Zarochentsev (Mikhail Trofimovich) papers, 1910-1959

Summary

Title:

M. T. (Mikhail Trofimovich) Zarochentsev papers

Dates:

1910-1959

Creators:

Zarochent͡sev, M. T. (Mikhail Trofimovich), 1879-

Abstract:

Speeches and writings, correspondence, patents, business records, printed matter, and photographs, relating to the meat and fish refrigeration industries.

Extent:

10 microfilm reels (1.5 Linear Feet)

Language:

In English and Russian

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], M. T. (Mikhail Trofimovich) Zarochentsev papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Mikhail Trofimovich Zarochentsev (Zarotschenzeff) was a specialist in meat and fish refrigeration, a prolific inventor in the field and holder of a number of patents on methods of quick-freezing. The CAREER FILE contains information related to Zarochentsev's scientific work (notes, reports and calculations) and business activities, including his meat-packing operations: A/S "Külmetus"(Estonia), American Z Corporation, National Frosted Foods Sales Corp. and Z-Pack Corporation. It also includes articles, notes, patents, and promotional materials relating to the "Z" process of quick-freezing and related refrigeration issues.

Detailed processing and preservation microfilming for these materials were made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and by matching funds from the Hoover Institution and Museum of Russian Culture. The grant also provides depositing a microfilm copy in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. The original materials remain in the Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco as its property. A transfer table indicating corresponding box and reel numbers is available at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical / historical:

Date	Event
1879 September 18	Born, Stavropol', Russia
1907	Graduated, Institut putei soobshcheniia, Moscow, Russia
1910	Graduated, Moskovskii kommercheskii institut, Moscow, Russia
1911	Author, Kholodil'noe dielo
1912	Author, Ledniki
1922-1927	General Manager, A/S "Külmetus"
1930	Author, Between Two Oceans
1932	Founder, American Z Corporation

M. T. Zarochentsev, a prominent specialist in refrigeration, was born on 18 September 1879. His career in refrigeration engineering began even before graduation from the Institute of Transportation in Moscow in 1909. He participated in the work of the International Congresses of Refrigeration in Paris (1908), Vienna (1910), London (1924), and Rome (1928), and was one of the founders of the Russian Refrigeration Association. Editor of a scientific periodical on refrigeration in Russia, he also authored numerous books on the subject, such as Kholodil'noe dielo (Moscow, 1911), Kholod v plodovodstvie (Simferopol', 1911), and Ledniki (Moscow, 1912).

During the First World War, as consultant to the Ministries of Agriculture and Transportation, he oversaw the construction of numerous packing houses, cold storage facilities, and thousands of refrigerated railway cars. Following the Revolution, he spent two years in France before becoming general manager of the Estonian packing house A/S Külmetus from 1922 to 1927. Continuing scientific work on refrigeration in France and Great Britain in 1928-1930, he saw that without larger capital investment than that available in Europe, his plans would remain unrealizable. In 1931 he proceeded to America to interest investors in what would become known as the Z process of quick freezing. As vice-president of the American Z Corporation, and an official of Z-Pack Corporation and National Frosted Foods Sales Corporation, Zarochentsev became one of the leading figures in refrigeration into the early 1950s, when he retired.

Acquisition information:

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2001.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Location of originals:

Originals in: Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco.

Boxes 8-10 were not filmed. Boxes 8-9 contain printed matter from 1914-1951, primarily works on refrigeration, food processing, fox breeding, and meat- and fish-packing not directly related to Zarochentsev or his work. Box 10 contains photographs from 1929-1951, including albums and loose prints depicting Zarochentsev, frozen foods and food processing operations, places he visited and various individuals. Loose prints include Zarochentsev, M. T., Altek refrigerated freight cars, Frigorifico Conference 1944, frozen foods, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paolo.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Russians -- United States
Meat -- Preservation
Fishery products -- Preservation
Engineers

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff

Date Encoded:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-02-23 09:57:29.350604

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], M. T. (Mikhail Trofimovich) Zarochentsev papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:

Hoover Institution

Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US

Contact:

(650) 723-3563

hooverarchives@stanford.edu

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