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Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology

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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:
009
Repository:
Science History Institute Archives
Extent:
1.7 linear feet linear feet (3 hollinger boxes and 1 half-hollinger box)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology, 1946-1986, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1946-1986 (inclusive)
Creator:
American Chemical Society. Division of Biochemical Technology, American Chemical Society. Division of Microbial and Biochemical Technology, American Chemical Society. Division of Microbial Chemistry and Technology, Perlman, David, 1920-1980, and Peppler, Henry J.
Form:
Archival materials
Abstract:
Institutional records of the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology.

The Division of Biochemical Technology (BIOT) is a currently active division of the American Chemical Society. Its origins date back to 1936, when the idea of a Fermentation Section within the ACS was suggested by Clair S. Boruff. In response to increasing interest, a Fermentation Section was established in 1946 under the sanction of the ACS' Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division, with Boruff serving as its first chairman. The new section was charged with working to foster fermentation research, development, and production. It was re-designated as the Fermentation Subdivision in 1949.

The new subdivision grew quickly. In 1961 it was granted divisional status and renamed the Fermentation Division. The Fermentation Division achieved permanent divisional status in 1963 and was renamed the Division of Microbial Chemistry and Technology that same year. To reflect the broadening interests of its membership, the division was renamed the Microbial Biochemical Technology Division in 1976. In recognition of the increasing importance of biotechnology within the ACS, the division was renamed the Division of Biochemical Technology in 1989.

The Division of Biochemical Technology currently "Promotes the exchange of information among academic, industrial, and governmental researchers in life sciences and engineering to advance science and develop products and services to enhance quality of life". Over the course of its existence, it has held a number of symposia and workshops. It also sponsors several awards, including the Marvin J. Johnson Award in Microbial and Biotechnical Technology and the James W. Van Lanen Distinguished Service Award. The division is also the sponsor of the David Perlman Memorial Lectureship series.

Sources

American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology - History Website - http://www.acsbiot.org/index.php/history/ 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 Biochemical Technology, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology contain the division's institutional records, which were collected and maintained by William Bartholomew, Henry J. Peppler, David Perlman, and Jonathan Woodward. The records' contents consist of the division's publications, abstracts of meetings, awards materials, historical reviews of the division, and some significant correspondence together with obituary notices of division members.

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology are arranged into the following five series:

  1. Publications
  2. Abstracts and Programs
  3. Awards and Citations
  4. David Perlman Memorial Lecture Series
  5. Historical Reviews

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology were donated to the Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical History Foundation) by Jonathan Woodward in 1992.

The Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology were processed by Andrew Mangravite in August 2016.

There are no other known archival collections created by the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology 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.

People
Subject

Publisher
Science History Institute Archives
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid created by Andrew Mangravite and encoded into EAD by Kenton G. Jaehnig.
Finding Aid Date
2016
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 Records of the American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Collection Inventory

Series Description

Arranged in its original order, this series contains issues of the Division of Biochemical Technology's news organ the fermento(e)r and issues of the untitled newsletter that preceded it. Together these publications give an overview of the division's history between 1952 and 1986. The newsletters are more in the nature of meeting minutes.

the fermento(e)r - Vol. 1, No. 1-No. 6, 1961-1964.
Box 1 Folder 1
the fermento(e)r - Vol. 2, No. 1-No. 8, 1965-1968.
Box 1 Folder 2
the fermento(e)r - Vol. 3, No. 1-No. 9, 1969-1973.
Box 1 Folder 3
the fermento(e)r - Vol. 4, No. 1-No. 2, 1974.
Box 1 Folder 4
the fermento(e)r - Vol. 5, No. 1-No. 9, 1975-1977.
Box 1 Folder 5
the fermento(e)r - Vol. 6, No. 1-No. 8, 1978-1980.
Box 1 Folder 6
the fermento(e)r - Vol. 7, No. 1-No. 6, 1980-1982.
Box 1 Folder 7
the fermento(e)r - Vol. 8, No. 1-No. 9, 1982-1985.
Box 1 Folder 8
the fermento(e)r - Vol. 9, No. 1-No. 3, 1985-1986.
Box 1 Folder 9
Newsletters, 1952 November 24-1960 October 14.
Box 1 Folder 10

Series Description

Arranged in its original order, this series contains abstracts, programs, and a few other miscellaneous printed materials for the Division of Biochemical Technology's meetings, most of which were held at the ACS' Spring and Fall Meetings. The materials in this series provide "snapshots" of the topics discussed at division's meetings.

Abstracts, 109th Meeting of ACS, Atlantic City, April 1946, 1946.
Box 2 Folder 1
Abstracts, 110th Meeting of ACS, Chicago, September 1946, 1946.
Box 2 Folder 2
Abstracts, 111th Meeting of ACS, Atlantic City, April 1947 (This marked the "debut" of the Fermentation Section with 13 papers presented.), 1947.
Box 2 Folder 3
Titles of Papers Presented, Meeting of ACS, Atlantic City, April 15-16, 1947, 1947.
Box 2 Folder 4
Abstracts, 113th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, April 1948, 1948.
Box 2 Folder 5
Abstracts, 114th Meeting of the ACS, Portland, Oregon, September 1948, 1948.
Box 2 Folder 6
Abstracts, 115th Meeting of the ACS, San Francisco, March-April, 1949, 1949.
Box 2 Folder 7
Abstracts, 116th Meeting of the ACS, Atlantic City, September 1949, 1949.
Box 2 Folder 8
Abstracts, 117th Meeting of the ACS, Philadelphia, April 1950, 1950.
Box 2 Folder 9
Abstracts, 118th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, September 1950, 1950.
Box 2 Folder 10
Abstracts, 119th Meeting of the ACS, Cleveland, April 1951, 1951.
Box 2 Folder 11
Abstracts, 120th Meeting of the ACS, New York City, September 1951, 1951.
Box 2 Folder 12
Abstracts, 121st Meeting of the ACS, April 1952, 1952.
Box 2 Folder 13
Abstracts, 122nd Meeting of the ACS, Atlantic City, September 1952, 1952.
Box 2 Folder 14
Abstracts, 123rd Meeting of the ACS, Los Angeles, March 1953, 1953.
Box 2 Folder 15
Abstracts, 124th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, September 1953, 1953.
Box 2 Folder 16
Abstracts, 126th Meeting of the ACS, New York City, September 1954, 1954.
Box 2 Folder 17
Abstracts, 127th Meeting of the ACS, Cincinnati, March-April 1955, 1955.
Box 2 Folder 18
Abstracts, 128th Meeting of the ACS, Minneapolis, September 1955, 1955.
Box 2 Folder 19
Abstracts, 130th Meeting of the ACS, Atlantic City, September 1956, 1956.
Box 2 Folder 20
Abstracts, 132nd Meeting of the ACS, New York City, September 1957, 1957.
Box 2 Folder 21
Abstracts, 134th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, September 1958, 1958.
Box 2 Folder 22
Abstracts, Atlantic City, September 1959 (45 presentations—all symposium, no general program.), 1959.
Box 2 Folder 23
Abstracts, 138th Meeting of the ACS, New York City, September 1960, 1960.
Box 2 Folder 24
Abstracts, 140th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, September 1961 (First as Microbial Chemistry and Technology), 1961.
Box 2 Folder 25
Abstracts, 142nd Meeting of the ACS, Atlantic City, September 1962, 1962.
Box 2 Folder 26
Abstracts, 144th Meeting of the ACS, New York City, September 1963, 1963.
Box 2 Folder 27
Provisional Programme, 2nd International Fermentation Symposium, London, April 13-17, 1964, 1964.
Box 2 Folder 28
Abstracts, 148th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, August-September 1964, 1964.
Box 2 Folder 29
Abstracts, 150th Meeting of the ACS, Atlantic City, September 1965, 1965.
Box 2 Folder 30
Abstracts, 152nd Meeting of the ACS, New York City, September 1966, 1966.
Box 2 Folder 31
Abstracts, 154th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, September 1967, 1967.
Box 2 Folder 32
Abstracts, 158th Meeting of the ACS, New York City, September 1969, 1969.
Box 2 Folder 33
Abstracts, 160th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, September 1970, 1970.
Box 2 Folder 34
Abstracts, 162nd Meeting of the ACS, Washington D.C., September 1971, 1971.
Box 2 Folder 35
Abstracts, 164th Meeting of the ACS, New York City, August 1972, 1972.
Box 2 Folder 36
Abstracts, 166th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, August 1973, 1973.
Box 2 Folder 37
Abstracts, 168th Meeting of the ACS, Atlantic City, September 1974, 1974.
Box 2 Folder 38
Abstracts, First Chemical Conference of the North American Continent, Mexico City, November 30-December 5, 1975, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 39
Abstracts, Centennial ACS Meeting, New York City, April 1976, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 40
Abstracts, 176th Meeting of the ACS, Miami Beach, September 1978, 1978.
Box 2 Folder 41
Abstracts, 178th Meeting of the ACS, Washington D.C., September 1979, 1979.
Box 2 Folder 42
Abstracts, Second Chemical Conference of the North American Continent, San Francisco, August 1980, 1980.
Box 2 Folder 43
Abstracts, 182nd Meeting of the ACS, New York City, August 1981, 1981.
Box 2 Folder 44
Abstracts, 184th Meeting of the ACS, Kansas City, Missouri, August 1982, 1982.
Box 2 Folder 45
Abstracts, 186th Meeting of the ACS, Washington D.C., August 28-September 2, 1983, 1983.
Box 2 Folder 46
Abstracts, 188th Meeting of the ACS, Philadelphia, August 1984, 1984.
Box 2 Folder 47
Abstracts, 190th Meeting of the ACS, Chicago, September 1985, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 48
Abstracts, 192nd Meeting of the ACS, Anaheim, California, September 1986, 1986.
Box 2 Folder 49
Short Course Announcement - "Fermentation/Purification Technology", Anaheim, California, September 1986, 1986.
Box 2 Folder 50

Series Description

Arranged in its original order, this series contains files concerning tributes given by the Division of Biochemical Technology. Materials regarding men who were key to the division's formation and to the development of microbiology as a whole are found in this series. Materials regarding the Marvin J. Johnson Award in Microbial and Biotechnical Technology and the James W. Van Lanen Distinguished Service Award are preserved here as well.

Microbial Technology Division - Luncheon Address - Unidentified Speaker, 1966.
Box 2 Folder 51
James W. Van Lanen Distinguished Service Award - Memorial Address for James W. Van Lanen & Correspondence, Re: Recipients, 1978.
Box 2 Folder 52
Boruff, Clair S. - CVs of Clair S. Boruff (Boruff founded BIOT.), 1961-1966.
Box 2 Folder 53
Gaden, Elmer - C&EN Profile of Elmer Gaden, 1971.
Box 2 Folder 54
Langlykke, Asger F. - ASM News Profile of Asger F. Langlykke, 1986.
Box 2 Folder 55
Peterson, William Howard - CVs and A Tribute, 1948, 1960.
Box 2 Folder 56
Johnson, Marvin J. - CV and Tributes (Namesake of BIOT's Marvin J. Johnson Award in Microbial and Biochemical Technology.), 1968-1983.
Box 2 Folder 57

Series Description

Arranged in its original order, this series contains files documenting the Division of Biochemical Technology's creation of the David Perlman Memorial Lecture Series. Established in 1980 and held on an annual basis, the lecture series is named in honor of David Perlman (1920-1980), a well-respected American microbiologist, who served as a researcher at Bristol Myers Squibb and as a Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

For many years, Perlman was considered to be the division's "unofficial historian" and wrote extensively on topics relating to microbiology. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Perlman studied under William Howard Peterson and Marvin J. Johnson, both of whom were key figures in the history of the Division of Biochemical Technology.

The contents of the files in this series consist of correspondence, obituaries, a photocopied portrait of David Perlman, and a dummy of a metal plaque for the David Perlman Memorial Lecture Award.

Perlman Obits, 1980.
Box 3 Folder 1
Perlman Portrait - Photocopy Only, undated.
Box 3 Folder 2
Letter of Thanks for Financial Support, 1980.
Box 3 Folder 3
Correspondence, Re: Establishment of Perlman Lectureship, 1980-1985.
Box 3 Folder 4
Perlman Lecture Announcements, 1981-1986.
Box 3 Folder 5
C&EN Note, Re: Henry J. Peppler to Receive Perlman Award, 1982.
Box 3 Folder 6
Dummy of Metal Plaque to Front Perlman Award, undated.
Box 3 Folder 7

Series Description

Arranged in its original order, this series contains historical materials curated by the Division of Biochemical Technology regarding advances within the fermentation industries. Many of the items were authored by David Perlman, who was viewed as the "unofficial historian" of the division and appeared to have a special interest in the business and economics sides of microbiology. Also present in this series are several items of historical importance to the division.

The contents of this series consist of a variety of materials. Journal articles are the most common materials in this series. A variety of other miscellaneous materials, including, but not limited to correspondence, conference papers, meeting programs, transparencies, and photographs are preserved in this series as well.

Correspondence, Re: ACS-HIST, Wotiz Oral History Project & MBT Historical Committee, 1978-1986.
Box 3 Folder 8
Peppler, Henry J. - "Aspects of Fermentation Industry", Presented at American Chemical Society Centennial Program, New York, New York, April 6, 1976, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 9
Background Materials for Fermentation Talk, undated.
Box 3 Folder 10
ACS Centennial Meeting Program, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 11
Peppler, Henry J. - "Technology-Where History Is Made-Interesting", Presented at 49th Meeting of the Microbial and Biochemical Division, Chicago, September 10, 1985, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 12
"MBT Division: Topics Frequency" - Handwritten List, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 13
MBT Division Transparencies for Chicago Talk, September 10, 1985, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 14
Correspondence, Re: Henry J. Peppler's Talk at MBT Chicago Meeting, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 15
Program - ACS Annual Meeting, Chicago, September 8-13, 1985, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 16
Boruff, Clair S. and James W. Van Lanen. "Fermentation", Chemistry…Key to Better Living (Diamond Jubilee Volume), American Chemical Society, 1951.
Box 3 Folder 17
Blanck, F.C. "Agricultural and Food Chemistry", Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol. 43, Page 564, March 1951, 1951.
Box 3 Folder 18
Anonymous. "A Salute to Mr. Yeast," C&EN, Vol. 32, No. 26, 1954 (On C.N. Frey), 1954.
Box 3 Folder 19
ACS - "Golden Anniversary: 1908/1958" (Divisions honored include Agricultural and Food Chemistry.), 1958.
Box 3 Folder 20
Perlman, David, C. Kroll, & R. Anderson. "Fermentation CW Report", Chemical Week, June 16, 1962/Perlman, David. "CW Report: Fermentation Industry," Chemical Week, December 16, 1967, 1962, 1967.
Box 3 Folder 21
Perlman, David. "Future Prospects for the Fermentation Industries", NBS MicroWaves, September 1967, 1967.
Box 3 Folder 22
Perlman, David. "Fermentation Industry-Evolution", Process Biochemistry, June 1969, 1969.
Box 3 Folder 23
Allgeier, R.J. and P. Hosler. "The Microbial Chemistry and Technology Division", Chem Tech, June 1971, 1971.
Box 3 Folder 24
Johnson, Marvin J. "Fermentation-Yesterday and Tomorrow", Chem Tech, June 1971, 1971.
Box 3 Folder 25
Hill, I.D. "Some Fermentation Forecasts", Chem Tech, October 1972, 1972.
Box 3 Folder 26
Perlman, David. "Fermentation Industries, 1973," ASM News, Vol. 39, No. 10, 1973, 1973.
Box 3 Folder 27
Perlman, David. "Prospects for the Fermentation Industries, 1974-1983," Chem Tech, Vol. 4, No. 4, April 1974, 1974.
Box 3 Folder 28
"1774-1974: 200 Years Since Alchemy", Special Issue of C&EN, July 29, 1974 (Includes essays by Paul J. Flory, W.E. Libby, John D. Roberts, Roald Hoffmann, Herbert C. Brown, and Henry Eyring.), 1974.
Box 3 Folder 29
"Microbial Chemistry and Technology", Reprinted from A Century of Chemistry: The Role of Chemists and the American Chemical Society," H. Skolnik & K.M. Reese, Eds., Washington D.C.: ACS, 1974, 1974.
Box 3 Folder 30
Perlman, David. "Fermentations as Sources of Therapeutic Compounds", The Wisconsin Pharmacist, January 1976, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 31
Murray, C. "Lectures Celebrate History of Chemistry", C&EN, January 19, 1976, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 32
Henahan, J.F. "200 Years of American Chemicals-CW Report", Chemical Week, February 18, 1976, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 33
Hoogerheide, J.C. "Traditional Fermentation in Modern Dress", Chemtech, February 1977, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 34
Perlman, David. "Fermentation Industries-1977", ASM News, Vol. 43, No. 2, 1977, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 35
Perlman, David. "Fermentation Industries… Quo Vadis?", Chemtech, Vol. 7, July 1977, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 36
Perlman, David. "Stimulation of Innovation in the Fermentation Industries, 1910-1980", Process Biochemistry, May 1978, 1978.
Box 3 Folder 37
Perlman, David. "Some Problems on the New Horizons of Applied Microbiology", Developments in Industrial Microbiology, Vol. 21, 1980, 1980.
Box 3 Folder 38
News Edition, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, May 10, 1923 (Special edition devoted to upcoming ACS Meeting.), undated.
Box 3 Folder 39
Anonymous. "Milwaukee: The City That Beer Made Famous", C&EN, Vol. 30, No. 11, March 17, 1952, 1952.
Box 3 Folder 40
Reese, K.M. "Toronto Paper Recalls an ACS Meeting in 1935", C&EN, May 20, 1985 (An array of failed predictions by Thomas Midgley, Jr., chairman of the ACS Board of Directors.), 1985.
Box 3 Folder 41
Schuessler, R. "Tracing the History of Chemistry Through Stamps", Industrial Chemical News, July 1985, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 42
ACS 1983 Annual Report/ACS 1984 Annual Report, 1983-1984.
Box 3 Folder 43
Secretary's Book and Correspondence, 1946-1986.
Box 4 Folder 1
Obituary Notices - Allgeire, R.J., Frey, C., Gerber, N., Sylvester, J.C., and Van Lanen, James W., 1972-1985.
Box 4 Folder 2
"Photos MBTD" (Taken at division gatherings.), 1977-1982.
Box 4 Folder 3
"MCT Logo" (Division of Microbial Chemistry and Technology was the division's designation in 1963.), undated.
Box 4 Folder 4
Perlman, David, Editor. Fermentation Advances, (New York: Academic Press) 1969 (Papers presented at the Third International Fermentation Symposium, New Brunswick, New Jersey, September 2-6, 1968.), 1969.
Box 4 Folder 5
Exhibit Label – "Historical Artifacts of the Division of Microbial and Biochemical Technology, From the Division's Library, Courtesy of Henry Peppler", undated.
Box 4 Folder 6

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