The Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center is named after Sharvey G. Umbeck, president of Knox College from 1949 until his death in 1973. Umbeck guided the expansion of Knox's outstanding facilities in many areas, including both the sciences and the fine arts.

The Umbeck Center is arranged with a central core—A wing—surrounded by the B, C, D and E wings that house specific departments:

A: Foster Learning Center
Lecture halls, Kresge Science-Mathematics Library. The core of the Umbeck Science and Mathematics Center consists of The Harold T. and Mary C. Foster Learning Center. The Learning Center features classrooms on the first floor. The Kresge Science-Math Library is located on the second floor. Its collections focus on reserves and periodicals in mathematics and the sciences. In addition, A-wing houses the Audiovisual department; the Environmental Studies department can be found here, as well.

B: Hunter Biology Wing
Centers for Microscopy, Cell and Tissue Culture, and Cell and Molecular Biology.

The Hunter Biology Wing in Knox's Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center houses extensive facilities for classes, lab sessions and student and faculty research projects.

Several research centers house advanced equipment, including transmission and scanning electron microscopes for conducting research in Cell and Molecular Biology, Tissue Culture, and Microscopy. Additional facilities include a vertebrate museum and a greenhouse.

The wing is named in honor of George William Hunter, professor of biology and chemistry at Knox from 1920 to 1926. Hunter played a small but important role in the history of modern science—it was the use of his biology textbook and its teaching of Darwinian evolution that was at the center of the famous "Scopes Monkey Trial."

C: Salzberg Chemistry Wing
NMR, ESR, GCMS and laser labs. Within the Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center, the Paul L. Salzberg Wing houses the Knox Chemistry Department. Students studying in the Chemistry Department have access to the department's up-to-date research equipment, including gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and a new laser lab.

The wing is named is honor of Paul Salzberg, a 1925 graduate of Knox College, who served as the director of the Du Pont Company's central research department. Dr. Salzberg was one of the largest personal donors to the construction of the Umbeck Science and Mathematics Center. He also served as a Knox College Trustee from 1963 until 1993.

D: Longden Physics Wing
NMR, laser and digital electronics labs. The Aladine Cummings Longden Wing houses the Physics Department as well as the offices of the Registrar, Career Services, Counseling, and the Reading/Learning Center.

Students studying physics have access to the Physics Department's Mössbauer spectroscope, X-ray diffraction instrumentation and Celestron telescopes.

Adaline Cummings Longden was a professor of Physics and Astronomy at Knox from 1902-26. The construction of the Longden Physics Wing was supported by gifts of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

E: Pritchard Mathematics Wing
Mathematics, computer science and psychology. The Lysle E. Pritchard Wing houses the Departments of Mathematics, Mathematical Finance, Computer Science, Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience. It is also home to the Offices of Advancement and Public Relations, Audio-Visual and Telecommunications.

The Ferris Computing Center is located in the basement as are three student computer labs—the Stellyes Classroom and the Caterpillar Lab, and the Mathematica Lab. Located on the first floor of the building; psychology students may take advantage of the Department's microcomputing facility.

Lysle Pritchard, '21, was one of the most generous donors in the history of Knox. He was president of the American Chicle Company, a worldwide manufacturer of chewing gums such as Chicklets and Dentyne. Pritchard served on the Knox College Board of Trustees from 1962 to 1964, at which time he was named an honorary trustee.