In 1950, the Priestley Medal was awarded to Charles A. Kraus by the American Chemical Society “to recognize distinguished services to chemistry,” the Society’s most prestigious award.

Kraus was professor of chemistry and director of the chemical laboratories at Clark University, where he directed the Chemical Warfare Service during World War I. Later, he became professor of chemistry and director of the chemical laboratories at Brown University, and was a consultant to the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb.

His research contributed to the development of the ultraviolet lamp, to pyrex, and to the production of ethyl gasoline (a leaded gasoline), and he published more than 225 research papers.