Tiers-Frasch Collection
Scope and Content
The Tiers-Frasch Collection is a fragmentary collection of business records from the firm of Tiers & Company. A portion of these records relate to the firm’s dealings with Herman Frasch and his partner Franklin Rockefeller concerning the use of their process for extracting sulfur. The collection is arranged into the following two series:
- Correspondence and Letter Books
- Technical and Legal Documents
Dates
- Creation: 1843-1919
Creator
- Tiers and Pendelton Company (Organization)
- Tiers & Company (Organization)
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the materials and the collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The Science History Institute holds copyright to the Tiers-Frasch Collection. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Background Note
Tiers & Company was an American firm owned by brothers Cornelius and Alexander H. Tiers. Tiers & Company was involved in a variety of business ventures, one of which involved Herman Frasch’s revolutionary process for extracting sulfur.
Herman Frasch (1851-1914) was a German-American chemical engineer. Frasch was born in 1851 and was educated in Germany. He came to the United States in 1868 and established a chemical laboratory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1887, Frasch patented a method of removing foul-smelling sulfur compounds from “sour” oil. In 1894, Frasch adapted the technology of the oil industry to sulfur mining and devised a means whereby the sulfur could be pumped out of the ground rather than mined. The process made American sulfur competitive with the more easily mined sulfur of Sicily. By securing an economical and reliable source for sulfuric acid, Herman Frasch helped the infant U. S. chemical industry to break free from European domination. Frasch was awarded a Perkins Medal in 1912 for his innovations. He died in Paris, France in 1914.
Sources
Tiers-Frasch Collection, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Extent
1.0 Linear Feet (2 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Tiers-Frasch Collection consists of the business records from the firm of Tiers & Company, especially as they pertain to Herman Frasch’s process for extracting sulfur.
Acquisition Information
The Tiers-Frasch Collection was purchased by the Science History Institute (formerly known as the Chemical Heritage Foundation) from B & L Rootenberg Rare Books and Manuscripts in 2000.
Processing Information
The Tiers-Frasch Collection was processed by Andrew Mangravite in January 2003. This finding aid was revised by Birch Mezzaroba in May 2022.
Subject
- Frasch, Herman, 1851-1914 (Person)
- Tiers, Alexander H., 1859-1910 (Person)
- Tiers, Cornelius, 1851-1921 (Person)
- American Sulphur Company (Organization)
- Title
- Tiers-Frasch Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Andrew Mangravite and encoded into EAD by Birch Mezzaroba.
- Date
- 2003
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Science History Institute Archives Repository
315 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19106 United States
215.873.8265
215.873.5265 (Fax)
reference@sciencehistory.org