Kent R. Zeller Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2022-031

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Kent R. Zeller Papers contain the professional papers of American flavor chemist Kent R. Zeller. The collection is arranged into the following four series:

Society of Flavor Chemists Files
Chemical Sources Association Files
Miscellaneous Files
Research Files

Dates

Creation: 1948-2009
Creation: Majority of material found within Bulk 1986-2006

Creator

Zeller, Kent R. (Person)

Language of Materials

A majority of the materials in this collection are in English. Also includes small amounts of materials in German, French, Chinese, Spanish, and Japanese.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes and the collection is open to the public.

Copyright Information

The Science History Institute holds copyright to the Kent R. Zeller Papers. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Background Note

Kent R. Zeller is an American flavor chemist and flavor industry consultant. Zeller earned his B.A. in Chemistry from John Hopkins University (1971). He started working in the flavor industry while still an undergraduate, serving as a summer lab technician at Naarden-Flavorex and as a summer flavor chemist at McCormick & Company, Incorporated. After graduating from John Hopkins, he went to work full-time at McCormick & Company, serving as a flavor chemist (1971-1985).

In 1985, Zeller joined the research and development staff at Hershey Foods Corporation (now known as The Hershey Company), serving as Senior Staff Scientist/Flavor Chemist (1985-Present). At Hershey, he established and oversaw the firm’s flavor development operation. In 2014, he established his own flavor industry consulting firm, Kent Zeller Flavor Consulting LLC.

In addition to his professional activities, Kent R. Zeller is a longtime member of the Society of Flavor Chemists (SFC) and has held several positions with the organization, serving as Newsletter Chairman, Treasurer, Vice President, President (1986-1987), and Chairman of the Board. He is also a longtime member of the Chemical Sources Association (CSA), where he has held the positions of Hershey Foods Corporation’s Voting Representative, Treasurer, Vice President, President, and served on the CSA’s Board of Directors.

Sources

Kent R. Zeller Papers, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Society of Flavor Chemists and Chemical Sources Association, The Flavor Industry from 1945-1995. 1996.

Extent

4.8 Linear Feet (4 Record Boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

Professional papers of American flavor chemist Kent R. Zeller.

Acquisition Information

The Kent R. Zeller Papers were donated to the Science History Institute by Kent R. Zeller via Sam Tharpe in 2022.

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by Kent R. Zeller preserved at the date of processing.

The Society of Flavor Chemists Newsletters and Certificate of Incorporation are preserved at the Science History Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.