Willard H. Watkins photographs
Creation: 1905-1953Abstract
Willard H. Watkins (1874-1953) was a chemist and manager of the Application Laboratories for the Calco Chemical Division of the American Cyanamid Company. This small collection mainly consists of photographs depicting interior views of the chemical plant of the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation in Buffalo, New York. These images show laboratory interiors with men and women working, dating to around the 1920s.
Dates
- Creation: 1905-1953
Creator
- Watkins, Willard H., 1874-1953 (Person)
Extent
.5 Linear Feet
Physical Description
20 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 mounted on board.
Biographical Note
Willard H. Watkins (1874-1953) was a chemist and manager of the Application Laboratories for the Calco Chemical Division of the American Cyanamid Company.
Watkins was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Martha Haskell Watkins (1845-1940) and Willard Wesly Watkins (1836-1927). He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the late 1890s. In the early 1900s, he joined Schollkopt, Hartford, & Hanna Co., located in Buffalo, New York. Schollkopt, Hartford, & Hanna Co. later became the National Aniline Division of the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation.
Watkins began at Calco in 1935 as a colorist. He was appointed supervisor of application sales in 1939, and manager in 1947. Upon his retirement, he moved to New England, spending his winters in Boston and his summers in Deer Isle, Maine.
In 1903, he married Eva Farnum Watkins (1873-1958); the couple had two daughters.
Scope and Contents
This small collection mainly consists of photographs depicting interior views of the chemical plant of the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation in Buffalo, New York. These images show laboratory interiors with men and women working, dating to around the 1920s.
Also present is some correspondence regarding personnel at the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation. Most of this correspondence is between Watkins and Edward S. Chapin (1877-1965), whom Watkins addresses as "Chape." Chapin was the chairman of the W.C. Durfee Co., Inc., which was a manufacturing and consulting chemist company. Chapin was also on the editorial board for the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. The correspondence mainly relates to publications of articles for the association journal or presentations at conferences.
There are two operational reports from Watkin's time at Allied and two patents, both on dyeing processes from his time with Calco.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Subjects
Related Names
Subject
- Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation. National Aniline Division (Organization)
- American Cyanamid Company. Calco Chemical Division (Organization)
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Willard H. Watkins photographs
- Author:
- Laurie Sather
- Date:
- 2024
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository
