Standard Chemical Company

40°15′22″N 80°11′58″W

Standard Chemical Company

Founded	1911 to 1922
Headquarters	Canonsburg, Pennsylvania , United States
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Official name	Standard Chemical Company
Type	City
Criteria	Business & Industry, Science & Medicine, Professions & Vocations
Designated	January 01, 2018
Marker Location	Allen Hall, 3941 O'Hara St., at entrance across from Thackeray Ave., Univ. of Pittsburgh

The Standard Chemical Company (SCC) of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, was the first successful commercial producer of radium. SCC operated the radium refining mill from 1911 to 1922 on a 19-acre (77,000 m2) plot of land. The company supplied radium to the United States Radium Corporation for use in their watch dials.^[1]

History

Marie Curie - Standard Chemical Company visit in 1921

The company was established by Joseph M. Flannery (1867-1920)^[2] and his brother James J. Flannery (1855-1920).^[3] In 1909 their sister became ill with cancer. Joseph, after traveling to Europe and learning that radium could treat cancer, and in an effort to help his sister, he decided that he would refine the radioactive element in the United States.^{[citation needed]}

When Marie Curie was invited to the United States in 27. May 1921, she was given an honorary degree by the University of Pittsburgh, and one gram of radium, Standard Chemical Company provided it to her.^[4][5][6]

See also

United States Radium Corporation