Inventor Name
Patterson, Gordon Derby
Repository
Hagley Museum & Library
Manuscripts & Archives Department
P.O. Box 3630
Wilmington, DE 19807-0630
302-658-2400
https://www.hagley.org/research
Physical Description
17 linear ft.
Summary
Gordon Derby Patterson (1897-1982) spent nearly 40 years with the Central Research Department (formerly the Chemical Department), engaged in fundamental research, research assistance, and product development at the DuPont Experimental Station. His primary fields of interest were physical and colloid chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Patterson was also was responsible for organizing the Department's original physical research section. Over the course of his career, Patterson was granted a total of 32 patents as inventor or co-inventor. Among his numerous professional affiliations, Patterson was a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was a 1940 recipient of the Modern Pioneer Award presented by the National Association of Manufacturers. Patterson also represented DuPont at meetings of the Directors of Industrial Research. A native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, Patterson graduated cum laude from Allegheny College in 1919 with a bachelor of science in chemistry. He was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society. He remained active with the college's alumni council and later served on the board of trustees. Patterson joined the DuPont Company as a research chemist in 1923, after receiving his Ph.D. in industrial chemistry from Ohio State University. During his early years at the Experimental Station, Patterson was involved in research to produce improved pigments and develop related manufacturing processes. Following his promotion to group leader in 1926, Patterson directed research that provided the basis for the pigmentation of Dulux' alkyd enamels and the reformulation of DuPont house paints. He was also actively involved in research to develop delusterants for rayon textile yarns during the 1930s. Patterson supervised Army and Navy research projects while assigned to the National Defense Research Committee during the Second World War. In 1945, Patterson was promoted to research supervisor. Among the many important contributions to fundamental research made by Patterson's research team were investigations into the physical structure of polymer molecules as it relates to the properties of films and fibers; the characterization of colloidal systems; the basic properties of solids and liquids; and the exploration of new physical phenomena and the technical application of physical techniques. Patterson was named assistant supervisor of the Physical and Analytical Division in 1955. In this capacity, Patterson directed research into high-energy radiation generators, radioactive tracer techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, and absorption spectroscopy. Patterson was named supervisor of the Physical and Analytical Division in 1958, a position which gave him responsibility for a broad program of chemical and physical research. He retired at the end of 1962. Scope & Content Note: The papers of Gordon D. Patterson, although fragmentary in nature, provide valuable insights into the inner workings of the Central Research Department staff engaged in fundamental research at the DuPont Experimental Station. His papers contain materials relating to a wide array of subjects and are arranged in four series. Series I contains the Administrative subject files. These records include project outlines prepared for research directors, outlines prepared for the Steering Committee to review the status of current and proposed research projects, and forecasts of time spent by research chemists on each project. Also included in this series are memoranda and correspondence regarding personnel matters, equipment and facilities, and indexing and distribution of progress reports. Series II contains the Experimental Station project files. These records are further divided into five sub-series. Sub-Series A, Pigments research, consists primarily of reports regarding the testing of pigments during the 1930s. Sub-Series B, the Research subject file, contains files relating to various aspects of pigments and rayon research, as well as materials developed for the building and construction trades. Sub-Series C, the Alphabetical project file, includes memoranda an correspondence regarding cellulose film, viscose rayon, physical research, exploratory research in inorganic chemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Sub-Series D, the Chronological file, contains memoranda and correspondence regarding ongoing research, as well as ideas and suggestions for possible areas of exploration. Sub-Series E contains files from Patterson's tenure with the Central Research Department's Physical and Analytical Division. Series III consists of the Technical reference files. This series contains incomplete sets of summary reports, scientific papers, literature surveys, contributions to the scientific literature by Experimental Station researchers, as well as an extensive set of catalogs published by firms manufacturing scientific instruments. Series IV, Personal miscellany, contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, assorted memorabilia, and colleagues' personal reminiscences marking the occasion of Patterson's retirement.
