Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to Plastic Pioneers Association Interviews

Summary
Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1235
Creators:
Plastics Pioneers Association
Dates:
1952, 1968
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.3 Cubic feet
1 Box
Repository:
Audio recordings of interviews with members of the Plastics Pioneers Association about the plastics industry, its origins, and evolution.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of four 1/4 inch open-reel audiotapes produced from 1952-1968.
Biographical / Historical
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
http://www.plasticspioneers.org/Home/tabid/52/Default.aspx
Administration
Author
Wendy Shay
Custodial History
The collection was transferred from the Division of Science and Medicine (now Division of Medicine and Science) in 2011.
Existence and Location of Copies
Reference CDs made by the Archives Center.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Wendy Shay, 2016.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Audio tapes given to the Division of Manufacturing (now Division of Medicine and Science), by J. Harry DuBois, date unknown.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Researchers must use reference audio CDs. Original 1/4 inch open-reel audio tapes are not available for research use.
Preferred Citation
[Plastic Pioneers Association Interviews, September 18-20, 1968], Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Tape number x.
Related Materials
Materials in the Archives Center
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)
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Plastics -- 1920-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Laminated plastics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Celluloid Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bakelite Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Billiards -- Equipment and supplies Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Styrene Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Plexiglas Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Plastics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Molding -- Plastics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Plastics industry and trade Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dow Chemical Company Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Celanese Corporation of America Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Albany Billiard Ball Company (Albany, New York) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bakelite Corporation Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Formica Corporation. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
General Electric Company Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
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