KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology – 70

9 December 2017 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Faculty of Chemical Technology. KTU Museum congratulates the faculty’s community on this honourable occasion and presents a virtual exhibition “70th Anniversary of the Faculty of Chemical Technology”. The exhibition displays the fragments of the faculty’s history and reminds the persons who transferred their knowledge and provided possibilities for continuation of their work. The exhibition consists of 3 parts reflecting various historical periods of the faculty. The first part “Origins: studies of chemistry in Kaunas 1922–1947” reveals the merits of the teachers of the University of Lithuania in the area of chemical science and shows a complicated history of the University. The second part “Establishment of the Faculty of Chemical Technology and its Activities in 1947–1990” introduces the faculty’s activities during the period of the Soviet occupation. The third part “Maturity: Faculty’s Activities in the Independent Lithuania” shows the faculty’s life after the restoration of independence in Lithuania. The exhibition presents photographs and documents from the funds of KTU Museum and Vytautas the Great War Museum, Office of the Chief Archivist of Lithuania and albums of the Faculty of Chemical Technology. The exhibition also displays photographs from the personal archives of the graduate of the Faculty of Chemical Technology, signatory of the Act of Independence of 11 March Algirdas Patackas, prof. Romualdas Baltrušis and prof. Marijonas Martynaitis family archives.

Origins: studies of chemistry in Kaunas 1922–1947

Studies of chemical technology began at the Technical Faculty and Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of University of Lithuania in 1922. The Technical Faculty was preparing the engineers of chemical technology while the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences – teachers. By 1940, only 15 engineers of chemical technology graduated from the Technical Faculty, because this speciality was not popular due to the poor development of chemical industry. Technical Faculty had the Department of Organic Chemistry (Head prof. Jonas Šimkus) and Department of Inorganic Technology (Head – prof. Pranas Jodelė). Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences had Departments of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry (Head – prof. Pilypas Butkevičius), Organic Chemistry (Head – prof. Antanas Purėnas) and Physical Chemistry (Head – prof. Vincas Čepinskis). These lecturers were the pioneers of chemistry science in Lithuania. They wrote textbooks in Lithuanian language and created Lithuanian terms. With the change of status in 1930, the University was renamed Vytautas Magnus University. After the Soviet occupation, the University was renamed the University of Kaunas in August 1940. The Faculty of Theology and Philosophy was revoked, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences was relocated to Vilnius University and the Technical Faculty was divided into the faculties of Construction and Technology. When invaders were destroying the Lithuanian army, at the initiative of col. Juozas Vėbra, the Military Research Laboratory was transferred to the University of Kaunas; The Faculty of Technology, including the Division of Chemical Technology, was located there. After the beginning of the war between Germany and the Soviet Union, the University’s students and lecturers organised an uprising against the Russian army on 22 June 1941, and announced the restoration of the independence of Lithuania, but it went against the German plans. The uprising involved active participation Assoc. prof. Adolfas Damušis and col. assoc. prof. Juozas Vėbra were active participants of the uprising, and Research Laboratory became the place of meetings for the rebels. Lecturers and students were active participants of the anti-Nazi resistance.

Scientific staff of the Technical Faculty, 1932.

Head of the Organic Technology Department prof. Jonas Šimkus (in the centre) with laboratory staff (on the left – Jurgis Vidmantas), 1928.

At the Organic Technology Laboratory of the Technical Faculty, 1932.

Pranas Jodelė – professor of the University of Lithuania, Head of the Department of Inorganic Technology, 1927.

Vincas Čepinskis (1871–1940) – pioneer of the physical chemistry, professor of the University of Lithuania (later – Vytautas Magnus University), Vice-Rector, Rector, Minister of Education.

Prof. A. Purėnas with students at the University’s Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 1925.

Prof. A. Purėnas with students at the University’s Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 1927.

Lecturers of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the site of the Institute of Physics and Chemistry in Aleksotas, 1925. From the left: prof. O. Folkas, prof. T. Ivanauskas, H. Ivanauskienė, prof. F. Butkevičius, prof. V. Čepinskis, S. Žemaitienė, prof. M. Kaveckis, assoc. prof. M. Tomašauskas, prof. L. Vailionis, prof. Z. Žemaitis.

Chamber of the Institute of Physics and Chemistry; Physics and Chemistry Laboratories of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Technical Faculty were relocated to his chamber in 1931. (Original is in Vytautas the Great War Museum)

Personnel of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences with Rector of the University of Kaunas prof. A. Purėnas and Vice-Rector prof. P. Jodelė before the relocation to Vilnius from Kaunas, August 1940.

Chamber of the Faculty of Chemical Technology, former Military Research Laboratory of the Ministry of National Defence in 1935–1940. It was handed transferred to the University of Kaunas at the initiative of col. Juozas Vėbra on 23 August 1940. Architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis.

Document of the transfer of the Research Laboratory to the University, August 1940. (Original is in the Office of the Chief Archivist of Lithuania)

Student's record book of Antanas Šukys, first year student of the Chemistry Division of the Technological Faculty at the University of Kaunas, 1940.

Examination sheet of Balys Stulpinas with signature of assoc. prof. J. Vėbra, 1942.

Ruins of the Institute of Physics and Chemistry, which was bombed by the retreating German army, 1944 (Original is in the Office of the Chief Archivist of Lithuania)

Establishment of the Faculty of Chemical technology and its activities in 1947–1990

By the order of the Minister of Higher Education of SSSR of 9 December 1947, Technological Faculty of the State University of Kaunas was reorganised into the Faculties of Electrotechnics, Mechanics and Chemical Technology. At the end of 1950, the University was reorganised into Kaunas Polytechnic Institute (hereinafter – KPI) and its Faculty of Medicine into Kaunas Medical Institute. KPI Faculty of Chemical Technology had 6 departments, later – 7 and their names were changed numerous times. New chamber of the Faculty of Chemical Technology and block of laboratories were built in 1970–1975 (architect V. Dičius). With increasing public awareness of the country’s ecological problems, Department of Engineering Ecology was established at the faculty in 1988. The spirit of the independent Lithuania remained present at the faculty during the years of the Soviet occupation. KPI students demonstrated anti-Soviet spirit: they were singing anti-Soviet songs, criticised Soviet system, destroyed Soviet monuments.

Student of the Faculty of Chemical technology Algirdas Patackas and his friend from another faculty Algis Petrauskas had an idea to paint the monument for the members of the young communist league, who died in the fight for the Soviet authorities in Lithuania, built in the faculty’s territory in 1963. During the mid-studies celebration A. Patackas secretly painted the monument in the colours of the Lithuanian flag and painted the Pillars of Gediminas using fuel oil. It caused a significant reaction: people were trying to wash the monument using various chemicals for several months, but nobody knew who committed this offence. The truth was revealed after regaining of the independence, when signatory of the Act of Independence of 11 March A. Patackas admitted that he had painted the Soviet monument.

Order No. 1814 of the Minister of Higher Education of SSRS S. Kaftanov on the restructuring of the State University of Kaunas (that established the Faculty of Chemical Technology) of 9 December 1947. (Original is in KTU archive)

Prof. A. Purėnas with his students at the chamber of the Chemical Division of the Faculty of Technology (former Research Laboratory of the Lithuanian army), May 1947 (Original is in the archive of prof. R. Baltrušis)

Students of chemistry in the lecture, 1950. Standing: R. Baltrušis. (Original is in the archive of prof. R. Baltrušis)

Diploma defence at Vytautas Magnus University on 29 September 1950. Second from the left – V. Zelionkaitė, third – R. Baltrušis. (Original is in the archive of prof. R. Baltrušis)

Marijonas Martynaitis defends his thesis, 29 November 1950.

5-year students of the Faculty of Chemical Technology at the bread factory, 1950.

5-year students of the speciality of food industry at the laboratory with their lecturer Viktoras Malėjinas, 1950.

Vaclava Zelionkaitė with colleagues at the laboratory, 1960.

Mid-studies celebration of KPI students of chemistry, 1963. In the centre – future signatory of the Act of Independence of 11 March 1990 Algirdas Patackas. (Original is in the archive of A. Patackas family)

A monument for the members of the young communist league, who died in the fight for the soviet authorities in Lithuania, was built next to the Faculty of Chemical Technology at the initiative of KPI Komsomol organisation in 1963. In the same year, during the mid-studies celebration A. Patackas secretly painted the forbidden Lithuanian flag and the Pillars of Gediminas on this monument. It caused a big scandal, but the perpetrator was not found. Soviet monument was removed in 1989, after the beginning of the national revival.

KPI Department of General Chemistry, 1975.

New chamber of the Faculty of Chemical Technology and block of laboratories were built in 1970–1975 (architect V. Dičius).

Prof. Jonas Zigmas Venskevičius with students in the laboratory, 1975.

Professors V. Klusis, J. Degutis, B. Milukas and S. Kutkevičius, 1980.

Representatives of KPI Faculty of Chemical Technology at Mažeikiai Oil Refinery Plant, 10 October 1981. From the left: assoc. prof. R. Šablinskas, prof. J. Degutis, assoc. prof. V. Barkauskas, prof. R. Baltrušis, Vice-Dean assoc. prof. V. Klusis, Dean prof. K. Sasnauskas, senior researcher A. Stanišauskaitė, prof. S. Kutkevičius, director of the plant A. Maslovas.

Council of KPI Faculty of Chemical Technology in the Deans office, 1983 m.

Department of the Physical Chemistry, 1981.

KPI Department of Inorganic Chemistry, 1983.

Research Council of KPI Faculty of Chemical Technology, 1985.

Prof. J. Janickis and prof. B. Stulpinas in the classroom, 1985.

Prof. S. Kutkevičius and prof. J. Degutis with employees of the Department of Organic Chemistry, 1983.

Scientific group of prof. R. Baltrušis: sitting (from the left) laboratory assistant K. Stačionienė, dr. V. Amankavičienė, assoc. prof. A. Machtejeva, prof. R. Baltrušis, Z. Beresnevičius. Standing: V. Mickevičius, laboratory assistant V. Raudeliūnas, laboratory assistant R. Gribauskaitė, laboratory assistant J. Bylinskaitė, engineer K. Rutkauskas, engineer R. Kublickas, post-graduate engineer V. Viliūnas, 1985.

Laboratory of the Faculty of Chemical Technology, 1982.

Prof. V. Zelionkaitė and assoc. prof. Z. Martynaitienė in the laboratory, 1989.

Maturity: faculty’s activities in the independent Lithuania

Kaunas Polytechnic Institute was renamed Kaunas University of Technology on 31 October 1990. On 12 December 1990, KTU became the first Lithuanian university to begin using two cycle study system. Institute of Synthetic Chemistry was established in 2005, in 2010 a modern Food Science and Technology Competence Centre was equipped using the funds of Faculty and EU Cohesion Fund; it employs experienced scientists and technologists of food science field. Currently Faculty of Chemical Technology consists of 6 departments, Institute of Synthetic Chemistry and Food Science and Technology Competence Centre. New traditions were created at Kaunas University of Technology: in 1998, an oak park was planted near the Faculty of Chemical Technology for the 80 anniversary of the re-establishment of the state of Lithuania. On 26 October of the same year, a sculpture of the oak acorn (by a sculptor R. Antinis) was opened there for commemoration of the Day of the Lithuanian Constitution and Magna Charta of the European Universities. Sundial of the human shadow was opened by the faculty in 2009 to commemorate the thousand year anniversary of the name of Lithuania. Student union of the Faculty of Chemical Technology “Vivat Chemija”, established in 1992, preserves old traditions and creates new ones: they organise freshmen christening, “Days of Chemists”, conduct various social projects.