Standard Chemical Company

The company was established by Joseph M. Flannery (1867-1920) and his brother James J. Flannery (1855-1920). 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. 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, which the Standard Chemical Company provided it to her. ==See also==