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Interview no.: 0028
Date of interview: 4 May 1986
Location: Sharpley, Delaware
No. of pages: 37
Interviewer:
Raymond C. Ferguson
Minutes: 120
Access level: Restricted Access. Permission of interviewee required to view, quote from, cite, or reproduce the oral history. Please contact CHF to request interviewee’s permission.
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Stephanie Kwolek starts this interview by describing her family background. Her father's early death meant that her mother had to work to support Kwolek and her brother, who later became a chemical engineer. At the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Kwolek shifted her interests from medicine to chemistry. Deciding to enter industry, she accepted a position with the Rayon Department of Du Pont at Buffalo. There, she started her career in polymer synthesis and worked with Izard, Wittbecker, and Morgan. When the laboratory moved to Wilmington, Kwolek was associated with the low temperature polymerization program. In the interview, Kwolek then discusses the nylon rope trick, Du Pont promotion policy, and liquid crystalline polymers. She concludes with her reflections on colleagues and Du Pont consultants.
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| Title & Description |
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Page No. |
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Childhood and Early Education
Parents and early death of father, mother forced to support Kwolek and her brother. Schooling in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. |
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1 |
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College Education
Women's college of Carnegie Institute of Technology. Change of interest from medicine to chemistry. |
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5 |
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Du Pont at Buffalo
Decision to take post at Du Pont Rayon laboratories. Polymer synthesis with Izard and Wittbecker. Collaboration with Paul Morgan. Social life; salary. |
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8 |
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Du Pont at Wilmington
Reactions to move to Pioneering Research Laboratory. Low-temperature polycondensation; the nylon rope trick. Promotion within Du Pont research organization. Liquid crystalline polymers. Colleagues at Wilmington. |
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13 |
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Retirement Activities
Patent litigation. Polyazomethines. Academic consultants, Flory and Mark. |
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20 |
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Notes
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32 |
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Index
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33 |
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| 1946 |
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B.S., Chemistry, Carnegie-Mellon University |
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| E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc. |
| 1946-1959 |
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Chemist |
| 1959-1967 |
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Research Chemist |
| 1967-1974 |
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Senior Research Chemist |
| 1974-1986 |
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Research Assoicate |
| 1986-Present |
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Consultant |
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| National Academy of Sciences, Research Council |
| 1986-Present |
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Consultant |
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| 1959 |
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Publication Award, Delaware Section, American Chemical Society
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| 1976 |
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Howard N. Potts Medal, Franklin Institute of Philadelphia
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| 1978 |
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Award for Contributions to “Kevlar” (du Pont trademark for aramid fiber), American Society for Metals
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| 1980 |
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Chemical Pioneer Award, American Institute of Chemists
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| 1980 |
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Award for Creative Invention, American Chemical Society
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| 1981 |
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Honorary Doctor of Science degree, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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| 1983 |
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Alumni Association Merit Award, Carnegie-Mellon University
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| 1985 |
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Engineering/Technology Award, Society of Plastics Engineers
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| 1985 |
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Polymer Processing Hall of Fame, University of Akron
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| 1988 |
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Harold DeWitt Smith Memorial Award, American Society of Testing Materials
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| 1990 |
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du Pont Honoree at the Bicentennial Celebration of the United States Patent and Copyright Laws
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| 1995 |
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Inducted member of the Inventor’s Hall of Fame
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| 1997 |
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Perkin Medal, Society of Chemical Industry (American Section)
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Raymond C. Ferguson obtained his degrees in chemistry from Iowa State University (B.S., M.S.) and Harvard University (Ph.D.). He worked in research divisions of the Organic Chemicals, Elastomer Chemicals, and Central Research Departments of DuPont, principally in molecular spectroscopy, organic structure analysis, and polymer characterization. Currently he is affiliated with CONDUX, Inc., a consulting association of former DuPont professionals.
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