Melvin G. Mellon papers

Melvin Guy Mellon was born on a farm near Erie, Pennsylvania in 1893. He attended a one room school that housed eight grades. At an early age, Mellon learned to play the piano and developed a lifelong appreciation for music. He was one of two people in his high school class.

After graduation from Conneaut Lake High School in 1910, Mellon enrolled in Allegheny College and received his bachelor's degree there in 1915. His graduate work was done at Ohio State University where he obtained his doctorate degree in 1919. He and his wife Catharine met at Ohio State and were wed in 1919 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Mellons were married for 71 years. Both Catharine and the Mellons' daughter, Frances, were accomplished musicians. Mr. and Mrs. Mellon were active in social aspects of the chemistry department, helping new faculty and their families adjust to their transition to Purdue.

Mellon's awards include honorary degrees from Allegheny College, Mount Union College, and Purdue University. He received the Fischer Award (1952), Anachem Award (1953) and A. M. Patterson Award (1957), and his publications number more than 200.

Professor Mellon died in 1993; just seven weeks shy of his 100th birthday. After his death, Purdue University established the Amy-Mellon Lectureship in Analytical Chemistry in 1988 and the Professor M. Guy Mellon Scholarship in 2008.