The Carl S. Marvel papers

Collection

Identifier: 88-11

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

For a more detailed inventory, please view this record in our library catalog: https://othmerlib.sciencehistory.org/record=b1028800~S6

Materials in collection include Carl Marvel's diaries, various medals and plaques awarded him, personal mementos and industrial samples, including a vest made from polybenzimidazole presented to him by the Air Force.

Paper topics include Marvel's work under contract to the USDA Wright Air Development Division (WADD) and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). There are also drafts of scientific papers and correspondence files in which Marvel discusses a variety of scientific problems with his colleagues.

Collection contains photographs covering Marvel's career from a college student to old age. There are formal portraits, group portraits and snapshots. The slides are mostly technical in nature and were used by Marvel for his lectures. There are a few glass slides as well.

Dates

Creation: 1920-1988
Creation: Majority of material found within 1960-1984

Creator

Marvel, Carl Shipp, 1894-1988 (Person)
Carothers, Wallace Hume, 1896-1937 (Person)
Flory, Paul J. (Person)
United States. Air Force. Office of Scientific Research (Organization)
Celanese Chemical Company (Organization)
Wright Air Development Center (Organization)

Biographical sketch

Marvel was an organic chemist who specialized in chemical syntheses. Through his friendship with Wallace H. Carothers he developed an early interest in polymer chemistry which led to involvement in the U. S. government's synthetic rubber program during WWII. In the post-war years a series of interlocking government contracts led him to conduct research into the synthesis of new thermally stable polymers. Also active as an industrial consultant, he maintained a long-time relationship with E. I. Du Pont de Namours and Company.