Series III. Spectrochimica Acta, Part B Files, 1960-2002, undated

Mostly arranged in alphabetical order, this series contains Walter Slavin’s Spectrochimica Acta, Part B files. This series consists of files pertaining to Spectrochimica Acta, Part B matters that are of a more general nature. Of particular interest in this series are the files concerning Russian chemist Boris L’vov (Boxes 17 thru 18b) and British-Australian physicist Alan Walsh (Boxes 26-28), both of whom were friends of Slavin and consultants for Perkin-Elmer.

Boris L’vov (1931-) was a Russian chemist and a leading authority in analytical and theoretical chemistry. Born in Leningrad, Russia on July 9, 1931, L’vov earned his M.S. from Leningrad State University in 1954. From 1955 to 1975, he served as a Researcher at the State Institute of Applied Chemistry in Leningrad. It was here that he entered the field of atomic absorption spectroscopy. In 1975, L’vov was named Chairman of the Analytical Chemistry Department at the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. Inspired by the work of Sir Alan Walsh, he specialized in the development of high-temperature furnaces. Over the course of his career, L’vov’s work became increasingly influential in both the applied and theoretical realms. In 1977, L’vov signed a consultancy agreement with Perkin-Elmer on behalf of Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. Walter Slavin was a key negotiator in the arrangement of L’vov’s consultancy with Perkin-Elmer and a forceful advocate for L’vov and his theories.

Sir Alan Walsh (1916-1998) was a British-Australian physicist and the developer of atomic absorption spectroscopy. Born in Hoddleston, Lancashire, England on December 19, 1916, Walsh graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in Physics in 1938 and began his postgraduate research immediately. During World War II, Walsh was employed as an investigator by the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association (BNF). Here he worked on the development and application of spectroscopic methods of metallurgical analysis. In 1946, Walsh accepted a position as Research Officer for Spectroscopic Investigations at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO) in Melbourne, Australia. Arriving in Australia in 1947, he remained at CSIRO for the next thirty years, during which time he gained worldwide renown as the father of atomic absorption spectroscopy. Among his admirers and colleagues were the Russian chemist Boris L’vov, whose own work in the field was inspired by Walsh’s initial theoretical paper published in 1955, and Walter Slavin, who was instrumental in gaining Walsh a consultancy with Perkin-Elmer following Walsh’s retirement from CSIRO. Walsh was knighted by the British government for his scientific contributions in 1977. He died in Melbourne, Australia on August 3, 1998.

Files concerning Boris L’vov and Sir Alan Walsh make up the largest components of this series. Smaller, but noticeable, numbers of files regarding article authors, article topics, and administrative matters are also found in this series. Small numbers of files concerning other miscellaneous matters, including, but not limited to, conferences and awards are also preserved here.

The contents of the Spectrochimica Acta, Part B Files consist of a variety of materials. Correspondence, article reprints, article preprints, and article drafts make up the bulk of the materials in these files. Memoranda, notes, and reports are also found in these files. Small amounts of other miscellaneous materials, including, but not limited to, articles, galley proofs, minutes, and legal documents are preserved in this series as well.