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Edward R. Weidlein

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Edward R. Weidlein
Weidlein in a 1923 publication
Born
Edward Ray Weidlein

(1887-07-14)July 14, 1887
Augusta, Kansas, U.S.
DiedAugust 15, 1983(1983-08-15) (aged 96)
Rector, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeLigonier Valley Cemetery
Alma materUniversity of Kansas (BA, MA)
OccupationChemist
Children3

Edward Ray Weidlein (July 14, 1887 – August 15, 1983) was an American chemist and later director, chairman, and president at the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research in Pittsburgh. He served as president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers from 1927 to 1929 and the American Chemical Society in 1937. His awards included the Chemical Industry Medal in 1935, the Priestley Medal in 1948 and the AIChE Founders Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical Engineering in 1966. He was a member of the War Industries Board in World War I and helped develop the synthetic rubber production program for the United States in World War II.

Early life

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Edward Ray Weidlein[1] was born in Augusta, Kansas, on July 14, 1887. His father was a rancher and oil developer.[2] He studied at the University of Kansas,[3] earning a B.A. degree in 1909 and an M.A. degree in 1910.[4] He spent four years as a Mellon fellow on metallurgical research in Arizona and Nevada.[1]

Career

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In November 1916, Weidlein moved to Pittsburgh to work as assistant director of the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research in Oakland. Later that year, he became associate director. He became director of the institute in 1921 and served until his appointment as president and chairman of the board of trustees in 1951. He retired on March 31, 1956.[5]

During World War I, Weidlein served as a technical advisor to the chemical division of the War Industries Board.[6][7] During World War II, he helped develop the American synthetic rubber production program.[2][8]

Weidlein served as president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers from 1927 to 1929.[4] He served as president of the American Chemical Society in 1937.[2][1] In 1947, he was chairman of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. He served in the conference from 1944 to 1950. He advocated for the control of smoke emissions in the Pittsburgh area.[2]

Personal life

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Weidlein had three sons, Edward R. Jr., Robert B. and John D.[2]

Weidlein died at his home in Rector, Pennsylvania, on August 15, 1983.[8] He was buried at Ligonier Valley Cemetery.[2]

Awards

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Weidlein received an honorary Sc.D. degree from Tufts College in 1924 and an honorary LL.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1930. He was made a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1925.[4] Weidlein received a second honorary Sc.D. degree from the University of Miami in 1953.[9]

In 1935, Weidlein received the Chemical Industry Medal.[10] He received the Priestley Medal from the American Chemical Society in 1948.[2][11] In 1966, he received the AIChE Founders Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Chemical Engineering.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Dr. Weidlein Elected by Chemical Society: Mellon Institute Director Named President for 1937 After National Poll". The New York Times. December 19, 1935. p. 23. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Golightly, John (August 17, 1983). "E. R. Weidlein dies, smoke control pioneer". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 10. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ World Book Encyclopedia 1967 ed. Vol. WXYZ p. 147.
  4. ^ a b c "Weidlein, Edward Ray". Who's Who Among Association Executives. New York, New York: Institute for Research in Biography, Inc. 1935. pp. 562–563. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Golightly, John (August 17, 1983). "E. R. Weidlein dies, smoke control pioneer". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  6. ^ Members of the War Industries Board Organization. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1919. p. 27. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Haynes, Williams (1945). "Appendix X: The War Industries Board". American Chemical Industry: The World War I Period: 1912–1922. Vol. II. New York, New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc. p. 354. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "E.R. Weidlein, Ex-Director of Mellon Research Institute". The New York Times. August 19, 1983. p. D15. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "Commencement" (PDF). University of Miami. October 4, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Mellon Institute of Industrial Research". Nature. 136 (3446): 789–790. November 16, 1935. Bibcode:1935Natur.136S.789.. doi:10.1038/136789c0.
  11. ^ "Pennsylvania Academy of Science Newsletter, p. 16, February, 2006" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2008.
  12. ^ AIChE Founders Award Archived November 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved June 27, 2008.
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