Clan William: Robert Lee Fox, Ph.D.

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Henrietta Munson > Charlotte Vaughn > Austin Fox > Robert Lee Fox 

Eleanor Parker Fox and Dr Robert L Fox

My 2nd great grandmother Mary Ann Munson's aunt Henrietta settled in Fayette County, Iowa, just down the road from where Mary Ann Munson and her husband William Custer Smith lived in Butler County. Henrietta had a large family who settle in Wisconsin and Iowa. Among those was Charlotte Vaughn, who was born 14 Jan 1853 in Ohio.

She married George W. Fox on 14 Jun 1869 in Fayette County and they had one child, Austin James Fox, who was born 22 Feb 1873 in Fayette County. Austin married Helen Carpenter Smith on 10 Dec 1902 in Fayette County and they had two children: Robert Lee and Karl George.

Robert Lee Fox led a very interesting life. He attended and graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1928 and went on to Columbia University where he received his master's and doctorate in Chemistry. He married Eleanor B Parker on 27 Dec 1931 in Fayette County (and married on 17 Dec 1931 in Manhattan as well). The couple had no children.

In 1934, years before the war started, he and his wife traveled to jobs at Roberts College in Istanbul, Turkey. Roberts is the oldest US college outside of the US, being a co-ed boarding high school established in 1863. Six years later, its campus would be built with the permission of the Ottoman Empire, in Bebek. Robert served as a professor of chemistry. After six years or so, they returned to the US, albeit via a very lengthy path just prior to the the US involvement in the  World War in 1941.

"They were delayed many times, and of course, due to the conditions In Europe were unable to take a direct route. Altogether it is estimated that they traveled between 13,000 and 15,000 miles, and by different means of conveyance. They were en route from July 8

Albert Long Hall/Hamlin Hall Roberts College

to Oct. 3, on which date They were en route from July 8 to Oct. 3, on which date they reached New York.

The attempt to secure visas and make preliminary arrangements began as far back as In May. About one month, after they left Turkey, was spent in "loafing" due to unavoidable delays at various places. Dr. and Mrs. Fox have been residents of Istanbul, as teachers for 7 years, and this is in a sense a sabbatical year for them, although their return to Istanbul depends on circumstances and future developments in world affairs, as well as their own inclinations. Dr. Fox has been instructor in chemistry at Robert College. and Mrs. Fox was teaching in a girls' school, both American institutions. Started Homeward July 8 They had left Istanbul soon after the school year ended, but were still in Turkey when they finally were able to get started, July 8, on the Ions homeward trip. By train, bus and car they traveled to Teheran, Iran (Persia) being on the road five days. From there "they traveled by car to a town on the frontier of India, and thence by train to Quetta, (military headquarters), where they were interviewed by military authorities. From there they went by boat to Bombay, where they waited three weeks for another boat. In forty days more they were in this country, the trip to New York from Bombay being around by way of Capetown, Africa.

Dr Harold Urey

Suspicion Rules in Turkey

Dr. Fox states that in Turkey there was no dearth of information regarding the war, radio broadcasts giving the communiques from both sides of the conflict. Seemingly Turkey  is favorable to the British, but there is an element there, as in other countries, which does not see eye to eye with the pro-British adherents. There is much suspicion, and arrests of suspected persons are quite frequent. Dr. Fox brought with him a photographic film, which he had kept for many months, it being unwise to have it developed there on account of the suspicions prevalent. On the return trip home it was not possible to use his camera, which at one time was taken from him and not returned until the end of that portion of the journey.

On board ship, many of the passengers were frightened badly when an armed ship suddenly turned at right angles to Its course and came toward them, until it was found that the ship they were on was American. The curious vessel was British. No further Incidents of an alarming nature took place, although they were in waters where trouble had been experienced by other boats. While spending a few days in New York Dr. Fox was selected by Dr. Urey, head of the chemistry department of Columbia University, to take a position on his staff of defense research workers" 

Thursday,October 23, 1941 Fayette County Leader from Fayette, Iowa · Page 1

Dr & Mrs Robert Fox

In winter 1941-42, he assisted Dr Harold C Urey on the Manhattan Project. He was then commissioned as a captain in the Chemical Warfare Service and in 1946 he was separated from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served as a reserve officer of the newly minted Chemical Corps with a Mobilization Designation to research  and development activities at Edgewood Arsenal from 1946-1963, when he retired. A number of very interesting things occurred at Edgewood and if you have time to read, check this out. He served in many capacities including as assistant director of medical research (1958) and also assistant to the commanding general of the US Army Chemical Corps Research and Engineering Command. 

He was active in a number of Chemical professional organizations such as the Armed Forces Chemical Association and held leadership positions in the organization and its Chesapeake chapter.

Old Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City

Mrs Fox was just as accomplished as her husband. She was a 1926 graduate of Upper Iowa
University. In 1928, she earned her master's in speech and drama at Northwestern University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1975 by Upper Iowa University. From 1928-1933, she taught speech and drama and directed plays at a high school in Mount Carroll, Ill, at Illinois Wesleyan University and at Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, Va.

In 1933, she appeared in several productions at the Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City.

The next year, she moved to Istanbul, Turkey with her husband. She taught at the American College for Girls in Istanbul before they returned to the United States in 1941, shortly before they moved to the Baltimore area.

Robert's wife died 19 Mar 1988. Robert lived until 22 Sep 2002 and died in Towson, Maryland and was buried in Fayette County.