Lester W. Strock: Pioneer of Crystal Chemistry, Geochemistry, and Spectroscopic Analysis

This article profiles Lester William Strock, who was a pioneering American chemist, geochemist, and spectroscopist whose work advanced crystal chemistry, quantitative spectrographic methods, and trace element geochemistry. His research spanned cobalt complex crystallography, carbon arc spectroscopy, and mineral water geochemistry at Saratoga Springs. Beyond research, Strock was an influential mentor, journal editor, and supporter of professional societies. His enduring legacy is honored through the Lester W. Strock Award and Lecture Series.

Introduction: The Life and Work of Lester W. Strock

Lester W. Strock (1906–1982), born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1906, made seminal contributions to crystallography, geochemistry, and analytical atomic spectroscopy. Educated at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and the University of Pennsylvania, he carried out research in leading U.S. and European laboratories, including collaborations with Victor Goldschmidt (the founder of modern geochemistry and crystal chemistry). Strock developed the first English-language guide to quantitative carbon arc spectroscopy and co-authored landmark studies on trace elements in Saratoga (New York) mineral waters. He contributed to wartime strategic metal research, supported spectroscopy journals and societies, and mentored numerous scientists (1). Strock’s legacy is honored through awards, lectureships, and continued citation of his foundational research.

Lester W. Strock (1)

Lester W. Strock exemplified scientific rigor and perseverance during a transformative period in 20th-century chemistry. His career linked crystal chemistry, spectroscopic innovation, and geochemical exploration, while his service to societies and mentorship reinforced his reputation as a scholar and a scientific community builder (1).

Early Life and Education

Strock was born on January 23, 1906, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He earned a B.S. from the first college of pharmacy in North America, the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (1927), followed by an M.S. (1929) and Ph.D. (1931) in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in cobalt complex crystallography (2). He also studied geology at the Wagner Free Institute of Science of Philadelphia and was active in the Philadelphia Mineralogical Society.

Professional Journey and Research

Transatlantic Training and Collaborations

During the Depression, Strock joined the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (renamed Rockefeller University in 1965) under R.W.G. Wyckoff to work on X-ray structures. He continued his studies in Kraków under Ludwig Chrobak (1932) and later joined Victor Goldschmidt’s laboratory in Göttingen (1933), where he contributed to pioneering spectrographic analyses of trace elements in geochemistry (3,4).

Spectroscopic and Geochemical Innovations

In 1935, Strock published Spectrum Analysis with the Carbon Arc Cathode Layer, the first English-language guide to quantitative carbon arc spectroscopy (3). Returning to the U.S., he worked with the New York State Conservation Department, studying Saratoga mineral waters and wartime critical metals. His 1941 papers on Saratoga Springs waters remain landmarks in analytical geochemistry [5,6].

Industrial and Academic Research

From 1951 to 1971, Strock worked at Sylvania Electric, where he studied crystalline disorder in phosphors, refractory metals, and polytypism. He authored more than 50 publications and presented extensively at international conferences (1). Table I shows the development of Strock’s publication career, beginning in the 1930s with his pioneering work in crystal chemistry and early spectrography. In 1935, he published a landmark book in spectroscopy that established his reputation in the field. Between 1935 and 1941, his research turned toward geochemical applications, particularly the study of trace elements and the Saratoga investigations. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Strock focused increasingly on applied industrial materials research, marking a significant shift toward practical and technological contributions.

Table I: Strock’s chronological timeline of key publications

Mentorship

Strock mentored students and junior scientists throughout his career, emphasizing rigorous laboratory technique, critical analysis, and clarity in scientific writing. His editorial leadership with Spectrochimica Acta (American Editor, 1947–1950s) helped reestablish the journal after World War II and expand its international influence (1).

Special Service

• American Editor of Spectrochimica Acta (1947–1950s) (1)
• Supporter of Skidmore College’s geology program through the endowed Lester W. Strock Lecture Series (1)
• Founder of the Lester W. Strock Award (Society for Applied Spectroscopy), recognizing outstanding publications in analytical atomic spectroscopy (1).

Personality

Colleagues and students described Strock as meticulous, innovative, and generous with his time. He balanced deep intellectual rigor with a collaborative spirit, encouraging younger scientists while pursuing high standards of precision and reproducibility in research (1).

Honors and Recognition

• Establishment of the Lester W. Strock Award (Society for Applied Spectroscopy, New England Section) (1)
• The Lester W. Strock Lecture Series at Skidmore College (1)
• Founding role in establishing the Goldschmidt Medal through The Geochemical Society (1)
• Recognition for pioneering methods in quantitative spectroscopy, crystal chemistry, and geochemistry (1–7)

Legacy

Strock’s scientific contributions until his death in 1982 at age 76 continue to influence crystallography, spectroscopy, and geochemistry. His quantitative methodologies, publications, and service to scientific societies established standards that endure today. His legacy also lives on through the awards and lecture series named in his honor, inspiring future generations of chemists, spectroscopists, and geoscientists (1).

Table II shows Strock’s chronological timeline of scientific contributions. From 1931 to 1941, Strock’s research followed a clear trajectory, beginning with crystal chemistry, advancing into the development of spectroscopy methods, and culminating in influential studies of trace-element geochemistry (Table I). In the 1950s through the 1970s, his career turned toward industrial and applied research at Sylvania, where he applied spectroscopy to the study of phosphors, metals, and crystalline disorder. At the same time, from 1946 into the 1970s, he emerged as a leader in the spectroscopy community—serving as a founding member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (New York Section), becoming the first U.S. editor of Spectrochimica Acta, and establishing programs to recognize achievement in the field. His enduring legacy is reflected in the Lester W. Strock Award of SAS, which honors both his scientific contributions and his dedication to building and advancing the spectroscopy community (8).

Table II:Strock’s chronological timeline of scientific service contributions

References

(1) Johnson, K. G. Memorial of Lester William Strock (1906–1982). Bull. Skidmore Coll. 1982, 4, 209–212. Available at: http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/am70/am70_209.pdf (accessed 2025-08-22).

(2) Strock, L. W.; McCutcheon, T. P. The Crystalline Form of Some New Cobaltammines. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1931, 53, 2852–2855. DOI: 10.1021/ja01359a003

(3) Strock, L. W. Spectrum Analysis with the Carbon Arc Cathode Layer. London, 1935.

(4) Strock, L. W.; Goldschmidt, V. M. Zur Geochemie des Selens II. Nachr. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen 1935, N.F. 123, 1–15.

(5) Strock, L. W.; Drexler, S. Geochemical Study of Saratoga Mineral Waters by a Spectrochemical Analysis of Their Trace Elements. J. Opt. Soc. Am. 1941, 31(2), 167–173. DOI: 10.1364/JOSA.31.000167

(6) Strock, L. W. Geochemical Data on Saratoga Mineral Waters, Applied in Deducing a New Theory of Their Origin. Am. J. Sci. 1941, 239(12), 857–868. DOI: 10.2475/ajs.239.12.857

(7) Strock, L.W. Crystallography and X-ray Study of Carbonato Tetrammine Cobalti Perchlorate. Z. Kristallogr. - Cryst. Mater. 1933, 86 (1-6), 270–279. DOI: 10.1524/zkri.1933.86.1.270

(8) Since 1980, the Lester W. Strock Award has been given by the New England Section of the Society of Applied Spectroscopy in recognition of a selected publication of substantive research in/or application of analytical atomic spectrochemistry in the fields of earth science, life sciences, or stellar and cosmic sciences. Available at: https://sas.memberclicks.net/lester-w--strock-award (accessed 2025-08-22).

About the Author

Jerome Workman, Jr. serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Spectroscopy and is the Executive Editor for LCGC and Spectroscopy. He is the co-host of the Analytically Speaking podcast and has published multiple reference text volumes, including the three-volume Academic Press Handbook of Organic Compounds, the five-volume The Concise Handbook of Analytical Spectroscopy, the 2nd edition of Practical Guide and Spectral Atlas for Interpretive Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, the 2nd edition of Chemometrics in Spectroscopy, and the 4th edition of The Handbook of Near-Infrared Analysis. He is the recipient of the 2020 NYSAS Gold Medal Award (with Howard L. Mark). Author contact: JWorkman@MJHlifesciences.com ●