Thomas J. Porro Collection of Perkin-Elmer Photographs

Richard Perkin and Charles Elmer founded the Perkin-Elmer Corporation in 1937 as an optical design and consulting company specializing in optical systems for astronomical instruments. During World War II, Perkin-Elmer notably produced aerial camera lenses and high precision tank periscope prisms, products that effectively established its reputation as a preeminent source for military optics and electronics. Following the war, the company extended into the manufacture of precision analytical instruments, including infrared spectrometers, flame photometers, vapor fractometers, and atomic absorption spectrophotometers. During this time, the company progressively expanded geographically as well from its home base in Norwalk, Connecticut to include plants and offices in Chicago, New Orleans, Pasadena, and Zurich. In the 1990s, Perkin-Elmer's growing focus on life science technologies led to a merger with Applied Biosystems, Inc. and a recapitalization as PE Corporation in 1999. PE Corporation subsequently sold off its analytical instruments business, as well as the Perkin-Elmer name, and rebranded itself as Applera Corporation in 2000.

This collection consists of print photographs and slides depicting the instrumentation and staff of the Perkin-Elmer Corporation predominately dating from the 1950s and 1980s. Staged, publicity photographs of instrumentation, specifically atomic absorption and infrared spectrophotometers and gas chromatographs form the bulk of the collection. The collection also includes a smaller subset of images of key individuals, including Perkin-Elmer founders Richard Perkin and Charles Elmer, as well as notables in the field of infrared spectrophotometry, such as Van Zandt Williams, Bryce Crawford, and Chester W. Nimitz, Jr. Presentation slides with charts and graphs pertaining to Perkin-Elmer products rounds out the collection. On the whole, the collection, which was compiled by Perkin-Elmer employee Thomas Porro, is fragmentary in nature and lacks a clear organizational structure. Researchers looking for more comprehensive documentation of Perkin-Elmer's products, staff, and facilities should consult the Applera/Perkin-Elmer Image Collection [GB01:36.002-314].

Collected by donor during his time as an employee of the Perkin-Elmer Corporation.

Gift of Thomas J. Porro, 2003.

Processed by Amanda Antonucci in 2007. Object identification numbers were assigned to individual photographs and slides.

See also Photographs from the Perkin-Elmer-Applera Collection, 1937-1985 (bulk 1960s and 1970s) at the Science History Institute.

See also Foil A. Miller Photograph Collection, 1950-1995, at the Science History Institute.

See also Bodensee Perkin-Elmer Museum of Instrumental Analysis files at the Science History Institute.

See also Records of the Perkin-Elmer Applera Corporation, 1943-1998 (bulk 1950-1989) at the Science History Institute.

See also Papers of Thomas J. Porro, 1958-1992 (bulk 1970-1980) at the Science History Institute.

Use

To obtain reproductions and copyright information, contact: reproductions@sciencehistory.org

Preferred Citation

Thomas J. Porro Collection of Perkin-Elmer Photographs, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, PA.

Publisher

Science History Institute Archives

Finding aids author

Finding aid created by Hillary S. Kativa and encoded into EAD by Melanie Grear. Edited by Alex Asal in 2023.

Date

2017

Creator

Porro, Thomas J.

Perkin-Elmer Corporation

Subject

Corporations -- History

Infrared spectroscopy

Instrument manufacture -- Japan

Scientific apparatus and instruments

People

Elmer, Charles Wesley, 1872-1954

Perkin, Richard Scott, 1906-1969

Language

English

Form

Photographs

Photograph collections

Slides (photography)