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John M. Weiss Papers

Notifications

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Science History Institute Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
004
Repository:
Science History Institute Archives
Extent:
4.5 linear feet (9 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, John M. Weiss Papers, 1918-1961, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1918-1961 (inclusive)
Creator:
Weiss, John M., 1885-1963
Form:
Archival materials
Abstract:
Reports, notes, technical information, correspondence, patents, and notebooks of American chemical engineer John M. Weiss.

John M. Weiss (1885-1963) was an American chemical engineer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 11, 1885, Weiss received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1905, he began his professional career with the Barrett Company. He quickly rose through the ranks of this company, and by 1921, he was Director of Development.

In 1923, Weiss began a nineteen-year stint as the president and treasurer of Weiss and Downs, Incorporated, a chemical engineering consulting firm. In 1943, John M. Weiss and Company was established. Weiss remained a senior partner of this company until his death.

Weiss' primary interests included acids, maleic anhydride, and synthetic phenol. He was awarded a number of United States patents over the course of his career. He was also a member of several professional associations, including the Electrochemical Society and the Association of Consulting Chemists and Chemical Engineers.

John M. Weiss passed away in 1963.

Sources

John M. Weiss Papers, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The John M. Weiss Papers contain the professional papers of American chemical engineer John M. Weiss. The papers span the years 1918 to 1961, a range which covers a large portion of Weiss' career. A majority of the collection materials consist of materials generated as a result of his consulting practice. The addendum to this collection (Series VI), consists of notes compiled by Weiss on chemical subjects that interested him.

The John M. Weiss Papers are rich in technical information about various chemical processes and engineering plants with which Weiss dealt. His interests in maleic acid, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, and synthetic phenol are well represented.

The collection is arranged into the following six series:

  1. Acids
  2. Maleic Anhydride
  3. Patents
  4. Phthalic Anhydride
  5. Synthetic Phenol
  6. Addendum - John Weiss Notebooks

The John M. Weiss Papers were donated to the Science History Institute (formerly the Center for the History of Chemistry and the Chemical Heritage Foundation respectively) in two accretions:

Series I-V were donated in 1984.

Series VI was donated by Francis B. White in 1991.

The John M. Weiss Papers were processed by Kristin D. Clark in December 2001.

There are no other known archival collections created by John M. Weiss preserved at the date of processing.

Organization
Subject

Publisher
Science History Institute Archives
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid created by Kristen D. Clark and encoded into EAD by Kenton G. Jaehnig.
Finding Aid Date
2001
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes and the collection is open to the public.

Use Restrictions

The Science History Institute holds copyright to the John M. Weiss Papers. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Collection Inventory

Series Description

Arranged alphabetically by subject, this series contains John M. Weiss' acids files. It documents Weiss' work on projects involving acids, including fumaric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, and succinic acid. A majority of the materials in this series were generated through his consulting activities with Weiss and Downs, Incorporated and John M. Weiss and Company, which includes, but is not limited to, work he conducted for Hercules Power Company and Imperial Chemical Industries. A smaller amount of materials generated by Weiss while working for the Barrett Company are also preserved here.

Reports make up the bulk of materials preserved in this series. Small amounts of blueprints and correspondence are found here as well.

Fumaric Acid (Reports), 1920-1921, 1940.
Box 1 Folder 1
Fumaric Acid (Miscellaneous), 1958.
Box 1 Folder 2
Maleic Acid (Barrett Company Reports), 1919-1920.
Box 1 Folder 3
Maleic Acid (Barrett Company Reports), 1921-1922.
Box 1 Folder 4
Maleic Acid (Experimental Laboratory Work), 1935-1936.
Box 1 Folder 5
Maleic Acid (Hercules Powder Company), 1936-1937.
Box 1 Folder 6
Maleic Acid (Imperial Chemical Industries - The Catalyst), 1944.
Box 2 Folder 1
Maleic Acid (Imperial Chemical Industries - Plant Construction Drawings), 1944.
Box 2 Folder 2
Maleic Acid (Imperial Chemical Industries - Plant Construction Report), 1944.
Box 2 Folder 3
Maleic Acid (Imperial Chemical Industries - The Process), 1944.
Box 2 Folder 4
Maleic Acid (Plant Drawings), undated.
Box 2 Folder 5
Malic and Related Acids, 1918-1946.
Box 2 Folder 6
Succinic Acid, 1921-1924, 1940, 1946.
Box 2 Folder 7

Series Description

Arranged alphabetically by subject, this series contains John M. Weiss' maleic anhydride files. It documents Weiss' work on projects involving maleic anhydride. The materials in this series were generated through his consulting activities with Weiss and Downs, Incorporated and John M. Weiss and Company, which includes, but is not limited to, work he conducted for Montecatini and St. Gobain.

Reports make up the bulk of the materials preserved in this series. A smaller, but noticeable, number of blueprints are also found here. Small amounts of correspondence and notes, and a drawing are present in this series as well.

Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation (Economics and Patents), 1945.
Box 3 Folder 1
Experimental Work, 1936-1942.
Box 3 Folder 2
Hercules Powder Company, 1936-1938.
Box 3 Folder 3
Montecatini (The Catalyst), 1947.
Box 3 Folder 4
Montecatini (Plant Construction Drawings), 1947.
Box 3 Folder 5
Montecatini (Plant Construction Report), 1947.
Box 3 Folder 6
Montecatini (The Process), 1947.
Box 3 Folder 7
Patents and Literature Studies, 1934-1939, 1958.
Box 3 Folder 8
Potash Bulb Drawing, 1932.
Box 3 Folder 9
Process, Design, and Cost Studies, 1936-1939.
Box 4 Folder 1
Process, Design, and Cost Studies, 1940-1944, undated.
Box 4 Folder 2
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated, 1942.
Box 4 Folder 3
St. Gobain (Drawings), 1933, 1939, 1940.
Box 4 Folder 4
St. Gobain (Equipment), 1940.
Box 4 Folder 5
St. Gobain (Plant Operations), 1939-1940.
Box 4 Folder 6
Technical Information, 1937, 1945-1946.
Box 4 Folder 7

Series Description

This series contains United States patents awarded to John M. Weiss between 1925 and 1953.

Patents Held by John M. Weiss, 1925-1953.
Box 4 Folder 8

Series Description

Arranged alphabetically by subject, this series contains John M. Weiss' phthalic anhydride files. It documents Weiss' work on projects involving phthalic anhydride. The materials in this series were generated through his consulting activities with Weiss and Downs, Incorporated and John M. Weiss and Company, which includes, but is not limited to, work he conducted for Monsanto Overseas USA and Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company.

The contents of this series consist of a variety of materials. Reports and correspondence are the most common materials found in this series. Smaller amounts of legal documents, blueprints, notes, technical information, printed materials, and a photograph are preserved here as well.

Civil Action (National Aniline Company vs. Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated), 1941.
Box 5 Folder 1
Converter Drawings, undated.
Box 5 Folder 2
Distillation (Flakers), 1944-1947.
Box 5 Folder 3
Distillation (Koppers Distillation Unit), 1943.
Box 5 Folder 4
Distillation (Older Plant Difficulties), 1938-1942.
Box 5 Folder 5
Distillation (Steam-Heated Jacketed Valves), 1944-1949.
Box 5 Folder 6
German Catalyst Report, 1946, 1953.
Box 5 Folder 7
Mercury Converter (Summary of Data), 1936-1947.
Box 5 Folder 8
Monsanto Overseas USA (The Catalyst), 1958.
Box 5 Folder 9
Monsanto Overseas USA (Operating Instructions), 1958.
Box 5 Folder 10
Naphthalene Oxidation, 1944-1957.
Box 5 Folder 11
"Phthalic Anhydride and Maleic Anhydride" - Report, 1945.
Box 6 Folder 1
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (Distillation), 1944-1954.
Box 6 Folder 2
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (Economics and Patents), 1944.
Box 6 Folder 3
Standard Oil Development Company, 1943-1944.
Box 6 Folder 4
Technical Information, 1943-1961.
Box 6 Folder 5
Tube Converter Stress Calculations, 1944.
Box 6 Folder 6
Miscellaneous, 1942-1950.
Box 6 Folder 7

Series Description

Arranged alphabetically by subject, this series contains John M. Weiss' synthetic phenol files. It documents Weiss' work on projects involving synthetic phenol. The materials in this series were generated through his consulting activities with Weiss and Downs, Incorporated and John M. Weiss and Company, which includes, but is not limited to, work he conducted for Reichold Chemicals, Incorporated.

The contents of this series consist of a variety of materials. Reports, correspondence, and blueprints are the most common materials found in this series. Notes, technical information, drawing reproductions, and a couple of photographs are preserved here as well.

Analytical Data, 1926-1949.
Box 7 Folder 1
Bakelite Corporation (Reports, etc.), 1925, 1940-1944.
Box 7 Folder 2
"Cost Estimate for 4 Metric Ton Daily Production" (Prepared by A.K. Shadduck), 1940.
Box 7 Folder 3
Phenol Analyses and Properties, 1925, 1942-1945, undated.
Box 7 Folder 4
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Cracking of Fusion Pots), 1942-1944.
Box 7 Folder 5
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Liquid Phase Sulphonation), 1942-1943.
Box 7 Folder 6
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Memoranda of Experiences During Visit), 1943-1944.
Box 7 Folder 7
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Operating Reports), 1943-1944.
Box 7 Folder 8
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Power, Water, and Air Requirements), 1941-1942.
Box 7 Folder 9
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Preliminary Report), 1941.
Box 7 Folder 10
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Purification and Drying), 1942-1944.
Box 7 Folder 11
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (System of Checks), 1942.
Box 7 Folder 12
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Vapor Phase Sulphonation), 1942-1943.
Box 7 Folder 13
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Sketches - Equipment), undated.
Box 8 Folder 1
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Sketches - Miscellaneous), 1942.
Box 8 Folder 2
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Sketches - Miscellaneous), undated.
Box 8 Folder 3
Reichhold Chemicals, Incorporated Tuscaloosa Plant (Miscellaneous), 1941, 1944-1946.
Box 8 Folder 4
The Resinous Products Company (Report), 1942.
Box 8 Folder 5
Staatsnijnen in Limburg, 1956.
Box 8 Folder 6
United States Practice Report, 1928.
Box 8 Folder 7

Series Description

Arranged alphabetically by letter, this series contains John M. Weiss' notebooks. Donated by Francis B. White, the notebooks contain information regarding chemical subjects that interested Weiss. They also contain information about various chemical companies.

"A" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with A), undated.
Box 9 Folder 1
"B" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with B), undated.
Box 9 Folder 2
"C" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with C), undated.
Box 9 Folder 3
"D-E" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with D-E), undated.
Box 9 Folder 4
"F" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with F), undated.
Box 9 Folder 5
"G" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with G), undated.
Box 9 Folder 6
"H" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with H), undated.
Box 9 Folder 7
"I-L" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with I-L), undated.
Box 9 Folder 8
"M" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with M), undated.
Box 9 Folder 9
"N-O" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with N-O), undated.
Box 9 Folder 10
"P" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with P), undated.
Box 9 Folder 11
"Q-R" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with Q-R), undated.
Box 9 Folder 12
"S" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with S), undated.
Box 9 Folder 13
"T-U" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with T-U), undated.
Box 9 Folder 14
"V-Z" (Chemical Subjects Beginning with V-Z), undated.
Box 9 Folder 15

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