The Department of Chemistry was established and made a department within the School of Arts and Sciences in 1920 when the Church Teachers College was split. In 1921 the department became part of the College of Arts and Sciences and was later transferred to the College of Physical and Engineering Sciences in 1954. In 1973, the department was moved into the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. The department was disbanded in 1995 to form the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Department chairs included Charles E. Maw (1920-1945), and Joseph K. Nicholes (1946-1956).

Joseph K. Nicholes was born in American Fork, Utah on October 10, 1887, to Joseph Nicholes and Eleanor Kelly. He graduated Brigham Young University High School in 1908, and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Denmark in 1909. Joseph married Olive Maiben on June 5, 1912, in Salt Lake City, and they had nine children. Joseph received his A.B. degree in chemistry, physics, and mathematics from BYU in 1916 and his master's in chemistry from Stanford University in 1924. In 1919, he became president of Dixie Normal College, where he served for 12 years. Joseph returned to teaching chemistry at BYU from 1933 to 1960, serving as chair of the Chemistry Department from 1946 to 1955. He also taught religion classes on church history at BYU. Joseph was awarded the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award and an honorary doctorate from BYU. He passed away on October 4, 1964, in Provo, Utah.