Papers of Norris Watson Rakestraw (1895-1982), marine chemist and professor of chemistry at Brown University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Rakestraw was known for his research into the chemical composition of seawater and the role of organic matter in seawater. The collection includes correspondence, laboratory notebooks, writings, research materials, images and sound recordings.

Norris Watson Rakestraw was born January 16, 1895 in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Stanford University where he received his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in chemistry from 1916 to 1921. He was employed as a chemistry instructor at Stanford from 1919 to 1925, and served in the U.S. Chemical Warfare Service from 1923 to 1924. He spent a year each teaching at the California State Teacher's College in San Jose and Oberlin College, and then was appointed assistant professor of chemistry at Brown University in 1926. Rakestraw also worked as a research associate at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution during the summers from 1931 to 1946. During 1933 to 1934, he visited European oceanographic stations and reported on their marine research. Rakestraw held a pilot's license, and served as a wing commander for the Rhode Island Wing of the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.

3 Linear feet (3 records cartons, 1 oversize folder)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.