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.
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Set of Celluloid Billiard Balls in Wooden Box
- Circa 1880
Set of celluloid billiard balls with brown cue ball; balls are divided in bottom section of square wooden box by cardboard dividers.
- Subject Billiards, Celluloid, Plastics industry and trade
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2 items
Trade card for celluloid waterproof collars and cuffs with German Empire and postman
- Circa 1888
Trade card for waterproof celluloid collars and cuffs depicts a mailman holding a celluloid trademark card standing on a map of the German Empire. The flag of the German Empire is visible in the lower right hand corner…
- Printer Donaldson Brothers (Firm)
- Subject Germany, Advertising cards, Advertising, Printed ephemera, Celluloid
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2 items
Trade card for William H. Read, Sole Agent for Celluloid Cuffs and Collars with girl and cat
- Circa 1890
Trade card for William H. Read, sole agent for celluloid cuffs and collars, depicts a young girl holding a cat. Card is also stamped "Read's 3-minute headache cure" and "Read's grand duchess cologne." Verso is an ad for…
- Subject Celluloid, Printed ephemera, Advertising cards, Advertising
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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…
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2 items
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…
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2 items
Trade card for celluloid waterproof collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms with boy sailing
- Circa 1890
Trade card for waterproof celluloid collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms depicts a boy sailing on a cuff, demonstrating their waterproof appeal. Verso includes an advertisement for celluloid products along with advice for…
- Publisher Donaldson Brothers (Firm)
- Subject Celluloid, Printed ephemera, Advertising cards, Advertising
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2 items
Trade card for celluloid waterproof collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms with boy sailing
- Circa 1890
Trade card for waterproof celluloid collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms depicts a boy sailing on a cuff, demonstrating their waterproof appeal. Verso includes an advertisement for celluloid products along with advice for…
- Publisher Donaldson Brothers (Firm)
- Subject Celluloid, Printed ephemera, Advertising, Advertising cards
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2 items
Trade card for celluloid waterproof collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms with magician
- Circa 1890
Trade card for waterproof celluloid collars, cuffs, and shirt bosoms depicts a magician pulling a celluloid cuff out of a bowl of water, demonstrating their waterproof appeal. He also wears a celluloid cuff as a hat.…
- Printer Donaldson Brothers (Firm)
- Subject Celluloid, Magicians, Magic tricks, Advertising cards, Advertising, Printed ephemera
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DuPont Pyralin travel vanity set
- 1910 – 1940
Irregularly-shaped wooden box with blue and off-white synthetic coatings; box is secured with two steel snap fasteners; top opens upward and is held upright with a cloth ribbon on the left side; top and bottom of box…
- Manufacturer E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Subject Plastics, Celluloid, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
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37 items
Indanthren Dyeings on Rayon (Viscose) Yarn
- After 1920
Vibrant collection of Indanthren dyings on rayon hanks are included in this mid-20th century sample book published by the General Dyestuff Corporation. Indanthren was the trade name for the first synthetic vat dyes…
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Portrait of Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863-1944)
- After 1920 – 1944
Portrait of Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863-1944), inventor of Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic.
- Manufacturer Underwood & Underwood
- Subject Portrait photography, Inventors, Bakelite, Baekeland, L. H. (Leo Hendrik), 1863-1944, Plastics
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Du Pont Amber Pyralin advertisement with bride
- 1921
Color printed advertisement for Amber Pyralin, a brand name for Du Pont celluloid, depicts a bride holding a bouquet of flowers. An image of a brush, comb and mirror made with amber pyralin is depicted in the lower half…
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2 items
Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron Hundert Mark Gutschein
- Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron one hundred Mark voucher
- 1922-Sep-30
This Hundert Mark Gutschein, or one hundred Mark voucher, was issued by Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron. Styled after a banknote, the verso of this company scrip includes the terms of the scrip. Paper features a…
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Vereinigte Glanzstoff-Fabriken Zweihunderttausend Mark Gutschein
- Vereinigte Glanzstoff-Fabriken two hundred thousand Mark voucher
- 1923-Aug-10
This zweihunderttausand Mark Gutschein, or two hundred thousand Mark voucher, was issued by Vereinigte Glanzstoff-Fabriken A. G.. This particular company scrip includes a photographic reproduction of the company's…
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2 items
Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron Drei Millionen Mark Gutschein
- Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron three million Mark voucher
- 1923-Aug-11
This Drei Millionen Mark Gutschein, or three million Mark voucher, was issued by Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron. Styled after a banknote, the verso of this company scrip includes the company logo and terms of the…
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2 items
Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron Eine Million Mark Gutschein
- Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron one million Mark voucher
- 1923-Aug-23
This Eine Million Mark Gutschein, or one million Mark voucher, was issued by Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron. Styled after a banknote, the verso of this company scrip includes the company logo and terms of the…
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56 items
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…
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25 items
Naphtol AS on Rayon
- 1927
Sample book for Naphtol AS dyes, used for "embroidery purposes, for effects in silk, woollen and cotton clothes, for curtains, underwear made of artificial silk, etc." Contains dyeing instructions and 70 mounted dyed…
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Portrait of Dr. Sylvia Stoesser (1901-1991)
- 1928
Portrait of Dr. Sylvia Stoesser (1901-1991), the first female Ph.D. chemist employed at the Dow Chemical Company.
Sylvia Stoesser (nee Goergen) was born on July 18, 1901 in Buffalo, New York and earned her B.S. in…
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2 items
Demonstration of cold-drawing technique for polyester
- Circa 1930
Two close-up views of a demonstration of the cold-drawing technique used to produce the 3-16 polyester super-silk fiber, the forerunner of nylon. This technique was discovered by DuPont chemist Julian Hill (1904-1996)…
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Letter from Lee de Forest to the Dean of Chemistry at Caltech
- 1931-Jul-15
In this letter, Lee de Forest requests a referral to a chemist who might help electroplate film.
Lee de Forest (1873–1961) was an inventor, most notably of Audion vacuum tubes in the early twentieth century. His serial…
- Author De Forest, Lee, 1873-1961
- Subject Celluloid, Electroplating
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Letter from Arnold O. Beckman to Lee de Forest
- 1931-Jul-18
Arnold O. Beckman, then an assistant professor of chemistry at Caltech, offers his assistance as a consulting chemist.
Lee de Forest (1873–1961) was an inventor, most notably of Audion vacuum tubes in the early…
- Addressee De Forest, Lee, 1873-1961
- Author Beckman, Arnold O.
- Subject Celluloid, Electroplating
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3 items
Formula for silvering film
- 1931-Aug-25
The handwritten document was created in connection with Arnold O. Beckman's consulting work for Lee de Forest.
- Creator Of Work Beckman, Arnold O.
- Subject Silver films (Metal coating), Silvering, Celluloid
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Letter from Lee de Forest to Arnold O. Beckman
- 1931-Oct-09
The letter discusses the "very nice results" of using new Eastman film and queries as to the possible effects of light upon silvering solution.
Lee de Forest (1873–1961) was an inventor, most notably of Audion vacuum…
- Addressee Beckman, Arnold O.
- Author De Forest, Lee, 1873-1961
- Subject Silver films (Metal coating), Silvering, Celluloid
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2 items
Letter from Lee de Forest to Arnold O. Beckman
- 1931-Oct-22
De Forest inquires about Beckman's progress toward a chemical coating that might change in opacity or color, and details the "very fine and uniform quality" of silver coated film de Forest is able to produce.
Lee de…
- Addressee Beckman, Arnold O.
- Author De Forest, Lee, 1873-1961
- Subject Silver films (Metal coating), Silvering, Celluloid
