Oral Histories

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Baker, Dale B.

Interview Date: June 6, 1997

While a student, Baker began working for the American Chemical Society's [ACS] Chemical Abstracts Service as an office boy. Aside from a brief time as a chemist working with explosives at DuPont, Baker spent his entire career with the ACS and Chemical Abstracts Service. In 1946, Baker became assistant editor of Chemical Abstracts. In 1958, Baker became Director of Chemical Abstracts Service, a position he held until 1986. Baker was instrumental in developing an on-line system for Chemical Abstracts in the early 1980s.

Brown, Herbert C.

Interview Date: November 11, 1994

Brown recalls the course of his career decisions and research at Chicago, Wayne State, and later Purdue University. He includes details of studies on steric effects, boranes, and borohydride synthesis. In the second part of the interview, Brown discusses his WWII work for the National Defense Research Committee, which included research on the volatile compounds of uranium, uranium borohydride production and testing, sodium trimethoxyborohydride production, and sodium borohydride development. He concludes the interview with an overview of his post-war research at Purdue, which focused on reduction studies comparing sodium borohydride and lithium aluminum hydride, hydroboration discovery, explorations into organoborane chemistry, and the development of a general asymmetric synthesis program.

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Cole, Charles N.

Interview Date: May 6, 1995

In his oral history Charles N. Cole discusses his decision to study in David Baltimore's lab at MIT and the research in polio he conducted there.  In addition to his graduate work, he talks about the difficulties of being a graduate student during the tumultuous Vietnam War Era and his arrest and trial for disorderly conduct.

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Dewar, Michael J.

Interview Date: January 22, 1991

Djerassi, Carl

Interview Date: July 31, 1985

The central portion of Carl Djerassi's interview covers his life as a student at the University of Wisconsin, followed by research work at Ciba, a faculty position at Wayne State University, and steroid research at Syntex in Mexico City. The interview continues with a move to Stanford University, and expands on Djerassi's dual positions in business and academe, concluding with personal views on writing scientific and non-scientific literature, interest in the arts, and a number of ways in which chemistry has changed during his career.

Doering, William von Eggers

Interview Date: November 9, 1990

In his oral history William von Eggers Doering describes his introduction to chemistry and the his long academic career working at several top tier univerisites.  He also discusses his environmental work, industrial consultancy, and the conflicting demands of an academic career.

Donley, Edward

Interview Date: January 26, 1995

Edward Donley's oral history describes his early life, education, and long career at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.  His experiences highlight the growth of that company from a family business to the major corporation that it is today.

Doty, Paul M.

Interview Date: November 17, 1986

Paul Doty's oral history describes his life and work in organic chemistry, ranging from an early interest in chemistry, to graduate work with polymers, to his eventual work on denaturation of proteins.  Additionally, the interview covers Doty's activism with regard to both national and academic policies.

Duarte, Ronald

Interview Date: June 13, 2006

Ronald Duarte and Gordon Moore attended the same grammar school, although Moore was a year older than Duarte and they did not take any classes together. Duarte recalls fond memories of Moore's mother, and memories of Moore's two brothers. Duarte and Moore kept in touch for a time after Moore moved to Redwood City, California, from Pescadero, and now they see each other when Moore visits Pescadero.

Dubois, Jacques-Emile

Interview Date: February 21, 2001

Dubois describes how he studied chemistry and medicine during the German invasion of France and elucidates his active roles in the French Resistance and in post-War French politics. Next, Dubois discusses how he came to be an essential figure in the creation of the University of Saarland. He describes his work as head of IUPAC's (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) Committee on Machine Documentation, the creation of CEDOCAR (Centre de Documentation de l'armement), and his creation of the Bureau of Scientific Information (BIS). In conclusion, Dubois discusses the successes and failures of various information systems in France.

Dusoulier, Nathalie

Interview Date: June 19, 2000

Nathalie Dusoulier recounts how she started working in information science from her background in pharmacology. She then speaks about her employment at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). She describes the number of different forms her career at CNRS took, from indexing articles to directing the biology and human science sections of CNRS's publication, Bulletin Signalétique.

Dyer, Elizabeth

Interview Date: October 13, 1986

Elizabeth Dyer's oral history covers her childhood and early interest in chemistry, as well as her graduate years at Harvard and long career at the University of Delaware.  Additionally, she discusses how important teaching has been in her life and her work in polymers.

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Eaton, Philip E.

Interview Date: January 22, 1997

Edelstein, Sidney

Interview Date: August 31, 1987

Sidney Edelstein's oral history begins with his childhood in Tennessee and follows his life all the way through the formation and success of Dexter Chemical Corporation.  In his interview he discusses the major world events he faced, discrimination because of religion, and his philanthropic work.

Eleuterio, Herbert S.

Interview Date: February 25, 2000

Hubert Eleuterio's oral history describes his interest in science from an early age, and the events that led him to go to graduate school for Chemistry.  He chronicles his long career at DuPont in Delaware, his work with the Atomic Energy Commission, and his activities after his retirement.

Eschenmoser, Albert

Interview Date: October 7, 1985

Alber Eschenmoser begins his oral history with a discussion of his childhood and path to the field of organic chemistry.  He discusses his career and how ETH collaborated with Robert B. Woodward's Harvard research group on the B12 project, and in 1972 they announced the success of the vitamin B12 synthesis. Eschenmoser concludes the interview with a discussion of research funding, his professional recognition, and the ramifications of the vitamin B12 synthesis.

Everhart, Thomas E.

Interview Date: March 28, 2007

Thomas E. Everhart's oral history begins with a discussion of his work with the scanning electron microscope, his work both at University of California, Berkeley and at Westinghouse Central Research Labs, and his collaboration with Andy Grove. Throughout the oral history, Everhart talks about Gordon E. Moore and Moore's contributions to the electronics world, including Moore's Law and predictions that Moore made regarding integrated circuits. Everhart also describes the process of interviewing for the position of president at the Caltech and expounds on his time as president, which provided opportunities for institutional growth and entrepreneurship

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Fair, James R.

Interview Date: February 19, 1992

This interview with James R. Fair begins with a discussion of Fair's childhood in the Midwest.  It covers his graduate career, his work during World War II and his long career with Monsanto.

Fields, Bernard N.

Interview Date: December 8, 1992

Bernard Fields begins the interview with a discussion of his early years, his undergraduate career, and his fascination with virology and microbiology. Fields became Chairman of the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Department at Harvard in 1982, ending his extensive research in infectious diseases just as AIDS hit the world scene. Fields concludes the interview with a discussion of the future of biological research, developing working relationships with students, and his personal battle with pancreatic cancer.

Finnigan, Robert E.

Interview Date: December 4, 2001

Robert E. Finnegan details his work in instrumentation and engineering, starting at the US Naval Academy and continuing in goverment and industrial work through the rest of his career.

Fisher, James A.

Interview Date: December 19, 2001

James A. Fisher begins the interview with a description of his family and early years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating early from Yale University because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Fisher secured a position in a smelter plant making aluminum for warplanes at Alcoa Inc. In 1945, Fisher left Alcoa to work for his father, Chester G. Fisher, at the family business, Fisher Scientific International Inc. After the death of his father, Fisher was instrumental in the creation of the Fisher Museum, which was used to display the Fisher Collection, and the Pasteur Room, which was dedicated to the achievements of Louis Pasteur.

Flath, Eugene J.

Interview Date: February 28, 2007

In his oral history Eugene Flath describes his childhood, his education, and his career at Fairchild and Intel.  He discusses his decision to leave Fairchild and the culture of both companies and those he worked with there.

Folkers, Karl A.

Interview Date: July 6, 1990

In this interview, Karl Folkers first talks about his family and his early exposure to science. He then describes some of his experiences as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois, as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, and as a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University. This is followed by a long discussion of his years at Merck, and includes his research on vitamins, particularly vitamin B₁₂, his work on penicillin, the structure of research at Merck, and comments on various co-workers and administrators.

Foskett, Douglas J.

Interview Date: July 3, 2000

During his twenty-one year career at the University of London, Foskett became director of the University Library and Goldsmiths’ Librarian. In his interview, Foskett next discusses the formation of the Classification Research Group [CRG] to address the need for new ways to classify scientific literature. Foskett has been a member since CRG’s formation, and Foskett developed faceted classification schemes for education and safety and health that are still in use.

Fox, Daniel

Interview Date: August 16, 1986

Details Fox's childhood, education, introduction to polymer chemistry under "Speed" Marvel, and work for the Atomic Energy Commission.  In 1953, Fox accepted a position at General Electric, and spent his entire career there. He worked on various projects, including polycarbonates, PPPO, PBT, and the development of Lexan and Ultem.

Francis, Marion D.

Interview Date: January 24, 1997

He received his B.A. in chemistry in 1946 and his M.A. in chemistry in 1949, both from the University of British Columbia. Francis married shortly after, and he and his wife moved to Iowa, where he continued his studies at the University of Iowa, obtaining a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1953. Francis accepted a position with Procter & Gamble in 1952. His first work there involved research on detergents and skin penetration. Procter & Gamble then moved Francis into hair research. Finally, Francis moved to the dental section, where he became involved with fluoride research.

Frankel, Arnold

Interview Date: March 13, 1998

Arnold Frankel attended City College, enrolling in the chemical engineering curriculum and receiving his B.S. in 1942. While at City College, he met Seymour Mann, who later became his business partner. After graduation, Frankel accepted a position with the U.S. Rubber Company, working at a TNT plant. Soon thereafter, he moved to Publicker Industries, where he did pilot plant work. He also encouraged Mann to join Publicker.  They later formed Aceto Chemical, Inc., and exported a variety of chemicals. Frankel is joined in the second interview by his wife, Miriam Frankel, and they discuss the difficulties of beginning a business and a family at the same time.

Franz, John E.

Interview Date: November 29, 1994

John E. Franz contrasts his studies in physical organic chemistry with his training in practical synthetic organic chemistry at Illinois.  He also details his discovery of glyphosate, a natural plant growth inhibitor that forms the active ingredient in Roundup, an environmentally friendly herbicide that has become one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. He describes the aftereffects of his discovery—the reactions of Monsanto and other companies, and the steps involved in commercial production of Roundup. Franz then examines his later work to understand amine and phosphine compounds as well as plant growth inhibitors

Free, Helen M.

Interview Date: December 14, 1998

After completing her B.S. in chemistry, Helen M. Free first researched assays of antibiotiotics before moving to dry reagent test systems. Working with tablets, Free helped develop tests to detect abnormal levels of bilirubin, glucose, ketone, and protein in urine. When Bayer Corporation acquired Miles Laboratories, Free stayed with the company, moving into the Growth and Development Department, then becoming Director of Specialty Test Systems. Free formally retired in 1982.  She served as president of the American Chemical Society in 1993.

Frohman, Dov

Interview Date: May 10, 2006

Dov Frohman discusses his career, starting with Graduate school in the US, his position at Fairchild, and his job at Intel.  He proceeds to discuss the creation of Intel Israel and his role in the company.

Fuller, Calvin S.

Interview Date: April 29, 1986

Dr. Fuller enlivens the interview with recollections of Harkins and Julius Stieglitz. Appointment as a research chemist under R. R. Williams at Bell Laboratories introduces Calvin Fuller to the infant science of synthetic polymers and to x­ray crystallography. World War II sees Fuller in Washington, D.C., heading polymer chemistry research as part of the synthetic rubber program. On return to Bell Laboratories after the war, Fuller decides to move to solid state chemistry and describes his work on semiconductors, leading to the development of the photovoltaic cell.

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Gamble, Millard G.

Interview Date: July 17, 2002

Millard G. Gamble capped his 39-year career in sales and marketing of fibers at E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company as the vice president of the Textile Fibers Department. He talks about his post-graduation experiences working for the United States Department of Agriculture and as an officer with the United States Navy. Gamble reflects on joining DuPont in 1945 and his sales experience in the Rayon (later named Textile Fibers) Department.

Garfield, Eugene

Interview Date: July 29, 1997

Garfield, Eugene

Interview Date: November 16, 1987

Eugene Garfield describes his interest in the West, his first jobs in Colorado and California, and his brief military career, injury and subsequent medical discharge. Garfield continues by discussing his undergraduate degree in chemistry, the influence of his first ACS meeting and the Division of Chemical Literature on his life's work. He also talks about his participation in the Welch Medical Library project.

Gauvin, William H.

Interview Date: July 11, 1991

William H. Gauvin describes his education at McGill University, which culminated in both wartime work on RDX as well as several early electrochemistry papers. He next recounts his employment with Frank W. Horner Ltd. and the initiation and development of his lifelong spray drying work.

Goggin, William C.

Interview Date: August 20, 1986

After completing his training, Goggin first worked on setting up testing procedures for new polymer electrical insulators. While an employee with Dow, Goggin received a patent for a cording stretching apparatus. Goggin's work in Dow's Plastics Division coincided with the rise of plastics in the world market, especially during World War II. He rose steadily through the company, remaining an employee with Dow for his entire career. He retired as Chairman of the Board of Dow Corning Corporation in 1976.

Golde, David W.

Interview Date: December 15, 1999

Goldey, James M.

Interview Date: February 18, 2005

Good, Mary L.

Interview Date: June 2, 1998

Govier, George W.

Interview Date: May 7, 1997

George Govier received his Sc.D. in chemical engineering in 1949. In 1948, Govier became the head of the University of Alberta's Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and was instrumental in developing the program there. Eleven years later, he accepted the position of dean of the Faculty of Engineering, a position which he held until his departure from the University of Alberta. Govier then became the chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Conservation Board, an organization in which he had been active since 1948.

Green, A. Donald

Interview Date: December 9, 1985

Green and Asbury recall the IG research organization. The wartime pressures during the development of GR-S, and the problems at the Baton Rouge plant are discussed by Green, while Asbury tells of his visit to Germany with the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey. The political recriminations of the prewar cooperation between Standard Oil and IG Farben are recollected as are visits to Germany in the 1930s and 1950s. The interview ends with a survey of the postwar move into chemicals, the Ziegler process and the future of the oil and petrochemical industries.

Greer, Paul S.

Interview Date: November 13, 1985

Greer studied chemistry at the small Grove City College, but with one year at Carnegie Institute of Technology, and then continued further studies in chemical engineering at Case. The years up to the outbreak of World War II were spent with Union Carbide, working on the early development of petrochemicals. Greer then moved to Washington, D.C., to join the War Production Board, but soon after transferred to the Office of the Rubber Director where he played an important role in process development and product quality of the butadiene-styrene rubber, GR-S.

Gregory, Jr., Vincent L.

Interview Date: February 14, 1995

After the war, Gregory simultaneously gained both a Bachelor's degree at Princeton University and a Master's degree at Harvard University. Then in 1949, he began his career at the Rohm and Haas Company by conducting internal auditing in three plants.  He then ran Rohm and Haas' agricultural-chemical operations in England before becoming Director of European Operations.

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Hill, Michael W.

Interview Date: July 26, 2000

Michael W. Hill received a B.S. and M.Sc. in chemistry and became head of Morgan Crucible Group's physics laboratory, but was drawn to the information and documentation side of the field.  Hill first became assistant keeper in the National Reference Library of Science and Invention, and later moved on to the British Museum and the British Library.

Hirl, J. Roger

Interview Date: January 29, 1999

J. Roger Hirl studied liberal arts and business in college, but entered chemical industry due to a job for Skelly Oil Company.  Hirl moved on to Olin Mathieson Chemical Company (later known as Olin Corporation), where he was notably active in litigation regarding DDT sediments and mercury emissions.  In 1983, Hirl joined Occidental Chemical Corporation and became interested in environmental concerns, most notably including his involvement in the Love Canal situation.

Hochwalt, Carroll A.

Interview Date: July 12, 1985

Carrol A. Hochwalt studied  at the University of Dayton, where he received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. After his university studies, Hochwalt got a position at Dayon Metal Products, where Hochwalt worked with Charles Kettering and Thomas Midgley, Jr., on lead tetraethyl and other antiknock compounds. Hochwalt moved on to Monsanto Company, where he oversaw research development. 

Hogan, John Paul

Interview Date: February 10, 1995

J. Paul Hogan received a B.S. in chemistry and physics and first taught high school and undergraduate chemistry and physics, but spent most of his career with Phillips Petroleum Company. At Phillips, Hogan worked primarily with polymers and collaborated with Grant Bailey, Alfred Clark, and Robert L. Banks, with whom he discovered polypropylene.  

Holveck, David P.

Interview Date: February 2, 1999

David P. Holveck begins his oral history by discussing his childhood in Philadelphia and his initial intent on becoming a physical therapist.  After three years in the Navy, Holveck took a sales position at Blood Plasma and Components, and moved on to marketing, management, and executive positions at Abbott Laboratories, Corning Glass Works, General Electric Company, Centocor, and Johnson and Johnson. Holveck describes his involvement in the biotech industry, the evolution of X-ray technology, as well as the development of products such as Centoxin, Remicade, and ReoPro.

Horiba, Masao

Interview Date: November 19, 2004

Masao Horbia begins his oral history by discussing his childhood, schooling, and life during World War II in Japan, where Horiba earned a B.S. in physics and established his own laboratory, Horiba Radio Laboratory (later incorporated as HORIBA, Ltd.).  Horiba's company built and improved upon a pH meter, among various other products, and, by the 1960s, began producing Hitachi, Ltd's analytical instrumentation, as well as a new analyzer for testing automobile emissions.  HORIBA, Ltd. went public in 1971,and Horiba reflects on his still-thriving business and innovations in corporate management.        

Hottel, Hoyt C.

Interview Date: November 18, 1985

Hoyt C. Hottel begins his interview by discussing his early education and interest in rubber chemistry, and how both factored in to his decision to attend Indiana University for chemistry and Massachusetts Institute of Technology for chemical engineering.  Hottel discusses his substantial experience in World Warr II work on flamethrowers, incendiary bombs, and smoke obscuration and several jobs in industry, as well as his long tenure as a professor and director of the fuel and gas engineering program at MIT.  Additionally, Hottel reflects on his extensive research on solar energy and gas turbine combustion.

Humphreys, Willis

Interview Date: March 7, 2002

Willis Humphreys describes his long tenure as Production Supervisor with Beckman Instruments, Incorporated.  Humphreys worked on the electronics for many of the company's instruments, including the Helipot and the Model R pH meter. Humphreys also reflects on the intense World War II production of new instruments and the evolution of electronics technology. 

Hurd, Charles D.

Interview Date: February 27, 1991

Charles Hurd begins his oral history by discussing his early life and his later educational and professional experiences, including his Ph.D. work in organic chemistry at Princeton University and his summer job in Thomas Edison's laboratory.   Hurd was recruited to Northwestern University by Frank Whitmore and remained there for his entire career, while consulting for various companies.  Hurd reflects on his research, teaching and creation of Molecular Models as a teaching tool, and the negative public perception of chemical industry. 

Hyde, J. Franklin

Interview Date: April 30, 1986

J. Franklin Hyde discusses his university studies in chemistry, which culminated in a Ph.D. in organic chemistry with Roger Adams and a postdoctoral at Harvard University. Hyde accepted a position at Corning Glass Works as a research chemist and later became the manager of the organic laboratory.  Hyde later joined Dow Corning Corporation, where he continued management and research on equilibrium hydrolysis and bond rearrangement in siloxanes. 

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Idol, James D.

Interview Date: December 8, 1994

James D. Idol discusses his early interest in chemistry and decision to pursue chemistry in higher education, which led to a position with Standard Oil of Ohio.  Idol pioneered an economically advantageous process for the production of acrylonitrile and played a role in the commercialization of the process.  Idol moved on to Ashland Chemical Company, where he developed the propylene-CO process for methyl methacrylate, and in 1988 became a professor at Rutgers University. 

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Jenkins, Robert T.

Interview Date: May 9, 2007

Robert T. "Ted" Jenkins begins his oral history by discussing his early life and his years at California Institute of Technology, where he reached bachelor's and master's degrees. Jenkins was recruited by Gordon Moore to work for Fairchild Semiconductor and left a short time later to follow Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce to Noyce-Moore Electronics, later called Intel.  Jenkins reflects on his lengthy career at Intel and his work on blue LED, early microprocessor chips, and other products. 

Jennings, Keith R.

Interview Date: April 24, 2008

Keith R. Jennings begins his oral history by discussing his youth and education in the United Kingdom, including his chemistry studies at University of Oxford, where he worked with Jack Wilfrid Linnett, and his postdoctoral position with Robert Cevetanovic at the National Research Council in Ottawa, Canada.  Jennings took a position at the University of Sheffield and moved on to the University of Warwick.  Jennings reflects on his lengthy career at the University of Warwick, his research on mass spectrometry and the field of mass spectrometry in general, and his notable collaborators and peers. 

Jensen, E. William

Interview Date: August 10, 2005

E. William Jensen begins his interview by discussing how his early life in Denmark, and his education, which culminated with a master's degree in solid state physics and petrology at Columbia University, influenced his future career in the technology industry.  Jensen began his career at General Transistor Corporation and left to form Geoscience Nuclear Division of Geoscience Instruments Company, where he competed with industrial giants such as Rohm &  Haas Company, Merck, and Monsanto Company.  In later ventures, Jensen was part of the development of polishing glass for televisions and the Love Glove and founded a new company, Qoro LLC. 

Johnstone, John W.

Interview Date: February 11, 1997

John W. Johnstone begins his oral history with a discussion of his early life and education, including a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics from Hartwick College.  Johnstone began his career at Hooker Chemical Company as a sales representative, but quickly moved up the ranks and became Group Vice President before leaving the company for Airco Inc..  Johnstone joined Olin Corporation in 1979, where he worked for successful re-engineering and expansion of the company and addressed rising environmental concerns; Johnstone concludes the interview by discussing the future of research and development in the chemical industry.   

Jones, Jean C.

Interview Date: March 8, 2006

Jean C. Jones discusses how she began working at Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation and her early interactions with Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce.  Jones became full-time secretary for Fairchild and made the move to Intel Corporation.  Jones describes her daily work at Fairchild and Intel and her interactions with Moore, Noyce, and Andrew Grove, among others. 

Joullié, Madeleine M.

Interview Date: April 23, 1991

Madeleine M. Joullié begins her interview by describing her early life and education in Brazil followed by her higher education in the United States, with a bachelor's degree at Simmons College and master's and doctoral degrees in chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was advised by Allan R. Day.  Joullié discusses her career in the organic chemistry department at the University of Pennsylvania, including her thoughts on teaching, her students, and her work with Mildred Cohn to implement affirmative action guidelines that led to more hiring of women and minorities to tenure-track positions at Penn.  Additionally, Joullié discusses her consulting work, her research, and chemistry textbooks, including Organic Chemistry, which Joullié co-authored with Day.

 

Joyce, William H.

Interview Date: August 17, 2004

William H. Joyce discusses his interest in chemistry, which led to a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and the influence of his parents, which led to interest in business and an M.B.A. and Ph.D. from New York University.  Joyce had a lengthy career at Union Carbide, where he rose from Product Development Engineer to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and made several contributions to the field, including the UNIPOL process for creating high-density polyethylene.  Joyce reflects on the chemical industry, his philosophy to being successful in a large corporation, and his work for the Nalco Company.  

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Karle, Isabella L.

Interview Date: February 26, 1987

Karle, Jerome

Interview Date: February 26, 1987

Karol, Frederick J.

Interview Date: January 10, 1995

Frederick J. Karol discusses his early interest in chemistry, as well as  his B.S. in chemistry at Boston University and his two years of military service.  Karol joined Union Carbide Corporation in 1956 , rising in the ranks to Senior Corporate Fellow, the position he holds presently; Karol took a brief hiatus to pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Karol discusses his lengthy career at Union Carbide, including the development of the gas phase process for making high pressure polyethylene replacement products, linear low density polyethylene development, among other research developments, as well as Union Carbide's history and professional philosophies. 

Katz, Donald L.

Interview Date: August 22, 1986

Donald L. Katz discusses his family background and his educational background, including his studies in chemical engineering at University of Michigan, which culminated in a Ph.D..  While Katz initially joined Phillips Petroleum Company as a research engineer after his education, he was soon invited back to the University of Michigan for an academic appointment.  Katz remained at Michigan for over fifty years, and he reflects on his research, including heat transfer investigations, and various aspects of chemical engineering education and the academic chemical engineering profession. 

Katzen, Raphael

Interview Date: October 20, 2000

Raphael Katzen discusses his family and educational background, including his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.  Katzen met Donald Othmer while an undergraduate, and Othmer was a significant mentor for Katzen, providing him with summer employment, taking him on off-campus consultations, and requesting permission for Katzen to obtain his master's degree in absentia while working at Northwood Chemical Company.  Katzen also discusses his work on acid hydrolysis of wood in the production of ethanol, the creation of his own company, KATZEN International, Inc., and his consulting and collaborative work. 

Kaye, Wilbur I.

Interview Date: February 11, 2002

Wilbur I. Kaye begins his interview by discussing his early interest in science and instrumentation and his education, which culminated in a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Illinois.  Kaye took a position at Tennessee Eastman Company after graduation and promptly set up a physics laboratory; Kaye discusses the instrumentation in his laboratory and his publications on gas chromatography.  Kaye left Tennessee Eastman for Beckman Instruments, Inc., and reflects on his modifications to the DU spectrophotometer and other instrumentation at Beckman Instruments. 

Kelly, Michael A.

Interview Date: March 19, 2002

Michael A. Kelly discusses his early interest in radio and television electronics, and his education, including a master's degree at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in nuclear physics at University of California, Berkeley.  Kelly joined the Hewlett-Packard Company after completion of his Ph.D. as a research scientist and developed and refined the first ESCA instrumentation. Kelly also discusses his subsequent positions at Surface Science Laboratories, Kevex Corporation, Stanford University, and he reflects on the impact of ESCA and innovation during his career. 

Kennedy, Robert D.

Interview Date: February 4, 1997

Robert Kennedy discusses his career in mechanical engineering, beginning with his education at Cornell University.  After graduation, Kennedy took a position at Union Carbide Corporation, working first in the metallurgical industries and later in management, including a position as head of Linde Air Products Company.  Kennedy discusses rebuilding the image of the chemical industry as part of the Chemical Manufacturers Association, education, and family. 

Kirkbride, Chalmer G.

Interview Date: July 15, 1993

Chalmer Kirkbride, influenced by his brother-in-law, a chemist for Sherwin-Williams, studied chemical engineering at the University of Michigan and initially worked for Standard Oil of Indiana before moving on to positions at Pan American Transport Company and Magnolia Petroleum Corporation, among others.  Kirkbride was appointed as the first distinguished engineering professor at Texas A&M University, a position he held briefly before returning to industry.  Kirkbride discusses his interest in environmental issues as well as recent activities as part of Kirkbride Associates.

Knowles, William S.

Interview Date: January 30, 2008

William S. Knowles begins his oral history by discussing his early life during the Great Depression and his education, including time at Harvard University and Columbia University.  Knowles spent the majority of his career at Monsanto Company, where he moved from studies of vanillin to research on steroid chemistry and L-Dopa, among other topics.  Knowles discusses the many projects he worked on while at Monsanto, his 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and the challenges of being an industrial scientist. 

Kolthoff, Izaak M.

Interview Date: March 15, 1984

Izaak Kolthoff begins his interview by discussing his early life in Holland, his education, and the factors influencing his decision to become an analytical chemist.  Kolthoff details the effects of the McCarthy era on his career and accusations of Communist sympathies.  Kolthoff ends the interview by discussing his research, including his work on crystal surfaces, and his participation in synthetic rubber research during World War II. 

Kwolek, Stephanie L.

Interview Date: March 21, 1998

Stephanie L. Kwolek begins the interview by discussing her early career at DuPont and research there, specifically polymer research including aliphatic and aromatic polyamides. She relates her experiences working on the polymer that would become Kevlar, and the relationship between Kevlar and Paul Flory's theory of liquid polymer crystals.  Kwolek concludes the interview by commenting on the future of polymer research. 

Kwolek, Stephanie L.

Interview Date: May 4, 1986

Stephanie Kwolek begins the interview by discussing her family background and education, including her bachelor's degree in chemistry at Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie-Mellon University.  Kwolek entered industry, accepting a position in Du Pont's Rayon Department.  Kwolek reflects on her time at Du Pont, her colleagues, and her research, specifically liquid crystalline polymers.

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Labovsky, Joseph

Interview Date: July 24, 1996

Joseph Labovsky begins his oral history with a discussion of his family and early life in Ukraine, as well as his recollection of his family's move to the United States.  Labovsky was trained as a master electrician, and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in industrial chemical engineering.  Labovsky speaks at length about his career at DuPont, including the development of nylon and his mentors and colleagues, including Wallace Carothers and Paul Flory. 

Laidler, Keith J.

Interview Date: October 13, 1983

Keith J. Laidler discusses his childhood and education, including his time at Oxford University, where Laidler received training and undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemistry and physical chemistry, and as a graduate student in physical chemistry at Princeton University.  Laidler recalls the inception and development of the transition-state theory as well as his own research. Laidler concludes his interview with recollections of several eminent chemists, including Cyril Hinshelwood, Henry Eyring, and Hugh Stott Taylor. 

Landau, Ralph

Interview Date: December 18, 1990

Ralph Landau begins his oral history by discussing his childhood and education, including his time as an undergraduate in chemical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and as a graduate student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Landau recalls his time at Kellex Corporation—where he worked on the Manhattan Project—as well as M.W. Kellogg Corporation, Scientific Design Company, and Halcon International.  

Last, Jay T.

Interview Date: June 21, 2004

Jay T. Last begins his oral history by discussing his early life and education, including his undergraduate work at University of Rochester and his graduate work in the von Hippel lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Last first joined the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory but was part of the "Traitorous Eight" to form Fairchild Semiconductor; Last later worked at Amelco Corporation and Teledyne Technologies, among other endeavors.  Last speaks about the business climate of Silicon Valley as well as the American and international semiconductor industries.     

Lederberg, Joshua

Interview Date: August 18, 2000

Joshua Lederberg begins the interview by discussing his involvement in contamination issues of planetary exploration.  Lederberg recalls his work to develop alternatives to the "man-in-space" program, as well as his time on several national committees for both planetary exploration and health-related matters.  Additionally, Lederberg discusses writing his column, the environment at Stanford University during the Cold War, and his thoughts on U.S. defense projects. 

Lederberg, Joshua

Interview Date: June 25, 1992

Joshua Lederberg begins his three-part interview by discussing his early years in New York and the early influence of science on his education.  Lederberg received his bachelor's degree in biology from Columbia University, worked with Francis Ryan on Neurospora and E. coli, enlisted with the United States Navy, and received his Ph.D. in microbiology from Yale University.  Lederberg discusses his career in academia, including his time at the University of Wisconsin, as well as his Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1958. 

Li, Norman N.

Interview Date: May 5, 2000

Norman Li discusses his early life in China and Taiwan, as well as his education, which included a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from National Taiwan University as well as an M.S. from Wayne State University and a Ph.D. from Stevens Institute of Technology.  Li reflects on his career in industry, including his time at Exxon Research and Engineering Company, where he received a combined total of 44 patents on either hydrocarbon separations or facilitated transport.  Li also discusses his move to research administration and the future of chemical R&D. 

Line, Maurice B.

Interview Date: June 27, 2000

Maurice B. Line discusses his education and early career, including his bachelor's and master's degrees in Classics from Oxford University and his first job as a library trainee at Oxford's Bodleian Library.  Line also discusses his various library positions and some of his notable accomplishments: assisting in the creation of the first automated acquisition system in Britain, directing INFROSS (a study of social scientists' information requirements) and DISISS (a study on designs of information systems).  Additionally, Line speaks about the constraints of working in the public sector, as well as the importance of technology in making libraries more accessible to users. 

Liston, Max D.

Interview Date: February 19, 2002

Max D. Liston discusses his early career and education, including bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota, his first job at Chrysler Corporation, and his master's in mechanical engineering from the Chrysler Institute.  Liston transferred to General Motors, then Perkin Elmer, and then formed the Liston-Folb company (later Liston-Becker) with Morris Folb, where his projects included three atmospheric-analyzer models for U.S. Navy submarines and the Model 16 capnograph.  Liston discusses the Beckman Instruments acquisition of Liston-Becker, his notable projects while at Beckman, including the development of automobile-emissions analyzers for smog tests in Los Angeles, California, and the formation of Liston Scientific.  

Little, William F.

Interview Date: January 5, 2007

William F. Little discusses his early life in a small town and education, including his discovery of chemistry at Lenoir-Rhyne College, where he received a bachelor's degree in mathematics, biology, and chemistry, and his graduate studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Little received an M.S. in physical chemistry and Ph.D. in organic chemistry.  Little recalls his lengthy career at a few institutions: North Carolina, where Little began as a professor and later, as chairman of the chemistry department, revised the curriculum and got a new laboratory built; the Research Triangle Foundation, where Little helped establish the Research Triangle Park.  Additionally little recalls his various administrative responsibilities and assesses his career in North Carolina. 

Lorenzini, Robert E.

Interview Date: September 17, 2007

Robert E. Lorenzini discusses his childhood, early aptitude in engineering and science, and undergraduate and graduate degrees at Stanford University in materials science.  After graduation, Lorenzini was recruited by Rheem Semiconductors, where his work led to Rheem's own crystal growing furnace and ability to produce its own silicon wafers; Lorenzini's time at Rheem was followed by stints at Allegheny Electronics Chemical Company, Knapic Electrophysics, and Elmat Corporation.  Lorenzini reflects on his time at Siltec Corporation as Chairman and CEO, as well as his time at SunPower Corporation, which he founded with Stanford professor Richard Swanson. 

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Mayo, Frank R.

Interview Date: January 21, 1981

Mayo traces his professional career as a research chemist with Du Pont, as an instructor at the University of Chicago where his primary role was the supervision of Morris Kharasch's research group, as a group leader at U.S. Rubber during and after World War II, as a research associate at General Electric, and finally as a fellow at SRI International.  He also comments on the rise of free radical chemistry and the value of applying basic research to practical problems.

McAfee, Jerry

Interview Date: July 26, 1993

McAfee discusses his career in chemical engineering, having studied at the University of Texas and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and having worked as a research and operating engineer for Universal Oil Products Company before accepting a position as technical specialist with Gulf Oil Corporation in Port Arthur. He served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Gulf for six years before retiring in 1981. His career with Gulf took him to Pennsylvania, London, and Toronto.

McBrayer, H. Eugene

Interview Date: May 11, 1995

McBrayer discusses his studies in chemical engineering at Vanderbilt University and his career at Exxon, eventually becoming president of the corporation.  During his years at Exxon Chemical, McBrayer was heavily involved in environmental issues; he helped to set up Clean Sites, Inc. and has been active in the Chemical Manufacturers Association Responsible Care program. In 1992, the same year that he was awarded the Chemical Industry Medal, McBrayer retired from Exxon Chemical.

McKennon, Keith R.

Interview Date: March 30, 1995

Keith McKennon discusses his youth and interests in research and chemistry, as well as his subsequent years at Oregon State University.  McKennon reflects on his multiple career paths at Dow Chemical Company and Shell Chemical Company, from working in a sales position to research management and then as a Director of government relations and public issues. McKennon describes his next major career turn—dealing with public concern about dioxin in Agent Orange, and later, at Dow Corning, with the silicon implant affair.

McLafferty, Fred W.

Interview Date: January 22, 2007

McLafferty discusses his upbringing as he continued his education in chemistry in an accelerated degree program at the University of Nebraska during World War II.  Having enlisted in the war and after months of combat, McLafferty returned to Nebraska to earn his Master’s degree and later earned his doctorate degree at Cornell University. Shifting his interests to organic chemistry, he entered industry at the Dow Chemical Company where he was introduced to mass spectrometry, a field that figures prominently in much of McLafferty’s collaborations and scientific work. Eventually, he becomes involved in academia, teaching and researching at Purdue University and Cornell University.     

McMillan, William G.

Interview Date: March 25, 1992

McMillan discusses his upbringing in Montebello, California, having expressed an early interest in science, eventually attaining a B.A. in chemistry at UCLA, a M.S. at Columbia, and later on a Ph.D. in chemical physics.  McMillan was employed in the Special Alloys and Materials Project, a forerunner to the Manhattan Project, but later joined the faculty of UCLA while working for the RAND Corporation as a consultant to the U.S. military.  Also having worked with the Armed Forces in Vietnam, McMillan contracted hepatitis and developed blood chemistry analysis.   Some of his personal research projects have included: global warming and ozone depletion issues; atmospheric studies of Venus; and Neutrinos work.

McNeil, Jr., Robert L.

Interview Date: August 13, 2001

Robert L. McNeil, Jr. discusses the evolution of his family’s drugstore, the Firm of Robert McNeil and later McNeil Laboratories, after earning his B.S. in physiological chemistry and bacteriology at Yale University.  Returning to Philadelphia, McNeil enrolled in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Temple University’s Graduate Pharmacy School, thus beginning his career in the family business and eventually becoming head of a successful pharmaceutical company.  As a prominent figure in the pharmaceutical field, McNeil introduced top-selling pharmaceuticals in the nation, like Butisol® and eventually Tylenol®, and became president of the Philadelphia Drug Exchange and the Philadelphia branch of the American Pharmaceutical Association. 

 

Meadows, A. J.

Interview Date: June 29, 2000

A.J. Meadows discusses his reasons for studying both astronomy and the history of science, and how that led to his appointment in both departments at the University of Leicester.  Meadows also comments on his initial interest in information science, later establishing two centers for communication studies, and becoming associated with the Institute for Information Scientists [IIS], the Library Association [LA], and Aslib.  He then discusses online communication’s impact on information science with the example of BioMedNet and the e-print system, his relationship with Donald  J. Urquhart, and the definition of the words “information,” “documentation,” and “library.”   

Mendolia, Arthur I.

Interview Date: November 12, 1998

After earning his B.S. in chemical engineering at Case Western Reserve University, Arther I. Mendolia began to work at DuPont as a research engineer but later rose in managerial positions such as Vice President of Explosives. DuPont recommended Mendolia for a position in the U.S. Department of Defense [DOD], where he learned more about management, organization, finances, and worked personally with President Gerald Ford.  Mendolia later became involved in corporate ventures, becoming president of Halcon International and chairman of Oxirane, and later establishing his own chemical company, CasChem which would later be known as Cambrex Corporation. 

Meyer, Delbert H.

Interview Date: January 20, 1997

Delbert Meyer discusses his upbringing in Maynard, Iowa and his initial uncertainty about his future career, leading to his decision to serve for two years in the U.S. Navy.  Later, his professors at Wartburg College and the University of Iowa encouraged his interest in chemistry, contributing to his thirty-nine years with Amoco.  He started his career as an exploratory researcher then as a research consultant, eventually developing a faster and more economical method for producing purified terephthalic acid (PTA), and later winning the 1995 Perkin Medal. 

Miller, Foil A.

Interview Date: May 23, 2001

Foil A.  Miller discusses the origins of the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy [Pittcon], and his early involvement with it and its two founding groups, the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh and the Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. Miller outlines some of the changes in the field of instrumentation and reflects on some of the key individuals in instrument entrepreneurship. Although Miller first came to Pittsburgh to work at the Mellon Institute, he soon moved to the University of Pittsburgh where he taught in the chemistry department until his retirement. After retirement, Miller developed an interest in stamp collecting, particularly stamps relating to physics and chemistry, and co-authored a book on this topic with Edgar Heilbronner and is the editor of Philatelia Chimica et Physica.

Mittermeier, Russell A.

Interview Date: April 15, 2007

Russell A. Mittermeier discusses the involvement and increasing support of Gordon E. Moore in Conservation International, especially his contribution to building the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science.  He describes Moore as a good match with Conservation International given Moore’s appreciation of its scientific approach and organizational management, leading the board of directors and transforming the organization at large. Lastly, Mittermeier reflects on how Moore’s experience at Conservation International influenced the founding of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and notes the Moores’ influence in attracting Silicon Valley to the cause of conservation.

Morawetz, Herbert

Interview Date: April 1, 1986

In this interview, Herbert Morawetz traces his early life prior to leaving Czechoslovakia on the Nazi invasion and resettling in Canada, where he studied chemical engineering at the University of Toronto. He describes his introduction to industrial research work and his consequent Ph.D. study at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and late postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Morawetz also reflects on the future of polymer education and on international scientific collaboration.

Morgan, Paul W.

Interview Date: March 15, 1986

Paul Morgan discusses his upbringing in Maine, his undergraduate studies at the University of Maine, his graduate research at Ohio State University on naturally-occuring plant pigments, and his post-doctoral work on cellulose derivatives. He describes his Du Pont investigations of the synthesis of polymers, with particular emphasis on interfacial polycondensation. Incorporated into the interview are Morgan's reflections on scientific publication from an industrial setting.

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Nakanishi, Koji

Interview Date: February 15, 1985

This interview covers the life of Koji Nakanishi from his early education in Egypt to his current work as Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University and Director of the Suntory Institute for Bioorganic Research in Japan.  Nakanishi also comments on his education in wartime Japan, his fellowship years at Harvard University, and his research on the structure of natural products and their mode of action, and the development and use of infrared spectroscopy, NMR, and circular dichroism. He concludes by briefly discussing his avocation, magic, and some general comments on the future of organic chemistry.   

Natelson, Samuel

Interview Date: February 26, 1998

Samuel Natelson discusses his upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, having earned his B.S. in chemistry at the City College of New York and his Sc.M. and Ph.D. at New York University.  While beginning his academic career at Girls Commercial High School, Natelson also worked as a clinical chemist at the Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn, where he first conceived the idea of a society by and for clinical chemists.  Eventually, Natelson became a pioneer in the field of clinical chemistry, organizing the nine charter members of the American Association of Clinical Chemists, acting as a consultant to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and later still pursuing a career as an educator.   

 

 

Nelson, Donna J.

Interview Date: July 21, 2008

Donna J. Nelson discusses her childhood in Eufaula, Oklahoma, where she was greatly influenced by her parents, especially her step-father, the town’s only physician.  Nelson joined the chemistry department at the University of Oklahoma, where she struggled for parity with the male students, and later went on to do graduate work at the University of Texas, Austin with Michael J.S. Dewar and post-doctorate work at Purdue University as Herbert C. Brown’s first female post-doctorate.   In addition to her role as faculty member of the University of Oklahoma chemistry department, Nelson also conducted surveys of women and minorities in the top chemistry departments and researched issues surrounding women and minorities in chemistry and the sciences. 

Neville, Roy G.

Interview Date: June 20, 2005

Roy G. Neville comments on his family and his childhood in Bournemouth, England during the start of World War II, while admitting that he was not very intrigued by his first chemistry lesson but enjoyed performing experiments.  Neville eventually earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in the U.S. at the University of Oregon, later establishing Engineering and Technical Consultants, Inc. to help chemists in industry.  As an entrepreneur, Neville spent more of his time and money on his rare book collection and the creation of The Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library at the Chemical Heritage Foundation.    

Newman, Melvin S.

Interview Date: March 3, 1979

Melvin S. Newman, an eminent organic chemist, comments on his undergraduate and graduate work at Yale and his experiences at Ohio State University, where he spent most of his academic career researching, advising, and teaching both in the classroom and laboratory.  Newman also discusses his publications, use of the innovative "Newman Projection," consulting, patents, and awards.

Nichols, James Burton

Interview Date: January 14, 1986

Raised primarily by his widowed mother, James Burton Nichols won scholarships to finance his studies of chemistry at Cornell University where he conducted a senior research project with Wilder D. Bancroft.  Nichols went to Wisconsin where he was introduced to sedimentation techniques by a construction of a pioneer optical centrifuge and its use in pigment characterization, and he later was involved in the early development of the ultra-centrifuge.  Nichols later had a long career at Du Pont, from applying ultracentrifugal techniques to industrial problems to contributing to the evolution of new instruments and polymer characterization. 

Nissel, Frank R.

Interview Date: March 20, 2002

Frank R. Nissel recounts his upbringing and multi-lingual education in Berlin, Germany and Egypt during the rise of Hilter’s regime.  He later earned his M.S. in chemical engineering at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1946, and eventually pursued a successful career at Union Carbide Corporation and then as co-founder of Prodex Corporation and Welex.  Nissel used his mechanical instincts to revolutionize plastics machinery by making it more efficient and less expensive than its competitors, and in time was honored membership into the Plastics Hall of Fame.       

Noyce, Donald S.

Interview Date: January 22, 1981

Donald Noyces comments on his childhood in Iowa, his years at Grinnell College, his experience at Columbia University as a graduate student, and his position at the University of California at Berkeley.  Noyce also discusses the faculty, the chemistry administration, the changing atmosphere with respect to organic chemistry, his research, and his graduate students.  Finally, he discusses the development of physical organic chemistry from the turn of the century to 1980.

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Olah, George A.

Interview Date: February 3, 2000

George A. Olah reflects on winning the 1994 Nobel Prize in chemistry and discusses his upbringing in Budapest, Hungary, where he earned a Ph.D.  in organic chemistry from the Technical University of Budapest.  With the collapse of the Iron Wall, Olah and his family eventually immigrated to Ontario, Canada where he became a research scientist at the Dow Chemical Company but later became a professor at Western Reserve University.  Olah was instrumental in the merging of Western Reserve University and Case Institute of Technology, forming Case Western Reserve University, but eventually left to become director of the Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute.      

Ondetti, Miguel A.

Interview Date: January 12, 1995

Miguel A. Ondetti starts his interview by describing his upbringing in Argentina, where he was broadly trained in chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires and offered a Ph.D. scholarship and a research opportunity at The Squibb Institute.  Ondetti eventually relocated to the U.S. in New Jersey and worked in the peptide synthesis field and pharmaceutical research, while collaborating with scientists in both industry and academia during his career.

Oreffice, Paul F.

Interview Date: March 31, 1995

Paul Oreffice describes his interests in entering a commercial career and his career at Dow, reflecting on the development of Dow International and Dow in general as a place for world innovation in plant engineering and product development.  Oreffice also offers his views on environmental concerns and government regulations.  Oreffice also discusses the chemical industry and Dow in light of industry changes, such as internationalization and consolidation.

Othmer, Donald F.

Interview Date: April 2, 1986

Donald Othmer discusses his upbringing in Omaha, Nebraska, his studies at the Armour Institute, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Michigan, and his experience at Eastman Kodak and Poly Tech.  Othmer also recounts his adventures in Burma, his association with the Government during World War II, the inception of the Encyclopedia of Chemical technology, and the Chemists’ Club.    

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Pariser, Rudolph

Interview Date: October 28, 2005

Rudolph Pariser’s life has been significantly shaped by the historical events of the 20^th century, from being born in China since his mother found refuge there during Russian Revolution while his father escaped from his Russian captives, to being taught in Tokyo as a result of the Japanese invasion of China, and eventually permanently relocating to California due to the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Pariser continued his education at the University of California at Berkeley, earning his degree in chemical technology there and later his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of Minnesota after his military service.  Pariser then started a long and successful career at DuPont, originally as a Research Chemist but eventually rising through the ranks of research management owing to his contribution to the development of PPP theory; DuPont recognized Pariser for his technical achievement by awarding him the Lavoisier Medal in 2003. 

Parry, Robert W.

Interview Date: July 19, 2002

After his formative years Ogden, Utah, Robert W. Parry attended Weber College but earned his B.S. from Utah State University, his M.S. from Cornell University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.  Parry’s career includes performing research for the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, and positions at E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, the Munitions Development Laboratory at the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, and the University of Utah.  Later, Parry became involved with the Gordon Research Conferences [GRC], serving as conference chairman, an executive committee member, and chairman of the board of directors.   

 

 

Pauling, Linus C.

Interview Date: April 6, 1987

Linus Pauling traces his interest in science since his formative years, from gathering laboratory equipment and conducting chemistry experiments in his home, working in his high school’s chemistry laboratory, to supporting himself during his undergraduate years by tending to the chemistry department stockroom at Oregon State Agricultural College.  As a graduate student at Caltech, Pauling was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to study in Zurich, where he later developed the theory of the three-electron bond.

Plunkett, Roy J.

Interview Date: April 14, 1986

Roy Plunkett discusses his upbringing, his family ties to the Church of the Brethren, his undergraduate studies in chemistry at Manchester College, his graduate work in carbohydrate chemistry at Ohio State University, and his friendship with Paul Flory.  Plunkett eventually started to work for DuPont where he began synthesis of tetrafluoroethylene, which was later central to his pioneer work with Teflon.

Prelog, Vladimir

Interview Date: January 17, 1984

Vladimir Prelog reflects on his long and distinguished career as an organic chemist, from his formative years in Yugoslavia, his doctoral studies in Prague, his academic involvement at the Technical Faculty of the University of Zagreb, to his research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH).  At ETH, Prelog has worked with the chemistry of natural products and stereochemistry while collaborating with Cahn and Ingold to create the CIP system for defining absolute configuration. 

Price, Charles C.

Interview Date: April 26, 1979

Charles Price discusses his career as a chemist, from his undergraduate studies at Swarthmore College, his graduate work at Harvard University, his faculty appointments, to his research for the National Defense Research Committee during World War II.  Price played an influential role as chairman of the department of chemistry at the University of Notre Dame and then later at University of Pennsylvania, while he also conducted research in physical organic chemistry.   

Pruitt, Malcolm E.

Interview Date: January 15, 1986

Malcolm Pruitt recounts his early life in Texas and his struggles to complete his undergraduate education during the Depression.  As a control chemist at Dow, Pruitt began his extensive studies of the ionic polymerization of cyclic oxide monomers and eventually moved into senior research management.  Pruitt also reflects on his initiatory role in the formation of the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology and the Council for Chemical Research. 

Pruitt, Malcolm E.

Interview Date: September 9, 1988

In this second interview, Malcolm Pruitt reflects on the history and successes of the Council for Chemical Research, describing its origins as deriving from his concern for the poor cooperation between university and industry, thus causing Pruitt to establish a task force which led to the founding of the Council.  Pruitt also discusses the American Chemical Society.   

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Rathmann, George B.

Interview Date: September 16, 1999

George Rathmann discusses his upbringing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his undergraduate work in physical chemistry at Northwestern University, and later his graduate studies in physical chemistry at Princeton University.  Rathmann has a successful industrious career, from working as a research chemist at 3M Company to acting as Vice-President of Research and Development at Abbott Laboratories, where he became greatly interested in recombinant DNA.  Later in his career, Rathmann became more involved in the world of biotechnology and biotech companies.

Ratner, Mark A.

Interview Date: April 7, 2006

Mark A. Ratner discusses his upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio, his undergraduate years at Harvard University, his graduate studies at Northwestern University, and his postdoctoral fellowship in Denmark and Munich.  Afterwards, Ratner began working at New York University while exploring molecular electronics, but returned to Northwestern as a faculty member in the Chemistry Department.  Ratner also reflects on his collaborations with IBM and DARPA, his experiences as organizing chair and a member of the board of directors for the Gordon Research Conferences (GRC), and on the future of nanotechnology.   

Read, Harold J.

Interview Date: March 22, 1995

Harold J. Read describes his family background and his upbringing in Illinois, where he also earned his B.S. and M.A. from the University of Illinois but Read later relocated to the University of Pennsylvania where his Ph.D. research brought him into the area of metallurgy.  Read also worked for the Mellon Institute where his metal-work eventually led to equipment design and manufacturing prototypes for the Manhattan Project.  Read was also greatly involved in the Electrochemical Society, eventually becoming its President while overlooking its publications.     

Reed, Charles E.

Interview Date: July 11, 1986

Charles Reed discusses his upbringing in Findlay, Ohio, later earning his B.S. in chemistry from the Case School of Applied Science but pursued a D.Sc. in  both chemistry and chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  While teaching as an assistant professor, Reed also began to consult for various companies and later started a long career at the General Electric Company.  In time, Reed gradually moved up the management ladder as he worked with various materials, like organosilicon polymers, phenolic laminates, the commercial development of synthetic diamonds, and the development of both polycarbonates and polyphenylene oxide.

Reichstein, Tadeus

Interview Date: April 22, 1985

Tadeus Reichstein discusses his long and distinguished career as an organic chemist, recalling his early education in Germany and Switzerland and eventually coming to work at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH).  Later, Reichstein moved to the Pharmaceutical Institute at Basel, where he began work in Vitamin C synthesis, cortisone, and other adrenal hormones and glycosides, all of which led to his Nobel Prize in 1950.    

Renfrew, Malcolm M.

Interview Date: August 13, 1987

After studying chemistry at the University of Idaho, Malcolm Renfrew joined George Glockler at Minnesota for research on Raman spectroscopy but later joined Arlington laboratories of du Pont where he became involved in plastics development and Teflon.  Renfrew also expresses an interest in health and safety in the chemical environment as he reflects on his career in industry, which includes his ascension through the research management ladder at General Mills and Spencer Kellogg.  Renfrew eventually returned to his alma mater to teach and lead the physical science department. 

Rice, Francis O.

Interview Date: January 4, 1984

Francis O. Rice discusses his upbringing in England, his studies at Princeton, his teaching career at New York University, and his research and administrative activities at Johns Hopkins University and the Catholic University of America.  Rice also recounts his theory on free radicals and assesses the place of science in Catholic universities and an explanation of the Laidler-ADX controversy of the mid ­1950's.  

Roberts, John D.

Interview Date: April 25, 1987

John Roberts discusses his upbringing and the impact of Caltech on his interests in chemistry, and goes to describe his studies at UCLA, his brief time at Penn State, and his research at Harvard on the National Research Council Fellowship.  Having become acquainted with Cope and other faculty members at MIT, Roberts eventually left MIT for a position at Caltech.

Robinson, Ivan Maxwell

Interview Date: January 24, 2001

Ivan Maxwell Robinson discusses his upbringing in Nova Scotia, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Acadia University, a master’s degree from the University of Toronto, and his Ph.D. from Purdue University.  Afterwards, Robinson led a successful career at DuPont, as both a research chemist and a supervisor, accredited with chemical innovations like coordination polymerization and copolymers of ethylene-sulfur dioxide.  Robinson later joined Indiana University as a visiting scientist, taught genealogy at the Academy of Lifelong Learning, and was awarded the Lavoisier Medal for Technical Achievement.

Robson, Robert

Interview Date: November 17, 2005

Robert Robson discusses his upbringing in South Dakota, his involvement with the Army, his interests in electronics, and his involvement with the electronics and semiconductor industries.  Robson describes his employment at Farnsworth Electronics Incorporated, Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, Amelco, Teledyne, Intersil, and Microma.  Robson also discusses his interactions with Robert Noyce, Gordon Moore, Andrew Grove and his friendship with Gordon and Betty Moore. 

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Schaefgen, John R.

Interview Date: April 3, 1986

In this interview John Schaefgen begins with his family history and early life in Gross Point, Illinois. He then discusses the development of his interest in science, and describes his education, including his professors and fellow students at Northwestern University and Ohio State University. In the central portion of the interview, Schaefgen considers his association with Paul Flory at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and recalls his move to the Pioneering Research Laboratory at Du Pont. He then describes his interests and accomplishments in polymer chemistry. The interview concludes with a discussion of his colleagues, professional society activities, and views on the characteristics of innovative research.

Schlinger, Warren G.

Interview Date: July 24, 2002

Warren G. Schlinger begins his oral history interview by tracing his family heritageand discussing his introduction to chemistry: a Gilbert Chemistry Set owned by a friend. While a young man, Schlinger began to attend public lectures at California Institute of Technology [Caltech] where he eventually was accepted and completed his education, earning a doctorate in mechanical and chemical engineering. Schlinger spent the entirety of his career at the research lab in Montebello, California. Schlinger recollects the history of Texaco. He shares aspects of his private life—stories of meeting his wife Katharine, the successes of their three children, and the Warren and Katharine Schlinger Foundation that the Schlinger family established and manages. 

Schmid, Helga

Interview Date: June 14, 2000

Helga Schmid begins her oral history interview by discussing her interest in information sciences. After meeting her husband, she relocated to Belgium and she began training to be a computer programmer. In 1969 she joined the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA]. While there Schmid helped publish the first INIS [International Nuclear Information System] Atomindex. In 1975, she moved on to AGRIS [International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology]. In 2000, she retired, after rising through the organization to become the head of AGRIS Processing. Schmid concludes the interview by discussing briefly her knowledge of AGRIS in its present state and sharing some of the positive experiences she had throughout her career as a computer analyst.

Schroeder, Herman E.

Interview Date: December 30, 1986

Herman Schroeder starts his oral history interview by discussing his family background and growing up in Brooklyn. After an early graduation he entered Harvard, Schroeder set his mind on chemistry, in part influenced by his tutor, John Edsall. Staying on at Harvard for graduate study in the physical aspects of organic chemistry, Herman Schroeder investigated the rates and mechanism of large ring closure. Arriving at the Du Pont Experimental Station in 1938, Schroeder outlines his initial assignments and his important wartime research on tire cord adhesives. Transferring to the Jackson Laboratories, he worked on both dyestuff synthesis and the mechanisms of dyeing synthetic fibers, as well as obtaining experience in production control. Moving to greater research responsibilities, Schroeder played an important role in the development of several polymers, which is described towards the end of the first interview. The interview concludes with some of Schroeder's retirement activities and a full account of the Louisville plant explosion.

Schultz, Claire K.

Interview Date: June 9, 1997

Claire K. Schultz begins her oral history interview by discussing her childhood in south central Pennsylvania. Inspired by her grandmother's belief in her abilities, Schultz graduated from Juniata College in three years, and went on to medical school after a year of work in the Philadelphia State Hospital. Forced to leave medical school by the birth of her first child, Schultz went on to a job as a research assistant at the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, and then to Merck Sharp & Dohme, where she first became interested in information retrieval . Schultz campaigned to get an IBM 101 system. Schultz wrote her master's thesis at Drexel University in Library Science on the MSD library system. As one of the pioneer documentalists, Schultz worked at Sperry Rand Univac Corporation, and later at the Institute for the Advancement of Medical Communication. Schultz closes her interview with anecdotes about her post-retirement hobbies, and her work as a computer consultant in a local elementary school.

Sello, Harry

Interview Date: November 4, 2004

Harry Sello begins his oral history interview with a review of his childhood which included emigration from Russia. Sello became interested in chemistry and completed undergraduate work in organic chemistry before applying this knowledge to his Ph.D. research at the University of Missouri. William Shockley recruited him to Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory. At Shockley and then at Fairchild Semiconductor, Sello worked on a variety of chemical aspects of semiconductor manufacturing. Sello concentrated on the transfer of silicon transistor technology to Societa Generale Semiconduttore in Italy, negotiating cultural and industrial boundaries. In 1980, he began Harry Sello Associates after Fairchild Semiconductor was sold to Schlumberger Exploration. Sello concludes the interview with reflections on his current role as an expert witness.

Shapiro, Irving S.

Interview Date: December 15, 1994

Irving Shapiro begins his oral history interview by discussing his parents' backgrounds and the influence of his father's interest in law and accounting. He describes the path which took him from a private practice in Minneapolis, to the U.S. Office of Price Administration during WWII, to the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division, where his highly publicized work prosecuting eleven Communists brought him to the attention of the DuPont legal department. Shapiro recalls how his appointment as a DuPont General Counsel heralded a new era for the company in terms of its attitude toward Jews. In considering his advancement to CEO, Shapiro emphasizes his relationships with Walter Carpenter, Crawford Greenewalt, and Charles McCoy, as well as his work with the industrial departments and in disputes involving General Motors, Ford Motors, and Ralph Nader. Shapiro explains how his management and communication practices impacted on public and internal views of DuPont and allowed talented employees to blossom. Finally, Shapiro describes his post-DuPont work.

Sharp, Phillip A.

Interview Date: January 28, 2003

Phillip A. Sharp’s oral history interview begins with a discussion of his family, then discusses his childhood in Falmouth, Kentucky. He received his B.A. in chemistry and math from Union College in 1966. Then, Sharp went on to earn his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois. Sharp went to Caltech initially for his post-doctoral studies, but after three years he joined James Watson’s virology lab at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to learn more about cell biology. In 1974, Sharp accepted an invitation at the newly created Center for Cancer Research at MIT. In 1977, Sharp and Richard J. Roberts discovered split genes, which led to the discovery of RNA splicing for which they shared the Nobel Prize in 1993. Sharp eventually became head of the biology department and director of the Center for Cancer Research. Moreover, Sharp was instrumental in the establishment of one of the first biotech companies, Genentech, Inc and he helped establish Biogen, Inc. Sharp concludes the interview with reflections on  the significance of the neuroscience research community that currently surrounds and includes Harvard University.

Shoolery, James N.

Interview Date: January 18, 2002

James N. Shoolery begins his oral history interview by discussing growing up during the Depression and his early interests in chemistry. His education at University of California, Berkeley was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Navy. Shoolery decided to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and worked under Don M. Yost on microwave spectroscopy. Shoolery wrote to Varian Associates, Inc. about the possibility of his coming to work there on applications for nuclear magnetic resonance; he spent nearly forty years working there. 

Siebel, Kenneth F.

Interview Date: April 26, 2007

Kenneth F. Siebel begins his oral history interview with a discussion of his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin.  Shortly fter earning his MBA Siebel formed his own investment banking firm Robertson, Coleman, and Siebel in 1969. While building it into a highly successful firm, he underwrote many now famous technology companies. The conversation then turns to Siebel’s commitment to conservation and his involvement in Conservation International. It was through Conservation International that Siebel became friends with another board member, Gordon E. Moore. Finally, the interview focuses on the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, from its launch through Siebel’s presentday involvement as a board member. 

Signer, Rudolph

Interview Date: September 30, 1986

Rudolf Signer starts his oral history interview by talking about his family background in Switzerland and his study of chemistry at ETH followed, Graduate research on polyoxymethylenes with Staudinger introduced Signer to the young field of polymer chemistry. A Rockefeller Fellowship enabled Signer to work with Svedberg at Uppsala and with Bragg at Manchester. Signer concludes with recollections of a post-war tour of the United States and of his memories of Staudinger.

Simmons Jr., Howard E.

Interview Date: April 27, 1993

Howard E. Simmons, Jr. begins his oral history interview describing his family history. Drawn to MIT because of its post-WWII reputation, he studied chemistry and conducted research under Jack D. Roberts. Earning a B.S. in 1951, he continued at MIT with Roberts and Arthur C. Cope, completing a Ph.D.. Simmons became a member of research staff in the Central Research Department [CRD] at DuPont in 1954. His early studies on structure and mechanisms led to the Simmons-Smith reaction, the first general synthesis of cyclopropanes, and a related patent.  He closes with a description of his sons' DuPont careers and comments on scientific misconduct.

Sinfelt, John H.

Interview Date: February 21, 1995

In this interview, Dr. Sinfelt recalls his childhood during the Depression, his early education, and his interest in mathematics. Sinfelt describes the University of Illinois chemistry department under Roger Adams and his own studies under Harry Drickamer. Moving on to the Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Sinfelt describes how his research on catalytic reaction kinetics meshed with Exxon's increased emphasis on basic research and how this led to his discovery of bimetallic clusters and the success of the platinum-iridium catalyst. 

Szwarc, Michael

Interview Date: September 11, 1986

Michael Szwarc begins with his early interest in science while growing up in Poland, leading to his studies at the Warsaw Polytechnic Institute. Szwarc next describes his experiences from 1935, when he emigrated to Israel, until his move to the University of Manchester in 1945 where he worked with Michael Polanyi on polymerization. He Subsequently, he held a professorship at SUNY, Syracuse.

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Tabor, Herbert

Interview Date: April 3, 1993

Herbert Tabor begins his interview discussing growing up during the Depression in Manhattan, New York,. After spending two years at City College, he transferred to Harvard University, where he graduated with an A.B. in biochemical science in 1937. He earned his M.D. then entered the Public Health Service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studying electrolyte changes in burn and shock victims.  Tabor also discusses his work on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. 

Taube, Henry

Interview Date: March 19, 1986

Henry Taube begins his oral history discussing  his chemistry career at Cornell University, University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Chicago.   Taube also discusses his research on mass spectrometry with Frank H. Westheimer and  Willard H. Libby.  

Thayer, Harold E.

Interview Date: December 1, 1994

The oral history begins with Harold E. Thayer recalling growing up in Rochester, New York, during the  Depression, and the decision to attend MIT, where he pursued a course combining chemical engineering and business administration. He describes working at American Cyanamid  and Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, where he was involved in the War Production Board and  the Manhattan District's uranium processing.The interview focuses on Thayer's long-standing outspokenness in management. 

Tishler, Max

Interview Date: November 14, 1983

In this oral history interview Max Tishle reminisces about his family, early schooling, undergraduate education at Tufts, graduate and postgraduate work at Harvard, and the state of chemistry in the 1930s. The major portion of the interview contains Tishler's impressions of the research and development undertaken by Merck & Co. in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, and of his role in that activity. Tishler ends the interview by discussing his current activities at Wesleyan and presenting his views about the future direction of chemistry.

Tobias, Charles W.

Interview Date: May 15, 1995

Charles Tobias begins his oral history interview with a description of his family in Hungary and education at the University of Technical Sciences in Budapest while comparing the U.S. and Hungarian systems. Tobias explains his wartime experiences in Hungary and the struggle to reach the U.S.. He spends a large portion of the interview discussing the Electrochemical Society.

Tocatlian, Jacques

Interview Date: June 22, 2000

Jacques Tocatlian was born in Egypt, where he attended a French secondary school and then studied industrial chemistry. After work in the plastics division at Monsanto, Tocatlian accepted a position at the Food and Machinery Corporation as a literature chemist, and worked on the first Selective Dissemination of Information [SDI] experiment. Tocatlian pursued a master’s in information and library science. Throughout the interview, Tocatlian discusses the international standardization issues of UNESCO and the organization of UNISIST. 

Todeschini, Claudio

Interview Date: June 13, 2000

Claudio Todeschini received his first degree in civil engineering from the University of Capetown, South Africa and later went to the United States and became a Ph.D. research assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Todeschini accepted a professorship at the University of Maryland in 1966, and a year later, he became a part-time researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the U.S. Department of Commerce, working on information systems, retrieval, and terminological relationships. He joined the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

Topsøe, Haldor F. A.

Interview Date: April 19, 1999

Haldor Topsøe begins his oral history discussing of his early life in Denmark, and his involvement in his father’s Samfundshjælpen, which taught him the importance of collaboration between social classes. As a chemical engineer, and later, a businessman, Topsøe gained an interest in the relationship between economics and science, particularly catalysis. Topsøe further discusses the transfer of technology to India and the Third World, and the impact of the Green Revolution on chemical industries.

Turner, Howard S.

Interview Date: September 9, 2002

Howard S. Turner begins his oral history discussing his early interests in chemistry before receiving his undergraduate degree in chemistry from  Swarthmore College.  Turner earned his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT] in 1936 and before starting his career with E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company working in the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware., where he researched polymer 66, nylon, and Corfam. In 1947, after eleven years with DuPont, Turner left the company and in 1965, Turner left J&L to become president of Turner Construction Company, in New York. The company, started in 1902 by his uncle, was among the top construction firms in the country. 

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Vadasz, Leslie L.

Interview Date: March 15, 2005

Leslie L. Vadasz begins the oral history interview describing his childhood in Budapest during World War II. He  began an undergraduate mechanical engineering program before continuing in solid state physics at McGill University. Vadasz joined Fairchild Semiconductor, where he helped develop the silicon gate process and later at Intel Corporationhe researched erasable programmable read-only memory. Vadasz recounts his role as general manager of the microcomputer components division and its interactions with the semiconductor industry. Vadasz concludes the interview with remarks on the importance of technical knowledge in both developmental and managerial work.

Vandenberg, Edwin J.

Interview Date: September 1, 1987

Edwin J. Vandenberg begins his oral history discussing his early interests in science and the decision to focus on chemistry at Stevens Institute of Technology. He began his career at Hercules working on paper chemistry, where he contributed to the understanding of paper sizing as a colloid phenomenon. After working on World War II production of smokeless powder, Vandenberg returned to the Hercules research, working on a wide range of polymer syntheses. The interview concludes with an account of his retirement activities at Arizona State University, and reflections on his family, colleagues and ACS activities.

Verma, Inder

Interview Date: August 23, 1995

Inder Verma begins his oral history interview by discussing how he came to leave the Weizmann Institute of Science and join David Baltimore’s laboratory at MIT . Verma discusses his early research on reverse transcriptase and RNA, establishing himself with his co-workers, and his impressions of  Baltimore. Verma provides an alternate view to some of the political turmoil that Charles N. Cole discusses in his interview because as a foreign student, Verma had a different opinion of the Vietnam War and the anti-war demonstrations. Verma concludes his interview with some thoughts about his research and its impact on cancer research.

Joint interview with Charles N. Cole.

Volwiler, Ernest H.

Interview Date: August 18, 1986

Ernest Volwiler begins his oral history interview discussing his early years in Ohio, college at Miami University, and his early interests in chemistry. He attended the University of Illinois for his Ph.D., wheer he worked with Roger Adams. His long career with Abbott Laboratories started in organic synthesis, including some plant production responsibilities. After World War II, Volwiler was a member of the pharmaceutics investigating team sent to Germany. Post-war advancement led Volwiler to the presidency of Abbott Laboratories, and he discusses how he trimmed the production line and initiated development into new areas. His ACS activities culminated in his election as Society President in 1950. 

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Wüthrich, Kurt

Interview Date: March 9, 2004

Kurt Wüthrich begins his oral history interview by discussing the emergence of his interest in chemistry during his high school years. He remained interested in the sciences while at University of Basel and divided his time between sports, physics, and chemistry, and in March 1964 he received his Ph.D. in chemistry, doing research with an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer [EPR] to study the catalytic action of metal compounds. After receiving his Ph.D., he undertook post-doctoral reserach at University of California, Berkeley on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In 1969, he returned to Switzerland to work at Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich. He concludes his interview by discussing his continued research in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a Professor of Biophysics at ETH Zürich and a Professor of Structural Biology at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

Wall, Frederick T.

Interview Date: June 21, 1991

Frederick Wall begins his oral history discussing his family background and childhood in Minnesota, attending the University of Minnesota, and studying  chemistry and chemical engineering. After graduating with a B.S. in chemistry in 1933, Wall was awarded an assistantship at Caltech, which he accepted. Due to financial difficulties exacerbated by the Depression, he only spent a year at Caltech, however, he was greatly influenced by Linus Pauling. Wall moved back to the University of Minnesota, and continued his graduate work under George Glockler, earning his Ph.D.  in 1935. At the University of Illinois he worked on infrared spectroscopy, gradually becoming interested in polymers.  During World War II he volunteered to work on the rubber problem. In 1963, Wall decided to leave Illinois and moved to the University of California, Santa Barbara as Chairman of the chemistry department and Vice Chancellor for Research and later Vice Chanellor for Research at University of California, San Diego. In 1969, he became executive director of the American Chemical Society (ACS), but soon rejoined academia, becoming professor of chemistry at Rice University. At Rice, Wall resumed his theoretical polymer research, particularly polymer configuration on lattices. 

Walling, Cheves

Interview Date: September 12, 1979

Cheves Walling begins his oral history interview by describing his family and education at Harvard and the University of Chicago, stressing the major review article on the peroxide effect that he and Frank Mayo wrote in 1940. Walling next examines the research that he undertook at DuPont, U.S. Rubber, and Lever Brothers, emphasizing the work that he did before 1950 at U.S. Rubber. Finally, Walling examines his academic career at Columbia and the University of Utah. Throughout the interview he reflects upon the emergence and maturation of physical organic chemistry.

Warner, John C.

Interview Date: February 8, 1984

John C. Warner begins his oral history interview discussing his family, growing up on a farm, and his high school interest in science.  He enrolled in Indiana University in 1915, where he received his A.B. in chemistry in 1919, his M.A. in 1920, and his Ph.D. in 1923. While in college, Warner worked for the Barrett Company working on synthetic phenol processing. As a graduate student, he was a research chemist for the Cosden Oil Company. After working for Cosden for just under a year, he returned to Indiana University as a chemistry instructor while completing his graduate studies. In 1926, he joined the faculty of the Carnegie Institute of Technology, where he spent the rest of his career, rising to become president of  in 1950. During his time at Carnegie, he worked closely with Charles Thomas on the chemistry, metallurgy, and plutonium purification aspects of the Manhattan Project. Warner concludes the interview with a discussion of his family and reflections on his role in the advanced educational development in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Warrick, Earl L.

Interview Date: January 16, 1986

Earl L. Warrick begins his oral history interview with a description of his childhood, which involved frequent moves between cities, remembering a seventh grade teacher who inspired his interest in chemical engineering by having him build a one­tube radio. While at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Warrick was disappointed by the chemical engineering and switched to physical chemistry, in which he received a master's degree. Warrick describes his experiences at the Mellon Institute, where he developed a glass coating. He received his Sc.D. for a kinetic study carried out almost exclusively on nights and weekends. While at Dow Corning, Warrick helped develop rubber, polymer, and silicone research including the famous "Silly Putty." He mentions the influence of several colleagues, especially McGregor, Collings, Hyde, Bass, and Speier. Warrick concludes by commenting on his position at Saginaw Valley State College, his current writing, and the changes that have occurred in chemistry throughout his career.

Waters, James L.

Interview Date: August 21, 2002

James L. Waters begins his oral history interview by discussing his family history and the emigration of his ancestors from England to Massachusetts in 1638. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1925, Waters describes himself as an independent child. During high school, Waters' father was offered a position that took the Waters family to Framingham, Massachusetts. As part of  the Navy’s V-12 program, Waters studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University, before being discharged and transferring to  the University of Nebraska. Shortly after accepting a position at Baird Associates Inc.,Waters, decided the time was right to start his own instrumentation company. At just  twenty-two, Waters founded James L. Waters, Inc., in his parents’ basement. Waters’ sheer determination to succeed enabled him to overcome the many obstacles that occurred while working on his first instrument, an infrared gas analyzer. Waters founded Waters Associates, Inc. in 1958, and shortly afterwards began to delve into the field of gel permeation chromatography [GPC]. Waters Associates merged with Millipore Inc. in 1977. 

Weisz, Paul B.

Interview Date: March 27, 1995

Paul Weisz begins his oral history interview by discussing his family background in Austria-Hungary after World War I period, when his family moved to Berlin. Weisz was educated in the Gymnasium, where he developed an interest in physics and chemistry. Weisz attended the Technical University in Berlin and spent his free time in the laboratory of Wolfgang Kohlhoerster at the Institute of Cosmic Radiation Research, where he worked on Geiger counter instrumentation and cosmic ray measurements. Because of Hitler’s rise to power, Weisz arranged an exchange program with Auburn University, earning his B.S. in physics in 1940. At the Bartol Research Foundation in Pennsylvania, Weisz worked on radiation counting and projects relating to the National Research Defense Council. After gaining clearance to do classified work, he moved to the MIT Radiation Laboratory where he helped to develop a long range navigation trainer (Loran). He accepted a position with Mobil Corporation, where he worked on catalysis. In 1966, he completed his Sc.D. at the Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule in Zurich, where he had worked with Heinrich Zollinger on dye chemistry. Weisz concludes the interview by discussing innovation in industry, the importance of interdisciplinary thinking, and his later work on Alzheimer’s Disease and angiogenesis.

Westheimer, Frank H.

Interview Date: January 4, 1979

In his oral history interview, Frank Westheimer begins discussing his family, his childhood and early education in Baltimore, his undergraduate days at Dartmouth, his decision to pursue chemistry, and his choice of Harvard for graduate work. He talks about his research with James Conant, Elmer Kohler, and his early interest in biochemistry in the mid-1930s. This is followed by a description of his year as a National Research Fellow at Columbia, his research, his colleagues, and more on the development of his interest in biochemical problems. Westheimer continues with the offer of a position at the University of Chicago from Morris Kharasch. In the next part of the interview, he comments on his selection and training of students and discusses a number of former students who have been successful in research careers. The interview concludes with more discussion of physical organic chemistry, a review of his work on the hydrolysis of phosphate esters and pseudorotation; comments on the future of organic chemistry; and a review of the Westheimer Report, the analysis of American chemistry by the National Academy of Sciences.

Wilks, Jr., Paul A.

Interview Date: October 29, 2002

Paul A. Wilks, Jr. begins his oral history interview by discussing his early years and family life in Springfield, Massachusetts. After graduating from Springfield Technical High School, Wilks went to Harvard University, where he majored in engineering. In 1945, he began working at Perkin-Elmer, Inc, becoming marketing director in 1952. In 1957, Wilks left Perkin-Elmer and, with Charles W. Warren, founded the Connecticut Instrument Company, a company that manufactured accessories for the infrared industry. Later Wilks formed the Wilks Scientific Corporation, which manufactured a variety of spectroscopy products. Wilks founded the General Analysis Corporation. Wilks retired in 1993 and General Analysis was eventually sold to OI Corporation. Although theoretically retired, Wilks started another company in the 1990s, Wilks Enterprise, Inc. This company continues Wilks’ efforts to produce applicable products based on infrared spectroscopy and other technologies. Wilks concludes the interview with reflections on the state of infrared technology and thoughts about his career.

Williams, R. Stanley

Interview Date: March 14, 2006

R. Stanley Williams begins his oral history interview by discussing Sputnik’s influence on his decision to study science. After a positive experience in high school, Williams found himself not as prepared in comparison to his peers at Rice University, where he was mentored in microwave spectroscopy by Professor Robert Curl. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Williams worked at Hewlett-Packard on photoelectron spectrometers. Williams worked on photoemission while pursing his graduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley. After receiving his Ph.D., Williams accepted a position at Bell Laboratories as staff scientist. Disliking the corporate culture at Bell, Williams moved to University of California, Los Angeles and very quickly built up a large research lab, which studied photoemission, ion scattering, STM, and finally AFM. After the earthquake in 1994 destroyed most of his instruments, Williams returned to HP and started a research initiative that eventually evolved into the Quantum Science Research Laboratory [QSR]: nano electronics; nano photonics; nano mechanics; and nano architecture. Williams concludes the interview by offering his thoughts on outside collaboration and funding, the importance of micro-electro-mechanical systems [MEMS] to HP, and how he views QSR in relations to other research institutions.

Wilson, J. Lawrence

Interview Date: August 30, 1999

J. Lawrence Wilson begins his oral history interview with a discussion of his childhood in Rosedale, Mississippi and education at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. After high school, he received a Naval Reserves Officer Training Corps scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University, where he majored in mechanical engineering. Wilson graduated in 1958, and he then served in the Navy for several years, stationed in Bermuda. When he returned, Wilson attended Harvard Business School, receiving his M.B.A. in 1963. Two years later, he joined Rohm and Haas Company. Wilson discusses his views on scientific innovation, his time in Europe, and the changes in Rohm and Haas and the chemical industry, in general, over the past three decades. Wilson concludes the interview with a discussion of the chemical industry’s environmental concerns, Rohm and Haas’s acquisition of Morton International, his work with the Chemical Manufacturers Association, and his family.

Wilson, Jr., E. Bright

Interview Date: November 17, 1986

E. Bright Wilson, Jr. begins his oral history interview with a description of his family, early education, and his undergraduate and graduate studies at Princeton University, where he was inspired by the intellectual atmosphere and affable faculty. After reviewing the curriculum, his senior thesis on quantum mechanics, and his experience at Tuxedo Park, he recalls his years at the California Institute of Technology, where he began work with vibration and group theory. Next, he describes his work at Harvard, focusing on advances in spectroscopy, and his government research at Woods Hole and in Washington, D.C. Wilson concludes with a brief profile of his family and a few remarks on his publications.

Wishnick, William

Interview Date: May 13, 1991

William Wishnick begins his oral history interview by describing his parents' careers and the founding of the Wishnick-Tumpeer Chemical Company in 1920. His father's company, now called Witco, expanded with the acquisition of several domestic arid international companies and went public in 1958. After serving in the military and completing his education, Wishnick began working for the company in 1949 until his retirement in 1990. Wishnick discusses company growth, the diversification of product lines, and how the nature of doing business has changed over the years.

Wood, Harland G.

Interview Date: January 19, 1990

Harland G. Wood begins his oral history interview with a brief discussion of his role in the restructuring of Western Reserve University's medical curriculum. He then reflects on his childhood and education, and first interest in chemistry. He chronicles his career in chemistry and molecular biology from his college years through his extensive laboratory research at Iowa State College, where he first developed his concept of the fixation of carbon dioxide by bacteria. Throughout the interview, in addition to discussing research and the influence of various colleagues and associates, he often focuses on the numerous advancements that have occurred during his lifetime and their impact (both positive and negative) on the way laboratory research is conducted. He concludes with his thoughts on the future of science, stressing the importance of continued enthusiasm and motivation in scientists of all ages.

Woolard, Jr., Edgar S.

Interview Date: June 10, 1999

Edgar Woolard begins his oral history interview with a description of his family and childhood years in Washington, North Carolina, where his parents encouraged him to excel in both academic and social environments. Woolard enrolled in North Carolina State University as a nuclear engineering major. In his junior year, he switched his major to industrial engineering, received his B.S. in 1956, and accepted a position at Alcoa in Maryville, Tennessee. Woolard left Alcoa after one year to serve a six-month term in the U.S. Army. Upon his return, he was offered a job at DuPont, where he was shortly promoted into management. Woolard entered DuPont’s Planning Division in 1976, where he oversaw many breakthroughs in DuPont polymers, especially Dacron production. Throughout his career, Woolard helped shape DuPont into a more streamlined and environmentally friendly company. In 1983, under DuPont’s new system, Woolard was given responsibility for three departments: Agricultural Chemicals Division, Medical Division, and Photo Products Division. He served in that capacity for three years before becoming Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, becoming CEO in 1987. Although his tenure was difficult, his efforts proved successful for both DuPont and its employees. For his earnest reorganization of DuPont, Woolard received the Chemical Industry Medal in 1998. Woolard concluded the interview with a discussion of DuPont’s major achievements during his career, retirement, and thoughts on his family.

Wotiz, John H.

Interview Date: August 7, 2000

John Wotiz begins his oral history interview with a description of his family and childhood years in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia. After graduating high school, Wotiz attended Technical University of Prague, emphasizing chemical engineering. Due to the rising threat of Nazi invasion, Wotiz and his brother left Czechoslovakia for the United States in 1939 and shortly after arriving in the U.S., Wotiz received scholarship to attend Furman University, where he completed his B.S. degree in chemistry in 1941. Wotiz then attended the University of Richmond, receiving his master’s degree in chemistry in 1943. While working towards his Ph.D., Wotiz served in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant in the Chemical Warfare Service. After receiving his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Ohio State University in 1948, Wotiz accepted an instructor position with the University of Pittsburgh.  He left in 1957 to become a research supervisor at Diamond Alkali Company, but he returned to academic life in 1962 by becoming professor and chemistry department chairman at Marshall University. There, Wotiz worked to improve the chemistry curriculum and to build a research-oriented program. In 1967, Wotiz assumed the chemistry department chairmanship at Southern Illinois University, where he would remain for the rest of his career. In 1969, Wotiz made an extended study of chemistry education in the Soviet Union under an exchange arrangement between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences. Later, he visited other East European, Asian, and Pacific Rim countries. Wotiz had a deep interest in the history of chemistry. As a result, he wrote and published a directory of international chemistry museums, and beginning in 1971, he organized and conducted widely attended chemical history tours throughout Europe. Wotiz was a long-time member of the HIST division of the American Chemical Society [ACS], and served as its chairman in 1980. Wotiz performed extensive research on the life and theories of F. August Kekulé, publishing the acclaimed The Kekulé Riddle in 1993. Extending his interest in the history of chemistry, Wotiz, with ACS, began to explore the idea of establishing a national center for chemical history. Wotiz concludes the interview with a discussion of the Chemical Heritage Foundation, reflections on winning the Dexter Award, and thoughts on his family.

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Zimm, Bruno H.

Interview Date: September 9, 1986

Bruno Zimm in his oral history recalls growing up in Woodstock, New York. where he had a growing fascination with science. Zimm  undertook both undergraduate and graduate studies at Columbia University, where he recalls faculty, curricula, adn the effect of World War II on the research activities. In 1944, Zimm transferred to Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute to work on a wartime project on the degradation of polyvinyl chloride. Here he started his study of the theory and practice of the light scattering of polymer solutions, which he continued at the University of California, Berkeley. Later, Zimm moved to the General Electric laboratories at Schenectady, where he further developed his studies of dynamic methods for the investigation of polymer solutions. A short time as a visiting professor at Yale University rekindled his interests in biological polymers, especially DNA. At the University of California, San Diego, Zimm continued instrumental research as well as his theoretical interests. The interview closes with Zimm reflecting on the changes in polymer science over the duration of his career, and he comments on educational opportunities in this discipline.