Consumer Reports. Morris Kaplan papers, 1948-1972

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Summary

Creator:
Consumer Reports (Firm)
Abstract:
Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936. Morris Kaplan was a chemist who served as Technical Director of Consumers Union from 1946 until his death in 1971. The Morris Kaplan papers include correspondence, articles, laboratory and research reports, speeches and other printed materials. Topics include automotive safety, cigarettes, food safety, government regulations, motor oil, quality control, safety standards, testing methods and textile labeling. Organizations represented in the collection include American Standards Association; International Organization of Consumers' Unions; National Bureau of Standards, and USA Standards Institute. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
6.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.11857

Background

Scope and content:

The Morris Kaplan papers include correspondence, articles, laboratory and research reports and other printed materials. Topics include automotive safety, cigarettes, food safety, government regulations, motor oil, quality control, safety standards, testing methods and textile labeling. Organizations represented in the collection include American Standards Association; International Organization of Consumers' Unions; National Bureau of Standards, and USA Standards Institute.

Biographical / historical:

Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936. Morris Kaplan was a chemist who served as Technical Director of Consumers Union from 1946 until his death in 1971. Kaplan was born in 1911 in New York. He attended City College of New York (BS Chemistry, 1932) and George Washington University (MS Organic Chemistry, 1939). He served as Assistant Director of hte Washington Office of the U.S. Customs Lab (1936-1942); Chemist at the U.S. Customs Laboratory (1942-1944); and Materials Engineer at the Philadelphia Navy Yard (1944-1947). Kaplan joined Consumers Union as Technical Director in 1946; in addition he served as Chairman of the International Organization of Consumers' Unions' Research Committee from its inception in 1960 until 1971. He died in 1971 and was succeeded as Technical Director by Monte Florman.

Acquisition information:
The Consumer Reports. Morris Kaplan papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, Sept. 2020; Accessions described in this collection guide: 2019-0130

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: General and Administrative Files; Slide Shows and Lectures

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

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Subjects:
Consumer education
Consumer advocacy
consumer protection
Product safety
Names:
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
International Organization of Consumers' Unions
Kaplan, Morris

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Consumer Reports. Morris Kaplan papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.