Call Number:

MC.975.04.024

Repository:

Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections

Extent:

0.1 linear ft. (1 folder)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

William Hand Scrapbook (HC.MC.975.04.024), Quaker and Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.

Date:

undated

Form:

Photographs, certificates, notes, and letters (correspondence)

Abstract:

This collection contains a scrapbook detailing the career of William Hand. Through various photographs, letters, certificates, diplomas, and notes, the book provides a linear narrative of Hand's accomplishments in the field of Science. His inventions have made considerable contributions to the plastic, iron, tungsten, and lead industry throughout the 20th century. The scrapbook concludes by displaying various awards that he won for these accomplishments.

William Henry Hand was born on September 21st, 1900 in South Nyack, Rockland, New York. At age 18, he designed and built an electric furnace and a high voltage electric transformer for Liberty Street High School. In 1924, Hand graduated with a Bachelors of Science at Haverford College in Haverford, PA. He then was hired by Thomas Edison to be an assistant for the development of plastics. In three years, Hand managed to develop a plastic that reduced background noise in recordings. This plastic would later be sold to Henry Ford who complained of its lack of durability. When Hand created his own laboratory, he was responsible for the development of rustless iron, pure tungsten for lamp filaments, and the longest lasting storage battery in the US at the time. For his accomplishments in the iron, tungsten, lead, and plastic industries, Hand won countless awards, including the Wisdom Award of Honor and the Wisdom Encyclopedia Award in 1975. Thereafter, he became a Doctor of Science at the St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York. On November 30th, 1978, Hand passed away in Nyack, Rockland, New York at age 78.

This collection contains a scrapbook detailing the career of William Hand. Through various photographs, letters, certificates, diplomas, and notes, the book provides a linear narrative of Hand's accomplishments in the field of Science. The scrapbook concludes by displaying various awards that he won for these accomplishments.

Single Item.