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Martin S. Frant 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

Call Number:
019
Repository:
Science History Institute Archives
Extent:
0.5 linear feet ((1 hollinger box))
Preferred Citation:
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Martin S. Frant Papers, 1964-2016, Science History Institute Archives.
Date:
1964-2016 (inclusive)
Creator:
Frant, Martin S. and Orion Research, Inc.
Form:
Archival materials
Abstract:
Laboratory notebooks, report, letter, and article reprint of American analytical chemist and inventor Martin S. Frant, which relate to his work on ion-selective electrodes at Orion Research, Incorporated.

Martin S. Frant was an American analytical chemist and inventor. Born in 1926, Frant earned his bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, and his master's degree and Ph.D. in chemistry from Case Western Reserve University (1953). After obtaining his doctorate, he started his professional career as an organic chemist with Gallowhur Chemical Company. Frant soon became interested in instrumentation and subsequently went to work in the scientific instruments industry, holding positions with AMP, Incorporated (1956-1963) and Prototech, Incorporated (1963-1964).

In 1964, Frant was hired by Orion Research, Incorporated, a small scientific instrument manufacturer based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At Orion Research, he joined a team working on the development of commercially viable ion-selective electrodes for use in chemical analysis. Frant went on to enjoy a distinguished career with Orion Research, inventing or co-inventing a number of commercially viable ion-selective electrodes, including, but not limited to, the fluoride electrode, copper electrode, and lead electrode. He also developed techniques for their application. His work with ion-selective electrodes facilitated his rise up Orion Research's corporate ladder, eventually reaching the rank of Vice President of Research.

Frant left Orion Research in 1978 to accept a position at Foxboro Company, serving as Applications Manager of the firm's Analytical Division. He returned to Orion Research in 1984, this time serving as the concern's Director of Development and Director of Marketing. In 1996, he left Orion Research to become a Principal at Chemotics Consulting.

Martin S. Frant was awarded a number of patents over the course of his career, including, but not limited to, the fluoride electrode (1969) and electrochemical electrode (1969). He was also the author of a number of science journal articles and was an active member of the American Chemical Society.

Sources

Martin S. Frant Papers, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Martin S. Frant Papers contain the papers of American analytical chemist and inventor Martin S. Frant. The files in this collection are arranged alphabetically by format. The materials in this collection concern Frant's research and development work on commercially viable ion-selective electrodes at Orion Research, Incorporated during the 1960s. The collection's contents consist of three laboratory notebooks kept by Frant at Orion Research, a reprint of an article written by Frant, a letter by Frant to the Chemical Heritage Foundation, and an Orion Research report regarding work on organic electrodes co-written by Frant and James W. Ross.

The Martin S. Frant Papers were donated to the Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical Heritage Foundation) by Martin S. Frant in June 2016.

The Martin S. Frant Papers were processed by Kenton G. Jaehnig in January 2018.

There are no other known archival collections created by Martin S. Frant preserved at the date of processing.

Subject

Publisher
Science History Institute Archives
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid created and encoded into EAD by Kenton G. Jaehnig.
Finding Aid Date
2018
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 Martin S. Frant Papers. The researcher assumes full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Collection Inventory

Article Reprint, "History of the Early Commercialization of Ion-selective Electrodes" – Published in November 1994 Issue of Analyst, 1994.
Box 1 Folder 1
Laboratory Notebook – Orion Research, Incorporated – Martin S. Frant, October 19, 1964-August 15, 1965, 1964-1965.
Box 1 Folder 2
Laboratory Notebook – Orion Research, Incorporated – Martin S. Frant, August 20, 1965-December 20, 1966, 1965-1966.
Box 1 Folder 3
Laboratory Notebook – Orion Research, Incorporated – Martin S. Frant, January 1967-September 30, 1969, 1967-1969.
Box 1 Folder 4
Letter to Chemical Heritage Foundation (Renamed Science History Institute in 2018), 2016 June 1.
Box 1 Folder 5
Report – Orion Research, Incorporated – Orion Organic Electrodes: Report on the Work Performed by Orion Research, Incorporated on Organic Electrodes, 1965.
Box 1 Folder 6

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