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Finding Aid for the Fred C. Anson Papers 1957-2006
10257MS
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Title: Fred C. Anson Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1957-2006
Collection number: 10257MS
Creator: Anson, Fred C., 1933-
Extent:
31 boxes, 12.5 linear feet
Repository:
California Institute of Technology. Caltech Archives
Pasadena, California 91125
Abstract: Fred C. Anson, the Elizabeth W. Gilloon Professor of chemistry, Emeritus, was born in Los Angeles, on February 17, 1933. He
entered Caltech in 1950, earning his BS in chemistry in 1954. He completed his PhD at Harvard in 1957, and returned that year
to Caltech as an instructor. In 1958 he was appointed assistant professor. Anson's entire career was spent at Caltech, where
he served the institute in a variety of teaching and administrative capacities.
Physical location: Archives, California Institute of Technology.
Languages represented in the collection: English
The collection is open for researchers with the exception of two files (21.4 and 29.1) that remain closed indefinitely for
reasons of confidentiality and privacy. Researchers must apply in writing for access.
Copyright may not have been assigned to the California Institute of Technology Archives. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Caltech Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the California Institute of Technology Archives as the owner of the physical items and, unless explicitly stated otherwise,
is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
[Identification of item], Fred C. Anson Papers, 10257MS, Caltech Archives, California Institute of Technology.
The Fred C. Anson Papers were donated to the Caltech Archives by Professor Anson himself in 2009.
Fred C. Anson was born in South San Gabriel, on February 17, 1933. He attended local schools and entered Caltech in 1950,
earning his BS in chemistry in 1954. He completed his PhD at Harvard in 1957 and returned that year to Caltech as an instructor.
In 1958 he was appointed assistant professor. Anson's entire career was spent at Caltech, where he served the institute in
a variety of teaching and administrative capacities. He served as the chairman of the Division of chemistry and Chemical Engineering
from 1984 to 1994. Research by Professor Anson and his group focused on the kinetics, mechanisms and catalysis of electrode
reactions. Particular emphasis was laid on understanding the behavior of reactants absorbed or otherwise attached to the surface
of electrodes.
The Anson Papers have been divided into four series, organized in thirty one archival boxes: Correspondence (1); California
Institute of Technology (2); Professional Organizations (3); and Biographical and Personal Material (4).
Series 1, Correspondence, which is divided into two subseries, makes up about two thirds of the collection and ranged from
the late 1950s to 2006. The first subseries contains incoming and outgoing mail from 1957 to 2003, organized in chronological
order. The second subseries contains correspondence ranges from 1957 to 2006, organized in alphabetical order, as was kept
by Professor Anson himself.
Series 2, California Institute of Technology, contains material that relates directly to the California Institute of Technology.
It covers mainly the administrative involvement of Professor Anson within the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
and within the Institute Two folders within the series contain sensitive material (folder 21.4 and 29.1), and thus will be
closed for an indefinite period.
Series 3 covers Professor Anson's involvement within professional organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences,
the National Science Foundation, the Electrochemical Society, and others.
Series 4, Biographical and Personal Material, contains a small amount of biographical material, dealing especially with Anson's
activity as a consultant to a variety of companies.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Correspondence
- Series 2. California Institute of Technology
- Series 3. Professional Organizations
- Series 4. Biographical and Personal Material
For further biographical information, researchers should refer to his oral history, conducted by Shirley K. Cohen in February
1997, which is deposited in the Caltech Archives. An online version can be found online at: http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Anson_F
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Electrochemistry
Inorganic chemistry