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Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry

 Collection
Identifier: 2004-027

Scope and Content

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry contain the division’s institutional records, which were collected and maintained by Thomas J. Pacansky during his term in office as Treasurer of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry. The files in these records are largely financial and administrative in nature, although a sampling of business-related correspondence is also preserved here.

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry are arranged into the following four series:

  1. Treasurer’s Records - 1993
  2. Treasurer’s Records - 1994
  3. Treasurer’s Records - 1995
  4. Treasurer’s Records - 1996

Dates

  • Creation: 1992-1997
  • Creation: Majority of material found within Bulk 1993-1996

Creator

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 Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Background Note

The Division of Polymer Chemistry is a currently active division of the American Chemical Society. Its origins date back to 1946, when members of five ACS divisions organized a High Polymer Forum. Held from 1946 to 1949, the High Polymer Forums were well-attended, which prompted participants to call for the formation of a new ACS division. During the 1950 ACS Fall Meeting, the Division of High Polymer Chemistry was founded, with Carl S. Marvel serving as its first chairman. The new division held its first symposium at that same meeting. Soon after its formation, the Division of High Polymer Chemistry was renamed the Division of Polymer Chemistry. In 1951 it was promoted from probationary to full divisional status.

From its foundation, the objectives of the Division of Polymer Chemistry have been “to advance knowledge and understanding of the processes of polymerization and of the chemical constitution and chemical and physical properties of the polymeric materials and to promote basic research in these fields”. It has experienced considerable growth and evolution over the course of its existence. The Division of Polymer Chemistry incorporated in 1972. In 1979, it organized an Industrial Sponsors Group. The division’s mission and goals were re-evaluated in 1993 and new divisional by-laws were published that same year.

Over the years, the Division of Polymer Chemistry has several times been the recipient of the ACS Outstanding Large Division Award. It has also sponsored a number of polymer symposia and workshops. The division also sponsors several awards, including the Herman F. Mark Award, the Carl S. Marvel Award for Creative Polymer Chemistry, and the Paul J. Flory Award for Polymer Education.

Sources

American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry, Incorporated Website - https://polyacs.org/

Browne, Charles Albert and Mary Elvira Weeks, A History of the American Chemical Society, Seventy-Five Eventful Years, Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society, 1952.

Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Extent

8.3 Linear Feet (6 Record Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Institutional records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry.

Acquisition Information

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry were donated to the Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical Heritage Center) by Thomas J. Pacansky in 2004.

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry preserved at the date of processing.

Twenty-one other known collections created by the American Chemical Society are preserved at the Science History Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Records of the Advisory Council on College Chemistry are preserved at the Science History Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Processing Information

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry were processed by Andrew Mangravite in June 2016.

Title
Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid created by Andrew Mangravite and encoded into EAD by Kenton G. Jaehnig.
Date
2016
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2020: Revised by Kenton G. Jaehnig

Repository Details

Part of the Science History Institute Archives Repository

Contact:
315 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19106 United States
215.873.8265
215.873.5265 (Fax)