Search Results

Title: Interview with William "Bill" Mapel, July 1978 [audio]
Date(s): 1978
Description: Interviewer Adeline Bassett Cook Strange (also known as A.B.C Strange or Cookie) recounts her conversations with William "Bill" Mapel and his wife, Evelyn Raines Mapel. Strange says Mr. Mapel was hesitant to talk about Carothers, and she believes he thought he would be breaking Carothers's confidence. Mapel described Carothers as the closest friend he ever had, and despite Carothers's reserved demeanor, there was an "aura" around him at DuPont and in Wilmington society. Overall, Strange...
Show moreInterviewer Adeline Bassett Cook Strange (also known as A.B.C Strange or Cookie) recounts her conversations with William "Bill" Mapel and his wife, Evelyn Raines Mapel. Strange says Mr. Mapel was hesitant to talk about Carothers, and she believes he thought he would be breaking Carothers's confidence. Mapel described Carothers as the closest friend he ever had, and despite Carothers's reserved demeanor, there was an "aura" around him at DuPont and in Wilmington society. Overall, Strange believes that much of Carothers's life was controlled by Mapel's "aggressive interests and kindness," and that Carothers was amenable to this because of his insecurities.
Show less
Collection ID: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers (Accession 1994.311)
Hagley ID: AUD_1994311_B01_ID02
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Interview with John and Elizabeth Miles, July 1978 [audio]
Date(s): 1978
Contributor(s): Strange, Adeline Bassett Cook, 1917-2004 (Interviewer), Miles, John Blanchard, Jr., 1902-1990 (Interviewee), Miles, Elizabeth Colles Lankford, 1907-1995 (Interviewee)
Description: John and Elizabeth "Lib" Miles discuss Wallace Carothers, primarily focusing on his marriage to Helen Sweetman (1911-2000). Both John and Lib express their disapproval of Ms. Sweetman and believe the marriage was a mistake, recounting several stories to support their opinions. They talk about Carothers's general personality, including his love of drinking, music, and cheese, his insecurities, and his focus, intelligence, and kindness. Carothers's work with DuPont and Nylon, his battle with...
Show moreJohn and Elizabeth "Lib" Miles discuss Wallace Carothers, primarily focusing on his marriage to Helen Sweetman (1911-2000). Both John and Lib express their disapproval of Ms. Sweetman and believe the marriage was a mistake, recounting several stories to support their opinions. They talk about Carothers's general personality, including his love of drinking, music, and cheese, his insecurities, and his focus, intelligence, and kindness. Carothers's work with DuPont and Nylon, his battle with depression, and his eventual suicide are also discussed.
Show less
Collection ID: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers (Accession 1994.311)
Hagley ID: AUD_1994311_B01_ID01
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Interview with John "Jack" Raven Johnson, July 1978 [audio] (part 2)
Date(s): 1978
Description: Jack Johnson discusses Wallace Carothers with Cookie Strange. He talks about Carothers's academic career, both as a student and teacher at the University of Illinois, the University of South Dakota, and Harvard University. He remembers that Carothers was called "Doc" both at the University of Illinois and later at DuPont. Johnson says he and Carothers's spent a lot of time together while in Illinois, mainly working in the chemistry lab. He talks about his and Carothers's trip to Europe in...
Show moreJack Johnson discusses Wallace Carothers with Cookie Strange. He talks about Carothers's academic career, both as a student and teacher at the University of Illinois, the University of South Dakota, and Harvard University. He remembers that Carothers was called "Doc" both at the University of Illinois and later at DuPont. Johnson says he and Carothers's spent a lot of time together while in Illinois, mainly working in the chemistry lab. He talks about his and Carothers's trip to Europe in 1926, where they attended a conference in Oxford, England and heard a lecture by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and worked on research projects in Paris. While in Paris, they met fellow chemist Gerard Bérchet (1902-1990) and convinced him to immigrate to the United States. Johnson says Carothers was a voracious reader and a lover of music. He discusses three letters that that Carothers sent him while at Harvard and reads excepts to demonstrate Carothers's personality, particularly his sense of humor. Part 2.
Show less
Collection ID: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers (Accession 1994.311)
Hagley ID: AUD_1994311_B01_ID07
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Interview with John and Elizabeth Miles, July 1978 [transcript]
Date(s): 1978
Description: A rough transcript of Cookie Strange's conversation with John and Elizabeth "Lib" Miles in July, 1978. The Miles' discuss Wallace Carothers, primarily focusing on his marriage to Helen Sweetman (1911-2000). Both John and Lib express their disapproval of Ms. Sweetman and believe the marriage was a mistake, recounting several stories to support their opinions. They talk about Carothers's general personality, including his love of drinking, music, and cheese, his insecurities, and his focus,...
Show moreA rough transcript of Cookie Strange's conversation with John and Elizabeth "Lib" Miles in July, 1978. The Miles' discuss Wallace Carothers, primarily focusing on his marriage to Helen Sweetman (1911-2000). Both John and Lib express their disapproval of Ms. Sweetman and believe the marriage was a mistake, recounting several stories to support their opinions. They talk about Carothers's general personality, including his love of drinking, music, and cheese, his insecurities, and his focus, intelligence, and kindness. Carothers's work with DuPont and Nylon, his battle with depression, and his eventual suicide are also discussed.
Show less
Collection ID: Carothers Oral History Project (Accession 1985)
Hagley ID: MSS_1985_01_01_01
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Interview with William "Bill" Mapel, July 1978 [transcript]
Date(s): 1978
Contributor(s): Strange, Adeline Bassett Cook, 1917-2004 (Interviewer), Mapel, William, 1902-1984 (Interviewee)
Description: Interviewer Adeline Bassett Cook Strange (also known as A.B.C Strange or Cookie) recounts her conversations with William "Bill" Mapel and his wife, Evelyn Raines Mapel. Strange says Mr. Mapel was hesitant to talk about Carothers, and she believes he thought he would be breaking Carothers's confidence. Mapel described Carothers as the closest friend he ever had, and despite Carothers's reserved demeanor, there was an "aura" around him at DuPont and in Wilmington society. Overall, Strange...
Show moreInterviewer Adeline Bassett Cook Strange (also known as A.B.C Strange or Cookie) recounts her conversations with William "Bill" Mapel and his wife, Evelyn Raines Mapel. Strange says Mr. Mapel was hesitant to talk about Carothers, and she believes he thought he would be breaking Carothers's confidence. Mapel described Carothers as the closest friend he ever had, and despite Carothers's reserved demeanor, there was an "aura" around him at DuPont and in Wilmington society. Overall, Strange believes that much of Carothers's life was controlled by Mapel's "aggressive interests and kindness," and that Carothers was amenable to this because of his insecurities.
Show less
Collection ID: Carothers Oral History Project (Accession 1985)
Hagley ID: MSS_1985_01_01_02
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Roy Plunkett (right) reenacts invention of Teflon
Date(s): 1966
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: Chemists Roy Plunkett (right) and Robert McHarness (center) and Technician Jack Rebok re-enact the discovery of fluorocarbon polymers.
Collection ID: DuPont Company External Affairs Department photograph file (Accession 2004.268)
Hagley ID: AVD_2004268_P00000214
Collection: DuPont Company External Affairs Department photograph file, Teflon

Title: The Development of Industrial Research in America to 1920
Date(s): 1962
Contributor(s): Lewis, W. David (Walter David), 1931- (author)
Collection ID: Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation research reports (Accession 1645)
Hagley ID: MS1645_047
Collection: Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation research reports

Title: Perfume for rubber
Date(s): 1948-06
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: Aromatic chemist sniffs a sample. If suitable deodorant is added in right amount, odor of rubber will be masked.
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_0656
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Conducting research at the Experimental Station
Date(s): 1948
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_4466
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Burning liquid samples in Experimental Station laboratory
Date(s): 1946
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: Assemblies of flasks, bubbler absorption tubes and enclosed lamps make possible the burning of liquid samples and the collection of the gases formed. Here a chemist and laboratory assistants at the Experimental Station operate apparatus for determining sulfur in liquid samples.
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_4415
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Perfume research at the New Brunswick, New Jersey laboratory
Date(s): 1944-04
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator), Duryea, Drix (photographer)
Description: Theodore Hoffman, director of the DuPont perfume laboratories and an outstanding authority on perfumes, applies the last test to a bottle of perfume-which depends on the olfactory sense and not on formulas, at the New Brunswick, New Jersey factory of E.I. du Pont Nemours & Company. For perfume making is both an art and a science. The materials are supplied by he chemist-whether he extracts them from natural sources or creates synthetic components. But the blending calls for the perfumer who...
Show moreTheodore Hoffman, director of the DuPont perfume laboratories and an outstanding authority on perfumes, applies the last test to a bottle of perfume-which depends on the olfactory sense and not on formulas, at the New Brunswick, New Jersey factory of E.I. du Pont Nemours & Company. For perfume making is both an art and a science. The materials are supplied by he chemist-whether he extracts them from natural sources or creates synthetic components. But the blending calls for the perfumer who works by inspiration. It takes a great artist to create a rare perfume, for not enough is known of the perfumers work to proceed by scientific formula. Until the lilac odor was synthesized-one of the outstanding achievements of the chemical laboratory in perfumery-there was no lilac perfume, for no satisfactory means has ever been found of extracting this natural oil. Moreover, there is no known natural extract so sweet or so peculiarly powerful in odor as synthetic lilac. Chemistry converts volatile turpentine into fragrant lilac rivaling natures illusive floral fragrance.
Show less
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_0652
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Perfume research at the New Brunswick, New Jersey laboratory
Date(s): 1942-04-22
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator), Duryea, Drix (photographer)
Description: About two dozen constituents, besides terpineol, combine to make synthetic lilac perfume. Mr. Theodore Hoffman, director of the DuPont perfume laboratories and an outstanding authority on perfumes, is shown at the scales of his laboratory compounding the ingredients of lilac perfume. Until the lilac odor was synthesized-one of the outstanding achievements of the chemical laboratory in perfumery-there was no lilac perfume, for no satisfactory means has ever been found of extracting this...
Show moreAbout two dozen constituents, besides terpineol, combine to make synthetic lilac perfume. Mr. Theodore Hoffman, director of the DuPont perfume laboratories and an outstanding authority on perfumes, is shown at the scales of his laboratory compounding the ingredients of lilac perfume. Until the lilac odor was synthesized-one of the outstanding achievements of the chemical laboratory in perfumery-there was no lilac perfume, for no satisfactory means has ever been found of extracting this natural oil. Moreover, there is no known natural extract so sweet or so peculiarly powerful in odor as synthetic lilac. Chemistry converts volatile turpentine into fragrant lilac rivaling natures illusive floral fragrance.
Show less
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_0651
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Julian Hill recreating synthesis of first completely synthetic fiber
Date(s): 1941
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: Probably the most dramatic moment in DuPont research history is re-enacted above-the birth of the first completely synthetic fiber, impractical for commercial use but true forerunner of nylon itself. Here chemist Julian Hill shows how he pulled molten sample of material from a laboratory test tube at the company's Experimental Station near Wilmington, Delaware. The molasses-like mass stuck to the glass stirring rod and was drawn out into a thin fiber.
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_1154
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Conducting synthetic textile research at the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Experimental Station
Date(s): 1941
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator), Rittase, William R. (photographer)
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_4420
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Determining the degree of gloss
Date(s): 1938-02
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: To determine the degree of gloss in a lacquer or finish, du Pont chemists use a device that measures the amount of light reflected. The light from a constant source is thrown back from the panel into the telescope tube. One half of the 'eyepiece' is illuminated by this reflected radiation, with the other half lighted by a small bulb in the photometer tube attached to the side of the telescope. This light is passed back and forth in the tube until the brightness of the two section meet. The...
Show moreTo determine the degree of gloss in a lacquer or finish, du Pont chemists use a device that measures the amount of light reflected. The light from a constant source is thrown back from the panel into the telescope tube. One half of the 'eyepiece' is illuminated by this reflected radiation, with the other half lighted by a small bulb in the photometer tube attached to the side of the telescope. This light is passed back and forth in the tube until the brightness of the two section meet. The distance of the light from the 'eyepiece' is then a measure of the amount of light reflected or the gloss.
Show less
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_2784
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Determining the drying time of lacquer
Date(s): 1937-12
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: How fast a lacquer or finish will dry is determined by the use of plate glass discs coated with the material to be tested and revolved slowly while a thin trickle of sand falls on them from a cone shaped container. It has been found by DuPont chemists that the point at which the sand no longer adheres accurately determines the drying time.
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_2782
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Research laboratory at the Experimental Station
Date(s): 1935-11-04
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_4467
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Dr. Hale Charch, pioneer in cellophane
Date(s): 1924
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: The late Dr. Hale Charch, pioneer in the development of moisture-proof cellophane, working in DuPont laboratory in 1924.
Collection ID: DuPont Company External Affairs Department photograph file (Accession 2004.268)
Hagley ID: AVD_2004268_P00001077
Collection: DuPont Company External Affairs Department photograph file

Title: Working in the Textile Research Laboratory
Date(s): 1920/1929, 1920, 1929
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: PC20110714_0519
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Interview with Helen Duncan [transcript]
Date(s): 1978
Contributor(s): Strange, Adeline Bassett Cook, 1917-2004 (Interviewer), Duncan, Helen (Interviewee)
Description: Transcript of a conversation about Wallace Carothers between Helen Duncan and Cookie Strange. Duncan served as the Experimental Station Librarian, and she recalls Carothers's visits to the library, the chemists' interest in bird watching, and Helen Sweetman's affection for Carothers.
Collection ID: Carothers Oral History Project (Accession 1985)
Hagley ID: MSS_1985_01_01_08
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Dr. Hale Charch In laboratory
Date(s): 1958
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: Development of the first successful moisture-proof cellophane film is reenacted here at DuPont's Experimental Station near Wilmington, Del. by the inventor, the late Dr. Hale Charch. The new film was developed after 2500 formulas had been tried and hundreds of tests made. Large bag on right held water for weeks, while control bags made3 of untreated film showed evaporation losses in a few days.
Collection ID: DuPont Company External Affairs Department photograph file (Accession 2004.268)
Hagley ID: AVD_2004268_P00001086
Collection: DuPont Company External Affairs Department photograph file

Title: Interview with Charles L. Reese, Jr. [transcript]
Date(s): 1978
Description: A transcript of Cookie Strange's brief conversation with Charles L. Reese, Jr., President of the Wilmington News Journal. Reese recalls Carothers's social behavior and feelings about Nylon.
Collection ID: Carothers Oral History Project (Accession 1985)
Hagley ID: MSS_1985_01_01_09
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Interview with Crawford Greenewalt [transcript]
Date(s): 1978
Description: Transcript of a conversation about Wallace Carothers between Crawford Greenewalt and Cookie Strange. Greenewalt discusses Carothers's personality, professional successes, depression, and marriage to Helen Sweetman. He also mentions Carother's affair with "The Dame" Silvia Moore.
Collection ID: Carothers Oral History Project (Accession 1985)
Hagley ID: MSS_1985_01_01_06
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Ferdinand Hurter, Swiss industrial chemist
Date(s): 1880/1898, 1880, 1898
Contributor(s): Litchfield, Carter (collector), Lewkowitsch, J. (Julius), 1857-1913 (former owner)
Description: March 15th 1844 - March 5th, 1898
Collection ID: Carter Litchfield photographs and ephemera on the history of fatty materials (Accession 2007.227)
Hagley ID: 2270352
Collection: Carter Litchfield history of fatty materials collections

Title: Dr. Wallace H. Carothers
Date(s): 1928
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: Dr. Wallace Carothers, a promising young chemist, joined DuPont in 1928 as head of a fundamental research program in organic chemistry. Eleven years later a plant was producing the nylon that came from this research.
Collection ID: DuPont Company External Affairs Department photograph file (Accession 2004.268)
Hagley ID: AVD_2004268_P00000215
Collection: DuPont Company External Affairs Department photograph file

Hagley Digital Archives

Pages

Pages