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Plastics & Synthetic Fibers

466 items

Plastics encompass a wide range of synthetic and semi-synthetic materials created from large repeating molecules called polymers. The Institute’s collections include a wide variety of materials documenting the history of the study of polymers, the development of plastics, the plastic industry, synthetic fibers, microplastics, works depicting or created by early pioneers of the field, and other related topics. Browse the digitized materials in this digital collection to learn more about plastics and synthetic fibers from the lab to your living room.

Plastics

Polypropylene Pellets
- Circa 2008
Small, round pellets of Polypropylene. Pellets are white and semi-translucent.

Polypropylene, also known as polypropene, is a nonpolar, thermoplastic polymer and polyolefin. Though its physical properties are similar…
- Creator Of Work Quantum Chemical Corporation
- Subject Polypropylene, Plastics, Thermoplastics, Polyolefins
Photographs

Nathaniel Wyeth portrait
- 1990
Black and white reproduction of a portrait of Nathaniel C. Wyeth (1911-1990) used for a newspaper publication's announcement of his death. The original portrait of Wyeth was taken in 1986, and this print ran in 1990.
…
- Subject Wyeth, Nathaniel C., Daily telegraph (London, England), Polyethylene terephthalate, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Employees, Plastics, Plastics industry and trade
3 items
Artifacts

Vuvuzela from the 2010 FIFA World Cup
- 2010
White plastic horn-shaped noise maker used by cheering fans at the 2010 Fifa World Cup held in South Africa. The vuvuzela is handpainted in multiple colors with acrylic paint. The horn's bell is decorated with the South…
- Subject Sports spectators, World Cup (Soccer), Plastics, Plastic novelties, Soccer stories, South African
Artifacts

LEGO Scuba Tank
- 1990s
A small gray plastic LEGO accessory shaped like a scuba tank and breathing apparatus. This piece was part of the Lego Lost at Sea Project, started by Tracey Williams.

On February 13, 1997, approximately five million…
- Creator Of Work LEGO koncernen (Denmark)
- Subject LEGO toys, Plastic marine debris, Plastic marine debris, Plastics, Pollution, Water--Pollution
2 items
Artifacts

LEGO Dragon
- 1990s
A small black plastic LEGO accessory shaped like a dragon. This piece was found by Lucy and Edward Thresher as part of the Lego Lost at Sea Project, started by Tracey Williams.

On February 13, 1997, approximately five…
- Creator Of Work LEGO koncernen (Denmark)
- Subject LEGO toys, Plastic marine debris, Plastic marine debris--Environmental aspects, Plastics, Water--Pollution, Pollution
Artifacts

LEGO Seaweed
- 1990s
A small green plastic LEGO accessory shaped like a patch of seaweed. This piece was part of the Lego Lost at Sea Project, started by Tracey Williams.

On February 13, 1997, approximately five million LEGO pieces were…
- Creator Of Work LEGO koncernen (Denmark)
- Subject Plastics, LEGO toys, Water--Pollution, Pollution, Plastic marine debris, Plastic marine debris--Environmental aspects
7 items
Artifacts, Ephemera

McDonald’s “Recycle Here” Plastic Dish Set
- 1991
A 3-piece plastic tableware set featuring McDonald's Corporation character mascots, Ronald McDonald, the Hamburgler, Grimace, a pink "Fry Kid", and Birdie the Early Bird. The characters are promoting the eco-friendly…
- Creator Of Work McDonald's Corporation
- Subject McDonald's Corporation, Recycling (Waste, etc.), McDonald, Ronald (Fictitious character), Promotional materials, Fast food restaurants--Collectibles, Fast food restaurants, Plastics, Plastic tableware
5m 44s
Video Recordings

It Didn't Just Happen
- Undated
This is a promotional film for the National Plastics Hall of Fame, at the time housed in the National Plastics Center and Museum in Leominster, Massachusetts. Frank S. Marra narrates this short presentation about some…
- Creator Of Work National Plastics Center & Museum, The Plastics Academy
- Subject Plastics, Plastics industry and trade
6 items
Sample books

Dacron & Antron Colour Story
- Piece Dyed / Cross Dyed Jersey Fabrics
- 1950 – 1970
Eighteen dyed and undyed fabric samples made of Dacron and Antron fibers mounted in a tri-folded cardboard booklet.
- Author E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Publisher E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Subject Dacron, Dyes and dyeing--Dacron, Dyes and dyeing, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Textile fabrics, Synthetic fabrics
3 items
Sample books

"Severon" Cationic Dyes on "Dacron" Type 801 Polyester Fiber
- 1972
Twenty-four dyed Dacron samples attached to a bi-fold cardstock brochure.
- Author E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Organic Chemicals Department
- Publisher E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Subject Dyes and dyeing, Dyes and dyeing--Textile fibers, Dyes and dyeing--Dacron, Dacron, Textile fibers, Synthetic, Textile fibers
26m 58s
Video Recordings

Passing Through: An Introduction to Plastics
- Circa 1993
A high school student who is nervous about failing his chemistry test is transported to a vaguely Middle Ages, high fantasy castle where he meets a wizard trying to invent better armor for a knight. The student teaches…
- Creator Of Work National Plastics Center and Museum
- Subject Educational films, Plastics, Middle Ages, Wizards
19M 38S
Video Recordings

A New World Through Chemistry
- 1940
This film from E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company promotes several of their inventions by showing how they are made and (using actors and film sets) how useful they are in everyday life. Products include: Neoprene,…
- Producer Scientific Films
- Creator Of Work E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Subject E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Rubber, Artificial, Rayon, Lucite, Nylon
6 items
Oral histories

Oral history interview with Joseph Labovsky
- 1996-Jul-24
Joseph Labovsky opens the interview with a discussion of his childhood in Ukraine and his family experiences there after his father emigrated to the United States in 1914. Labovsky moved with his mother and siblings to…
- Interviewee Labovsky, J. X. (Joseph X.), 1912-2013
- Interviewer Smith, John K. (John Kenly), 1951-
- Subject Nylon, Polymers, Labovsky, J. X. (Joseph X.), 1912-2013, Carothers, Wallace Hume, 1896-1937, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Chemical engineers, Synthetic fabrics, Emigration and immigration
8m 25s
Video Recordings

National Plastics Center and Museum fundraising video
- Undated
This fundraising appeal from the National Plastics Center and Museum aims to raise money for renovating a building in Leominster, Massachusetts to use as a museum, with exhibition galleries and conference rooms. This…
- Creator Of Work National Plastics Center and Museum
- Subject Plastics, Museums, Fund raising
Advertisements, Ephemera

Trade card for celluloid waterproof collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms
- Circa 1890
Trade card for waterproof celluloid collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms featuring a racially stereotyped depiction of an Asian boy smoking an opium pipe. A celluloid cuff and collar adorn the boy's exaggerated Asian-style…
- Subject Celluloid, Advertising, Advertising cards, Printed ephemera, Racism, Stereotypes (Social psychology), Dress accessories, Advertising--Plastics, Racism against Asians
2 items
Advertisements, Ephemera

Trade card for celluloid waterproof collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms
- Circa 1890
Trade card for waterproof celluloid collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms featuring a racially stereotyped depiction of a woman dressed in exaggerated Asian-styled garb holding an umbrella consisting of a celluloid cuff. She…
- Printer Donaldson Brothers (Firm)
- Subject Celluloid, Advertising cards, Advertising, Dress accessories, Racism, Stereotypes (Social psychology), Racism against Asians, Advertising--Plastics
3 items
Clothing and dress, Textile fabrics

Nylon Wear Test Underwear
- 1938
A pair of off-white underwear made of Nylon with elastic in the waist and around each leg hole.
- Creator Of Work E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Subject Nylon, Nylon--Testing, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Underwear, Carothers, Wallace Hume, 1896-1937, Labovsky, J. X. (Joseph X.), 1912-2013
5m 53s
Video Recordings

Passing Through: Behind The Scenes
- Circa 1993
This is a promotional work created by the National Plastics Center and Museum to advertise their educational video, Passing Through. Passing Through is a film for teenagers and high school science students in which a…
- Creator Of Work National Plastics Center and Museum
- Producer WAVE, Inc.
- Subject Science--Study and teaching, Plastics, Educational films, Middle Ages
3 items
Sample books

Nylon Hosiery Sample Books
- 1952 – 1955
Two booklets containing nylon samples dyed in various shades. Samples represent the hosiery variety available for purchase at the Harrison Hosiery Company located in Philadelphia. The booklets contain samples for…
- Creator Of Work Harrison Hosiery Company
- Subject Hosiery, Harrison Hosiery Company, Nylon, Dyes and dyeing--Nylon, Textile fibers, Synthetic, Human skin color, Clothing trade
2 items
Textile fabrics

Big Mama Legsavers Pantyhose
- 1970s
One pair of beige-toned, "Irregular" size stockings. The pink packaging features an image of three smiling women posed wearing only stockings. The stockings are described on the packaging front as "large…
- Creator Of Work Sheffield Industries, Inc.
- Subject Nylon, Spandex, Hosiery, Clothing trade, Textile fibers, Synthetic, Plus-size women's clothing
2 items
Clothing and dress

Sugar & Spice Pantyhose
- 1970s
A pair of "Jet Brown" colored "Queen Size" pantyhose, or stockings, in original packaging made by the brand Sugar & Spice. "Queen Size" corresponds with size 2X. An image on the packaging depicts a woman dressed in…
- Manufacturer Sugar & Spice
- Subject Nylon, Hosiery, Hosiery industry, Clothing Trade, Textile fibers, Synthetic
7 items
Oral histories

Oral history interview with Allan S. Hay
- 1986-Jul-24
Allan S. Hay begins the interview with a description of his secondary and undergraduate education in Alberta. After briefly describing his graduate work at the University of Illinois and a summer job at Du Pont, he…
- Interviewee Hay, Allan S., 1929-2017
- Interviewer Wise, George, Fine, Leonard W.
- Subject Hay, Allan S., 1929-2017, Plastics--Research, Chemistry, Polymers, Chemists, General Electric Company, Chemists--Biography, Polyphenylene oxide, University of Alberta, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Emigration and immigration
56 items
Publications, Sample books

Colors for Rayon Yarn
- 1926
According to the work's introduction, "this book has been prepared to acquaint the trade with the large variety of du Pont dyes available for use on rayon and to serve as a guide in the selection of those best suited…
- Author E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Publisher E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Subject Dyes and dyeing, Dyes and dyeing--Textile fibers, Dyes and dyeing--Rayon, Rayon, Pigments, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
10 items
Clothing and dress, Textile fabrics

Half Chest Binders
- 2015
Five chest binding garments produced by the gc2b Company. This garment comes in five "nude" tones ranging from dark to light tan shades. A chest binder is anything used to bind and flatten the chest.

According to gc2b,…
- Creator Of Work gc2b
- Subject Gender expression, Sex (Psychology), Gender identity, Gender nonconformity, Commercial products, Nylon, Transgender people, Human skin color
6 items
Textile fabrics, Clothing and dress

Chacott's Nude Perky Tights and All Through Stockings
- 2021
Three pairs of Nude Perky brand ballet dance tights in original packaging. The tights are in sizes Tall-Large, Medium, and Large and are in the colors Brown, Nut Brown, and Camel respectively.

Chacott is a Japanese…
- Creator Of Work Chacott Co., Ltd.
- Subject Commercial Products, Packaging, Nylon, Dyes and dyeing--Nylon, Hosiery, Hosiery industry, Chacott Co., Ltd., Clothing and dress, Ballet, Human skin color, Freed of London (Firm)

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