Summary
- Collection ID:
- NMAH.AC.1102
- Creators:
-
Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI
- Dates:
-
circa 1912-1920
- Languages:
-
- Physical Description:
-
- Repository:
-
Scope and Contents note
Scope and Contents note
Photographs of refineries, flow charts, lab notebooks, and other materials relating to the Burton-Humphreys oil cracking process.
Arrangement
Arrangement
Collection is arranged into one series.
Biographical/Historical note
Biographical/Historical note
Amoco Company scientists William Burton and Robert Humphreys patented the Burton-Humphreys process in 1912. This thermal cracking process doubled the yield of gasoline from crude oil while improving the octane rating. It proved to be of great advantage during World War I, and is credited with avoiding a gasoline shortage.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Donated by Amoco Oil Company to the National Museum of American History's (then called the National Museum of History and Technology) Department of Arts and Manufactures, Division of Manufactures and Heavy Industries in 1963.
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Burton-Humphreys Oil Production Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Ownership and Custodial History
Ownership and Custodial History
Transferred from the Division of Work and Industry to the Archives Center in 2007.
Keywords
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu