polymer chemical research labs in Leigh Hall and the Chemical Research Building were dedicated “The George and Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory” in honor of the couple’s contributions to UF. As a result of their work, polymer chemistry at UF has become and remains an international model within the field.
Other College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Giving Opportunities
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Marston-Milbauer Eminent Scholar Chair
Giving Opportunity
Summer Holocaust Institute for Florida Teachers (SHIFT)
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Chemistry Tomorrow Fund