Search Results

Title: Equipment at Polychemicals Department laboratory at Experimental Station
Date(s): 1955
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_4410
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

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: Film Department chemist testing new experimental film
Date(s): 1955
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: At DuPont's Experimental Station a Film Department chemist exposes a new experimental film to extreme conditions of temperature and ultraviolet radiation. The study is part of the company's fundamental research program in which 400 technically trained people are now engaged. Such drastic accelerated tests help make it possible to predict performance of packaging and industrial films under actual service conditions.
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_4430
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Film testing at the Experimental Station
Date(s): 1955
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: At the DuPont Company's Experimental Station near Wilmington, Delaware a Film Department chemist exposes a new experimental film to extreme conditions of temperature and ultraviolet radiation. The study is part of the company's fundamental research program. Such drastic accelerated tests help make it possible to predict product performance of packaging and industrial films under actual service conditions.
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_1644
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Float zone refining of silicon
Date(s): 1955
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: This physical research chemist at DuPont's Experimental Station is using an analog computer to determine temperature characteristics of a bar of silicon undergoing refinement by the floating zone technique which involves gradual moving of the silicon through a furnace so that a small part of the bar is molten at a time. Research such as this on an existing product is required to maintain the company's position in the highly competitive chemical industry.
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_3339
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Herbicide being tested on rat
Date(s): 1955
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: Wary rat peeks from tunnel type cage as drop of blood is taken from tail. Tests like this at the Haskell Lab led DuPont to drop a new herbicide for use near foods.
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_3874
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: High vacuum apparatus
Date(s): 1955
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator), Rittase, William R. (photographer)
Description: This complicated piece of high vacuum apparatus in the laboratories of the Chemical Department of DuPont is used for measuring the surface are of fine powders, such as pigments. The process involves measuring the amount of gas such as nitrogen absorbed on the surface of a given weight of the powder. The greater the amount of gas absorbed, the greater is the 'specific surface area'. In the case of certain extremely fine powders, the total surface area of the particles in one teaspoonful may...
Show moreThis complicated piece of high vacuum apparatus in the laboratories of the Chemical Department of DuPont is used for measuring the surface are of fine powders, such as pigments. The process involves measuring the amount of gas such as nitrogen absorbed on the surface of a given weight of the powder. The greater the amount of gas absorbed, the greater is the 'specific surface area'. In the case of certain extremely fine powders, the total surface area of the particles in one teaspoonful may run as high as 1,000 square feet.
Show less
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_4417
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: High vacuum apparatus in the laboratories of the DuPont Chemical Department
Date(s): 1955
Contributor(s): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (originator)
Description: This complicated piece of high vacuum apparatus in the laboratories of the Chemical Department of DuPont is used for measuring the surface are of fine powders, such as pigments. The process involves measuring the amount of gas such as nitrogen absorbed on
Collection ID: DuPont Company Product Information photographs (Accession 1972.341)
Hagley ID: 1972341_4423
Collection: DuPont Product Information photographs

Title: Interview with Carl Milligan, 2021 February 19
Date(s): 2021-02-19
Contributor(s): Milligan, Carl, 1934?- (interviewee), Plasky, Joseph G. (interviewer)
Description: Interviewer Joe Plasky asks the interviewee to describe their early life, education, and career history. In his interview, Carl Milligan details the following development projects with which he was involved: methods for determination of ratio of lubricant to antistatic on Dacron staple; equilibrium-no ditch process for staple fibers; beaming process for applying tints to industrial tire yarns; analytical methods for industrial evaluation of epoxy adhesive-activated tire yarns; unreactive...
Show moreInterviewer Joe Plasky asks the interviewee to describe their early life, education, and career history. In his interview, Carl Milligan details the following development projects with which he was involved: methods for determination of ratio of lubricant to antistatic on Dacron staple; equilibrium-no ditch process for staple fibers; beaming process for applying tints to industrial tire yarns; analytical methods for industrial evaluation of epoxy adhesive-activated tire yarns; unreactive epoxies for use in industrial spinning; Kevlar staple process; and improved staple finish in conjunction with Goulston, Inc.
Show less
Collection ID: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department (Accession 2010.215)
Hagley ID: 2010215_20210219_Milligan
Collection: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department

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: Interview with Don Sturgeon, 2014 July 30
Date(s): 2014-07-30
Contributor(s): Sturgeon, Don (interviewee), Smith, John K. (John Kenly), 1951- (interviewer), Oates, Mike (videographer), 302 Stories, Inc. (production company), Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation (originator)
Description: Donald Sturgeon details his work at DuPont evaluating the properties of Kevlar fibers, particularly for their utility in composite structures. He recounts that while the fiber was incredibly strong in tension, it had relatively poor performance in compression. The peculiar features of Kevlar fibers required that Kevlar reinforced products had to be carefully engineered. Initially, DuPont hoped that Kevlar would find a large market as tire cord. When tire manufacturers opted for steel belts in...
Show moreDonald Sturgeon details his work at DuPont evaluating the properties of Kevlar fibers, particularly for their utility in composite structures. He recounts that while the fiber was incredibly strong in tension, it had relatively poor performance in compression. The peculiar features of Kevlar fibers required that Kevlar reinforced products had to be carefully engineered. Initially, DuPont hoped that Kevlar would find a large market as tire cord. When tire manufacturers opted for steel belts in radial tires, DuPont had to find other markets for Kevlar.

Sturgeon further describes his work in developing novel applications for Kevlar. Because Kevlar was difficult to make and process, DuPont had invested an unprecedented $500 million by the mid-1970s. Instead of one large market, DuPont had to develop many smaller applications for Kevlar. Sturgeon worked on developing and promoting weight-saving Kevlar composite materials to the aircraft industry. He was also involved in developing bullet-proof vests and non-cut fabrics. Through these extensive product development and marketing efforts, Kevlar eventually became a profitable product.
Show less
Collection ID: History of Kevlar oral history interviews (Accession 2014.249)
Hagley ID: 2014249_20140730_Sturgeon
Collection: History of Kevlar oral history interviews

Title: Interview with Elizabeth Carothers Kyle, 3 July 1978 [transcript]
Date(s): 1978-07-03
Contributor(s): Strange, Adeline Bassett Cook, 1917-2004 (Interviewer), Kyle, Elizabeth Carothers, 1907-1983 (Interviewee)
Description: Transcript of a telephone call between Elizabeth Carothers Kyle, younger sister to Wallace Carothers, and Cookie Strange. Mrs. Kyle talks about her childhood in Iowa, Wallace's general personality, his love of tennis and music, and his time at Tarkio College and the University of Illinois. She also discusses their sister, Isobel, and the close relationship Isobel shared with Wallace.
Collection ID: Carothers Oral History Project (Accession 1985)
Hagley ID: MSS_1985_01_01_05
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Interview with Gerard Bérchet, 1 August 1978 [audio]
Date(s): 1978-08-01
Description: Gerard Bérchet talks about Wallace Carothers with Cookie Strange. He discusses Nylon and its various versions, including 66 and 6, 10, as well as other projects that he and Carothers were involved with at DuPont's Experimental Station.
Collection ID: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers (Accession 1994.311)
Hagley ID: AUD_1994311_B01_ID05
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Title: Interview with Gerard Bérchet, 1 August 1978 [transcript]
Date(s): 1978-08-01
Contributor(s): Strange, Adeline Bassett Cook, 1917-2004 (Interviewer), Berchet, Gerard J., 1902-1990 (Interviewee)
Description: Gerard Bérchet talks about Wallace Carothers with Cookie Strange. He discusses life in Paris, meeting Carothers, and his trip across the Atlantic to the United States. He also mentions Nylon and its various versions, including 66 and 6, 10, as well as other research projects that he was involved with at DuPont's Experimental Station.
Collection ID: Carothers Oral History Project (Accession 1985)
Hagley ID: MSS_1985_01_01_04
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

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: Interview with Henry W. "Bill" Bartholomay, 2009 March 10
Date(s): 2009-03-10
Contributor(s): Bartholomay, Henry W., 1923- (interviewee), Plasky, Joseph G. (interviewer)
Description: In addition to addressing general work history, Bartholomay's interview details experiences with women in the workplace and takes a critical look at the vision of the DuPont Company and changes in management style.
Collection ID: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department (Accession 2010.215)
Hagley ID: 2010215_20090310_Bartholomay
Collection: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department

Title: Interview with Herbert Blades, 2014 August 19
Date(s): 2014-08-19
Contributor(s): Blades, Herbert (interviewee), Smith, John K. (John Kenly), 1951- (interviewer), Oates, Mike (videographer), 302 Stories, Inc. (production company), Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation (originator)
Description: After describing his education and early work at the DuPont Company on polymer solutions, Herbert Blades recounts his contributions to the development of Tyvek and Kevlar. On the Tyvek project, he describes developing the polymerization process for creating high-density polyethylene fibers after such paper-like fibers had been accidentally created in the laboratory.

Blades details his work on Kevlar, for which he developed a commercially viable process to spin fibers from the polymer. Blades...
Show moreAfter describing his education and early work at the DuPont Company on polymer solutions, Herbert Blades recounts his contributions to the development of Tyvek and Kevlar. On the Tyvek project, he describes developing the polymerization process for creating high-density polyethylene fibers after such paper-like fibers had been accidentally created in the laboratory.

Blades details his work on Kevlar, for which he developed a commercially viable process to spin fibers from the polymer. Blades describes the three components of the process. First, he discovered that a relatively high concentration of polymer could be dissolved upon heating in 100 per cent sulfuric acid, which is non-aqueous and non-corrosive. The resulting solution had a low enough viscosity that it could be spun rapidly through a spinnerette, a small hole. Next, Blades discovered that instead of spinning the fiber directly into a water bath, leaving a small air gap led to fibers that were significantly stronger. Finally, he determined that the water "quenching" of the fiber occurred extremely fast. His spinning innovations made it possible to spin Kevlar fibers economically and at high speeds.
Show less
Collection ID: History of Kevlar oral history interviews (Accession 2014.249)
Hagley ID: 2014249_20140819_Blades
Collection: History of Kevlar oral history interviews

Title: Interview with Joe Kurian, 2020 January 22
Date(s): 2020-01-22
Contributor(s): Kurian, Joseph V. (interviewee), Plasky, Joseph G. (interviewer)
Description: Interviewer Joe Plasky asks the interviewee to describe their early life, education, and career history.
Collection ID: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department (Accession 2010.215)
Hagley ID: 2010215_20200122_Kurian
Collection: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department

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 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 John "Jack" Raven Johnson, July 1978 [audio] (part 1)
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 1.
Show less
Collection ID: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers (Accession 1994.311)
Hagley ID: AUD_1994311_B01_ID06
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 Paul Ryan, 2020 May 7
Date(s): 2020-05-07
Contributor(s): Ryan, John Paul, 1953- (interviewee), Plasky, Joseph G. (interviewer)
Description: Interviewer Joe Plasky asks the interviewee to describe their early life, education, and career history. During his interview, John Paul Ryan also goes into detail about the industrial chemistry research being done while he was at Savannah River. He also discusses his work upgrading the laboratory operations at Chambers Works and the impact his efforts had on the business.
Collection ID: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department (Accession 2010.215)
Hagley ID: 2010215_20200507_Ryan
Collection: Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department

Title: Interview with Julian and Polly Hill [transcript]
Date(s): 1978
Contributor(s): Strange, Adeline Bassett Cook, 1917-2004 (Interviewer), Hill, Julian W. (Julian Werner), 1904-1996 (Interviewee)
Description: Cookie Strange documents a conversation she had with Julian Hill and his wife, Polly, about Wallace Carothers. The Hills remember Carothers as a lover of music. He had a Capehart, a large radio/photograph, and would play concerts for friends at his apartment. They also discuss his affection for his sister, Isobel, and his connection to Silvia Moore.
Collection ID: Carothers Oral History Project (Accession 1985)
Hagley ID: MSS_1985_01_01_07
Collection: Oral history interviews on Wallace Carothers

Hagley Digital Archives

Pages

Pages