Audio recordings of interviews with members of the Plastics Pioneers Association about the plastics industry, its origins, and evolution.
Scope and Contents:
The collection consists of four 1/4 inch open-reel audiotapes produced from 1952-1968.
Biographical / Historical:
The Plastic Pioneers Association (PPA) was formed in the 1940s to provide individuals involved with plastics invention, innovation, and manufacturing an opportunity to meet with colleagues to share stories about the history of plastics. In 1948 the PPA became a formal organization "of individuals who are persons of accomplishment in the Plastics Industry, and who wish to foster the bonds of friendship and fraternalism among them." At the time, in order to be a member an individual had to have made "a contribution to the growth of the industry and worked at least fifteen years plastics. According to the PPA webiste, membership currently "is capped at 250 active members, and the term of service in the industry required is 25 years or more."
The PPA is dedicated to education as well as documenting and preserving the histories of people who contributed to the plastics industry. The Plastic Pioneers Interviews represents part of this effort
Albany Billiard Ball Company Records (NMAH.AC.0011)
Leo H. Baekeland Papers (NMAH.AC.0005)
Celluloid Corporation Records (NMAH.AC.0009)
Earl S. Tupper Papers (NMAH.AC.0470)
Grace Jeffers Collection of Formica Materials (NMAH.AC.0565)
Provenance:
Audio tapes given to the Division of Manufacturing (now Division of Medicine and Science), by J. Harry DuBois, date unknown.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Copyright status unknown. No releases exist. Collecion items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply.
[Plastic Pioneers Association Interviews, September 18-20, 1968], Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Tape number x.
Celanese Corporation of America, vice president (retired) in charge of plastics division -injection molding process: origins and development
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
Copyright status unknown. No releases exist. Collecion items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply.
Collection Citation:
[Plastic Pioneers Association Interviews, September 18-20, 1968], Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Tape number x.
United States of America -- Connecticut -- Fairfield County -- New Canaan
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, copies of articles about the property, and additional information about the house and garden.
General:
Celanese House was designed in 1958-59 by Edward Durell Stone as a commission from the Celanese Corporation of America. New Canaan contractor Theodore (Ted) de Freyne Hobbs had acquired the property in 1957 as a development venture and he bore all of the construction costs except for the architect's fee. Celanese furnished the materials free or at cost for publicity rights and national press coverage resulted following the home's completion (the property was sold to Frederick and Velma Willcox in 1960). The landscape architect for the project was James Fanning. Interior spaces opened to terraces screened by latticework to provide privacy. Surrounded by trees, a lawn at the rear of the property featured curving flagstone and fieldstone stairs and fieldstone walls. The terraces provided ample outdoor living space and featured hanging plants as well as more formally placed shrubs and other design features.
Persons and firms associated with the site include James Fanning (landscape architect,1959); Edward Durell Stone (architect, 1958-1959); Theodore de Freyne Hobbs (contractor, 1958-1959); Frederick and Velma Willcox (former owners, 1960-2005); and Celanese Corporation of America (corporate sponsor, 1958-1959).
Related Materials:
Celanese House related holdings consist of 1 folder (3 photographic prints; 17 safety film negatives)
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
