This collection consists of the business records and printed and photographic materials of BetzDearborn, Incorporated, an American chemical company that manufactured water treatment chemicals for commercial and industrial applications. The materials in this collection mainly document the history of BetzDearborn's two corporate ancestors: Betz Laboratories, Incorporated and Dearborn Chemical Company. The items digitized here, which represent only a small portion of the collection, are primarily drawn from the photographic records of the Dearborn Chemical Company, as well as the London Water Files, which chronicle W.H. & L.D. Betz's successful preparation of synthetic “London Water” served to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain during their visit to the United States in June 1939.
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Analytical Laboratory at Dearborn Chemical Company facility
- 1962 – 1963
General view of employees at work in the Analytical Laboratory at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory facility located in Chicago, Illinois. The two employees visible in the foreground of the…
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Analytical Laboratory at Dearborn Chemical Company facility
- 1955
General view of employees (left to right) Ruth Johnson Dugo, Lillian Kazmierzki, Valentine I. Miciulis, and Serge Levicki at work in the Analytical Laboratory at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory…
- Creator Of Work Dearborn Chemical Company
- Subject Women in science, Employees, Chemical industry, Laboratories, Water purification chemicals industry, Corporations, Women employees, Glassware, Dearborn Chemical Company, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Dugo, Ruth Johnson, Kazmierzki, Lillian, Miciulis, Valentine I., Levicki, Serge
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Telegram from Henrietta Nesbitt to W.H. and L.D. Betz
- 1939
Telegram from Henrietta Nesbitt (1874-1963), White House cook and housekeeper, to W.H. and L.D. Betz asking for an additional twenty gallons of the specially fabricated London city water to be delivered to the White…
- Addressee Betz Laboratories, Inc., Betz, L. Drew, Betz, William H.
- Creator Of Work Nesbitt, Henrietta
- Subject Betz Laboratories, Inc., Water--Analysis, Drinking water, Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945, Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962, Elizabeth, Queen, consort of George VI, King of Great Britain, 1900-2002, George VI, King of Great Britain, 1895-1952, Presidents
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Ted Slisz at work in Dearborn laboratory facility
- 1930s
General view of employee Ted Slisz at work in the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street Laboratory facility and manufacturing plant. An assortment of beakers is visible on the work bench. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn…
- Creator Of Work Dearborn Chemical Company
- Subject Employees, Chemical industry, Laboratories, Water purification chemicals industry, Corporations, Glassware, Dearborn Chemical Company, Slisz, Ted
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Hydrometer in use for water sample testing
- 1930s
General view of Dearborn Chemical Company employee C.B. Smith utilizing a concentration hydrometer during a water sample field test. Assorted glassware and a Dearborn portable testing cabinet are also visible on the…
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F.B. Horstmann conducting Dearborn Chemical Company water sample field test
- 1930s
General view of Dearborn Chemical Company engineer F.B. Horstmann utilizing a portable testing cabinet to conduct a water sample field test. A stamp on the verso of the photograph for "The Fensholt Company," a public…
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E.P. Fager conducting Dearborn Chemical Company water sample test
- 1930s
General view of Dearborn Chemical Company employee E.P. Fager preparing a water sample for testing. A stamp on the verso of the photograph for "The Fensholt Company," a public relations firm based in Chicago, suggests…
- Creator Of Work Dearborn Chemical Company, The Fensholt Company
- Photographer Williams & Meyer Co.
- Subject Employees, Chemical industry, Dearborn Chemical Company, Water purification chemicals industry, Corporations, Glassware, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Fager, E.P., Water--Analysis, Water--Testing
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E.P. Fager conducting Dearborn Chemical Company water sample field test
- 1930s
General view of Dearborn Chemical Company employee E.P. Fager comparing the color of two solutions during a water sample field test. Assorted glassware and a Dearborn portable testing cabinet are visible on the table.…
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Dearborn Chemical Company water sample testing
- 1930s
General view of two unidentified men utilizing a Dearborn Chemical Company portable testing cabinet to conduct a water sample field test. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn Chemical Company was a corporate ancestor of…
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Charles S. White at work in Dearborn laboratory facility
- 1930s
General view of employee Charles S. White analyzing unidentified substances at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory facility and manufacturing plant. Assorted scientific apparatus and laboratory…
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Barrell filling at Dearborn manufacturing facility
- 1930s
General view of two unidentified employees filling barrels at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory facility and manufacturing plant. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn Chemical Company was a corporate…
- Creator Of Work Dearborn Chemical Company
- Subject Employees, Chemical industry, Dearborn Chemical Company, Water purification chemicals industry, Barrels, Corporations, Machinery
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Barrell filling at Dearborn manufacturing facility
- 1930s
General view of two unidentified employees filling barrels at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory facility and manufacturing plant. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn Chemical Company was a corporate…
- Creator Of Work Dearborn Chemical Company
- Subject Employees, Chemical industry, Dearborn Chemical Company, Water purification chemicals industry, Barrels, Corporations, Machinery
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Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to "Mr. Betz"
- 1939-Jun-09
Thank-you letter from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to Betz Laboratories for fabricating water identical to that found in London, which was then delivered to the White House and used for the tea served to the King and…
- Addressee Betz Laboratories, Inc.
- Author Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962
- Subject Betz Laboratories, Inc., Water--Analysis, Drinking water, Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945, Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962, Elizabeth, Queen, consort of George VI, King of Great Britain, 1900-2002, George VI, King of Great Britain, 1895-1952, United States. Office of the First Lady, Presidents
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Letter from Malvina C. Thompson to Edwin M. Ross
- 1939-May-19
Letter from Malvina C. Thompson (secretary to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt) to Edwin M. Ross instructing him that the samples of water fabricated by Betz Laboratories to duplicate London City water has arrived. Mrs.…
- Addressee Betz Laboratories, Inc., Ross, Edwin M.
- Author Thompson, Malvina, 1893-1953
- Subject Betz Laboratories, Inc., Water--Analysis, Drinking water, Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945, Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962, Elizabeth, Queen, consort of George VI, King of Great Britain, 1900-2002, George VI, King of Great Britain, 1895-1952, United States. Office of the First Lady, Presidents
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Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to Edwin M. Ross
- 1939-Feb-07
Letter from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to Edwin M. Ross in which Roosevelt accepts Ross's offer to analyze and duplicate London city water which would be used to serve tea to the King and Queen of England.
- Addressee Ross, Edwin M.
- Author Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962
- Subject Betz Laboratories, Inc., Water--Analysis, Drinking water, Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945, Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962, Elizabeth, Queen, consort of George VI, King of Great Britain, 1900-2002, George VI, King of Great Britain, 1895-1952, United States. Office of the First Lady, Presidents
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Water sample testing at Dearborn facility
- Circa 1938
General view of an unidentified employee preparing a water sample for testing at a Dearborn Chemical Company's laboratory facility in Chicago, Illinois. A stamp on the verso of the photograph for "The Fensholt Company,"…
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Water sample testing at Mary's Help Hospital
- 1936-Aug-18
General view of Dearborn Chemical Company representative C.M. Kesler (seated) and hospital employee "Mike" examining a sample of water at Mary's Help Hospital (now Seton Medical Center) in San Francisco, California. Per…
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Water samples at Dearborn laboratory facility
- 1934
General view of assorted water samples sent to the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street Laboratory for analysis. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn Chemical Company was a corporate ancestor of BetzDearborn, Incorporated…
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Water analysis at Dearborn laboratory facility
- Circa 1934
General view of employee Al Slisg conducting a water analysis test at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory and manufacturing facility located in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn…
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Ted Slisz using a balance at Dearborn laboratory facility
- Circa 1934
General view of employee Ted Slisz using a balance at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street Laboratory facility and manufacturing plant. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn Chemical Company was a corporate ancestor of…
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Storage tank at Dearborn manufacturing facility
- Circa 1934
General view of a storage tank in use at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory facility and manufacturing plant. The employee visible in the photograph is unidentified. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn…
- Creator Of Work Dearborn Chemical Company
- Subject Employees, Chemical industry, Dearborn Chemical Company, Water purification chemicals industry, Corporations, Storage tanks
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Employees conducting water analysis at Dearborn laboratory facility
- 1934
General view of several employees conducting water analysis tests at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory and manufacturing facility located in Chicago, Illinois. The three employees visible in the…
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Bunsen burners in use at Dearborn laboratory facility
- Circa 1934
General view of an unidentified employee analyzing unidentified substances at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory facility and manufacturing plant. A row of Bunsen burners are visible on the work…
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Anton H.R. Noreen at work at Dearborn laboratory facility
- Circa 1934
General view of employee Anton H.R. Noreen at work at the Dearborn Chemical Company's 35th Street laboratory and manufacturing facility, with view of the laboratory work bench, assorted glassware, and scientific…
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Scientific apparatus at Dearborn laboratory facility
- 1934-Mar-16
Close-up view of scientific apparatus used at the Dearborn Chemical Company 35th Street laboratory facilities located in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1887, the Dearborn Chemical Company was a corporate ancestor of…
- Creator Of Work Dearborn Chemical Company
- Photographer C. & C. Photo Service
- Subject Chemical industry, Dearborn Chemical Company, Water purification chemicals industry, Corporations, Laboratories, Scientific apparatus and instruments
