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Charles G. Overberger Papers
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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
Charles Gilbert Overberger was an American chemistry teacher and chemist, specializing in polymer research and education. Overberger was born on October 12, 1920 in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. He received his B.S. from Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania in 1941 and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1944. Overberger studied with Professor Carl Marvel and worked for him as a Research Associate from 1944 until 1946. He also studied with Professor Arthur C. Cope at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Overberger began his teaching career at Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in Brooklyn, New York, where he taught from 1947 until 1967, rising to the position of Dean of Science and Director of the Polymer Research Institute. In 1967, he accepted a position as Chairman of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Overberger spent the remainder of his career at the University of Michigan, where he established and became the first Director of the Macromolecular Research Center. He retired from the University of Michigan in 1989.
Overberger was a past president of the American Chemical Society, the Chemistry Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Macromolecular Division of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. He also served as member or chair of numerous boards, committees, and professional associations; as a consultant to several industrial firms and government agencies; and as an editor of several professional journals and reviews. Overberger held three honorary degrees. Among the numerous honors he received during his career were the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award of the American Chemical Society (1978), the International Award of the Society of Plastics Engineers (1979), the Horace N. Potts medal from the Franklin Institute (1982), and the University of Michigan's Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award (1985).
Overberger's chief research concerns were in the fields of synthetic organic reaction mechanisms and polymer chemistry. He was also concerned about the impact of chemistry upon society and the role of the chemist in society. Overberger viewed chemistry as a mechanism of both scientific and social change. Charles G. Overberger passed away on March 17, 1997 in Riverview, Ann Arbor, Michigan after an extended illness resulting from Parkinson's disease.
Sources
Charles G. Overberger Papers, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
University of Michigan. "Charles G. Overberger." https://ur.umich.edu/9697/Mar25_97/obit.htm.
The Charles G. Overberger Papers contain the personal papers of American chemistry teacher and chemist Charles G. Overberger.
The collection provides a snapshot of Overberger's career. Its contents are narrowly focused upon the last decades of his life and contain no material of a scientific nature and hardly any of a personal nature, though there are a few items of memorabilia included. The bulk of the collection details Overberger's participation in a number of professional organizations to which he belonged. These include the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Because he was concerned about the societal impact of chemical processes, and questions of how the chemist fits into his society, the papers contained herein are less about the science of chemistry than they are about the profession of a chemist. The collection is arranged into the following seven series:
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- American Institute of Chemists (AIC)
- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
- National Research Council (NRC)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Memorabilia
The Charles G. Overberger Papers were donated to the Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical Heritage Foundation) by Betty Overberger in 1992.
The Charles G. Overberger Papers were processed by Andrew Mangravite in 2008 and encoded into EAD by Samantha Brigher in 2021.
Organization
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Association for the Advancement of Science. Section on Chemistry
- American Chemical Society
- American Institute of Chemists
- CHEMRAWN Committee of IUPAC
- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
- National Research Council (U.S.). Division of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
- National Science Foundation (U.S.). Division of Materials Research
Subject
- Publisher
- Science History Institute Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- The Charles G. Overberger Papers were processed by Andrew Mangravite and encoded into EAD by Samantha Brigher.
- Finding Aid Date
- 2008
- Access Restrictions
-
There are no access restrictions on the materials.
- Use Restrictions
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The Science History Institute holds copyright to the Charles G. Overberger Papers. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Collection Inventory
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) was formed in 1848. It adopted a new constitution in 1948. In its constitution, the goals of the AAAS are stated as being "to further the work of scientists, to facilitate cooperation among them, to improve the effectiveness of science in the promotion of human welfare, and to increase public understanding and appreciation of the importance and promise of the methods of science in human progress." Charles G. Overberger was a member of the AAAS and served as its Chairman of the Chemistry Section (Section C) and as a member of the Council.
This series contains the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) files of the Charles G. Overberger Papers. Arranged in its original order, this series consists of six files in Box 1. These files contain correspondence, meeting minutes, agendas, reports, and supporting documents about the AAAS, specifically, the Chemistry Section during Overberger's time as a member of the organization.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) was founded in 1876. Charles G. Overberger served this organization in various capacities, including that of President and Chairman of the Polymer Division of the ACS and of its New York Section. He had a longtime involvement with the ACS Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs.
This series contains the American Chemical Society (ACS) files of the Charles G. Overberger Papers. Arranged alphabetically by subject, this series consists of sixty-seven files in Boxes 1-5. These files contain correspondence, agendas, meeting minutes, and supporting documents about ACS nominations, committees, lectures, meetings, policy statements, projects, publications, and symposia.
Among the topics discussed is an American Institute of Physics videotaped interview with Charles G. Overberger; the interview questions are included.
This program was part of ACS Project SEED and was aimed at placing disadvantaged high school students in university research groups.
Charles G. Overberger was a member of the Project SEED Committee from its inception in 1968. Project SEED is described as "the American Chemical Society's social action program which places economically disadvantaged high school juniors into summer research programs at local colleges and universities."
The American Institute of Chemists (AIC) was founded in 1923 to foster the advancement of the chemical profession in the United States. Charles G. Overberger was a member of this organization.
This series contains the American Institute of Chemists (AIC) file of the Charles G. Overberger Papers. Arranged in its original order, this series consists of one file in Box 5. This file contains correspondence from 1967 to 1979.
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) was founded in 1919 to contribute to the advancement of pure and applied chemistry in all of its aspects. Charles G. Overberger served IUPAC in several capacities, including as President of the Macromolecular Section, member of the Executive Committee, the Bureau, and was a longtime member and Chairman of the U.S. National Committee. He was also active in IUPAC's CHEMRAWN (Chemical Research Applied to World Needs) Program.
This series contains the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) files of the Charles G. Overberger Papers. Arranged in its original order, this series consists of seventy-nine files in Boxes 6-9. The contents of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) files are arranged into the following three sub-series:
- CHEMRAWN
- International Meetings
- U.S. National Committee Meetings
Arranged in its original order, this sub-series consists of forty-eight files in Boxes 6-7. These files contain correspondence, telex communications, reports, meeting minutes, and supporting documents about CHEMRAWN meetings and communications between Overberger and his colleagues.
Arranged in its original order, this sub-series consists of sixteen files in Box 8. These files contain correspondence, meeting minutes, conference materials, schedules, event programs, and three small black-and-white photographs about international meetings of IUPAC. Some of these meetings were not attended by Overberger for a variety of reasons. Folder 10 includes an abstract and typescript of Overberger's speech "Science: Servant or Master?" delivered at his Parsons Medal Award Dinner in 1979.
Overberger originally delivered this speech at his Parsons Medal Award Dinner on December 1, 1978.
Later correspondence concerns Charles G. Overberger's nominations of Professor Stille and Professor Takeo Saegusa for membership on the IUPAC Molecular Division Committee.
Arranged in its original order, this sub-series consists of fifteen files in Box 9. These files contain correspondence, meeting minutes, meeting summaries, and tentative agendas about Charles G. Overberger's service on the U.S. National Committee of IUPAC. All meetings, unless otherwise noted, were held in Washington, D.C.
The National Research Council (NRC) was formed in 1916 and is a part of the National Academy of Sciences. The NRC is governed by a governing board, which includes members from the councils of all of the National Academy of Sciences member organizations. Charles G. Overberger served as President and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Technology (CCT) of the National Research Council.
This series contains the National Research Council (NRC) files of the Charles G. Overberger Papers. Arranged alphabetically by subject, this series consists of twelve files in Box 10. These files contain correspondence, summaries of meetings, memoranda, agendas, meeting minutes, and reports about NRC committees on chemistry and advisory boards.
The Ad Hoc Panel on Polymer Science and Engineering was formed as a part of the Committee on Chemistry and Technology to consider educational standards for the teaching of Polymer Science. Charles G. Overberger was Co-chairman of the panel and Paul Flory, Harold Scheraga, Otto Vogl, Ted Cairns were among its participants.
This committee was formed "to describe, tabulate, and publish the polymer test and characterization methodology that is currently or potentially available to provide reliable correlations with the behavior and properties of polymeric materials in service." Charles G. Overberger served as Chairman of this committee.
This committee of the NRC underwent a multi-year study by AMPS which led to its discharge in May 1979 and the formation of an Ad Hoc Study Panel.
This file contains material relating to Paul Flory's tenure as Chairman of this division which seems to have been concerned with the handling of hazardous substances in chemical laboratories. Charles G. Overberger served as a member of the Committee on Macromolecular Chemistry within the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Technology.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) was founded by an Act of the U.S. Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes." Charles G. Overberger served as a consultant to the NSF in its Division of Materials Research.
This series contains the National Science Foundation (NSF) files of the Charles G. Overberger Papers. Arranged alphabetically by subject, this series consists of six files in Box 11. These files contain the following materials: correspondence about the Advisory Committee for Materials Research; correspondence, meeting minutes, and reports about the Advisory Subcommittee for Metallurgy and Materials; correspondence, an event program, and a conference book about the NSF Conference on Optically Charged Polymers; correspondence, memoranda, background information, and draft statements about the Organic Act; and a statement by Norbert M. Bikalis on "Current Status and Trends in Polymer Science in the United States."
The Organic Act amended the National Science Foundation Act of 1950. Charles G. Overberger helped out on the policy statement presented by the American Chemical Society.
This series contains the Memorabilia files of the Charles G. Overberger Papers. Arranged in its original order, this series consists of five files in Box 11. These files contain a Department of Chemistry certificate presented to Overberger as W. H. Rauscher Memorial Lecturer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, a wooden plaque for ACS Tour Speaker, a bound (but damaged) Doctor of Science award citation from Long Island University in Brookville, New York, a class record book from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in Brooklyn, New York, and biographical materials about Overberger, including "Evaluation of Research Contributions of C. G. Overberger" by Dr. Bartell.
Leather binding dried out and split in two.