Walter J. Hamer Collection Archives

Collection

Identifier: B305

Staff Only

Scope and content

This is a research collection, meant to accompany Hamer's own collection of objects. There are reprints of articles by Hamer and others handwritten notes and advertising materials. Among the highlights of the collection are a file of materials relating to the AD-X2 Duble Power battery additive and Hamer's exposure of that product as fraud, and a wealth of notes on histories topics such as battery-operated trains and the elevators inside of the Washington Monument.

Dates

Creation: 1920-1985

Language of Materials

Text in English.

Biographical sketch

Walter J. Hamer was born in Altoona, PA on November 5, 1907. He attended Juniata College and Yale University from which he received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1932. He specialized in all aspects of battery technology and was a past president of the Electrochemical Society. He spent the majority of his career at the National Bureau of Standards, but during World War II worked with the Office of Scientific Research and Development and was involved in the Manhattan Project. He retired from the Bureau in 1972 and died in Gaithersburg, MD on June 29 2004. He wrote extensively on the history and development of the storage battery and was a active collector of both instrumentation and documents relating to the field.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 box)

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Hamer, Walter J.. Method of acquisition--Gift;; Date of acquisition--1990..

Related Archival Materials

Title--See also the Hamer Collection of Batteries at the. Custodian--Chemical Heritage Foundation, Philadelphia PA..

General Note

This collection is the is research documentation for The Walter J. Hamer Electrochemical Artifact Collection. This collection is comprised of batteries and related material.