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Finding Aid for the Donald E. H. Frear Papers


Penn State University Archives

Descriptive Summary:

This collection of the papers of agricultural biochemistry professor Donald E. H. Frear includes correspondence, papers, article reprints, research materials, and student records

Donald E. H. Frear served as professor of agricultural biochemistry at Pennsylvania State University (1945-1969) and professor emeritus of chemical pesticides (1969-1973).

Extent:

1 cubic feet plus 0 items

Date Span:

1944-1964

History or Biographical Notes:

Donald E.H. Frear, professor of Agricultural Biochemistry at Penn State (1945-1969) and professor emeritus of chemical pesticides (1969-1973), was a pioneer in chemical pesticide research. His work focused on the chemistry of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, plant nutrition and chemistry, and the relation of chemical structure to biological properties.
Frear was born in South Eaton, PA, on September 16, 1906. He received a B.S. from the Pennsylvania State College in 1926. After completing a M.S. at New Hampshire, he returned to Penn State and received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Biochemistry in 1937.
Frear's professional association with the Pennsylvania State College (later The Pennsylvania State University) spanned over 38 years. His first teaching appointment, in 1930, was as an instructor of Animal Nutrition in the Department of Animal Nutrition. His career continued in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Chemistry. When the colleges and departments were restructured, he became Professor of Chemical Pesticides in the Department of Entomology. He was serving as the director of the Pesticides Research Laboratory and Graduate Study Center at the time of his retirement on January 1, 1969.
Frear authored the first book on the chemistry of pesticides published in the United States. He wrote 32 books and over 125 articles in the field of chemical pesticides. The originator of The Pesticide Handbook, Frear served as the editor of this annual publication for over 20 years. He pioneered in the development of a chemical coding system. He initiated the development of a code to facilitate the investigations of possible correlations between chemical structure and biological activities in a large group of organic and inorganic compounds designated as insecticides and fungicides. He advocated the use of punch cards in connection with codes for chemical structures. This work was the basis for a more elaborate code developed later by the Chemical Codification Committee of the National Research Council. In 1963, Frear conducted a survey of non-conventional notation systems used in Europe. That same year, he attended the Fifth International Pesticides Conference in London, and conducted a study of molluscides at the request of the World Health Organization.
An original member of the Food Protection Committee of the National Research Council, Frear served as chairman of its chemical subcommittee for five years. In 1961 he received the Award for Distinguished Service from the Food Law Institute. Frear was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho and Alpha Zeta (professional agriculture fraternities), Alpha Chi Sigma (professional chemistry fraternity) and four honor societies: Phi Lambda (Chemistry), Sigma Xi (Science), Gamma Sigma Delta (Agriculture), and Phi Sigma (Biological Sciences).

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in three series, Correspondence, Raymond A. Dutcher materials, and Students.

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of correspondence, papers, manuscripts and article reprints, student records relating to Frear's academic career, particularly his research on pesticides and to his membership in Sigma Xi and Phi Sigma. A portion of the collection is devoted to biographical material collected by Frear on his colleague, Raymond A. Dutcher, and the establishment of the Dutcher Memorial Fund at Penn State.

Restrictions:

The series, Students, is restricted until the death of students involved.  This collection is located off site; please allow three days for retrieval before use.


Box No./Folder No.File/Item TitleYear RangeNo. ItemsRestrictedFormatLocation
 

SERIES: 1: Correspondence

1/01Af-Az1944-19521NoTextual.. . AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/02BUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/03Cirea-Chemical and Engineering NewsUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/04DUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/05E-FUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/06GUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/07H-IUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/08J-LUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/09Ma-MelUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/10N-OUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/11P-QUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/12RUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/13SUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/14TUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/15UUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/16VUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/17W-ZUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
 

SERIES: 2: Raymond Adams Dutcher Materials

1/18Biographical MaterialsUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/19Notification of his Death, Published ObituariesUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/20Raymond Adams Dutcher Memorial Scholarship FundUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/21Nominatins and supporting materials for Apparatus Makers Awards in Chemical Education and Charles F. Spencer AwardUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
1/22Correspondence re: Frear's Solicitation of Testimonial LettersUndated1NoTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926
 

SERIES: 3: Student Records

1/23Student Records [RESTRICTED]Undated1YesTextual...AX/CATO/PSUA/04926