Consumer Reports. Irving Michelson papers, 1942-1981 and undated
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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. Irving Michelson was a chemist who directed the Special Projects and Public Service Projects departments during the 1950s-1960s. The Irving Michelson papers include clippings, correspondence, reprints of articles, research data, questionnaires, reports and other printed materials. Topics include air pollution, cigarette testing, economics, nuclear radiation and fallout, packaging standards, and seat belt design and testing. Much of the research discussed in the papers was conducted in Connecticut. Organizations represented include the British Consumers Association, Consumers Union, International Organization of Consumers' Unions, and the U.S. Defense Department. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
- Extent:
- 3.0 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.11819
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Irving Michelson papers include clippings, correspondence, reprints of articles, research data, questionnaires, reports and other printed materials. Topics include air pollution, cigarette testing, economics, nuclear radiation and fallout, packaging standards, and seat belt design and testing. Much of the research discussed in the papers was conducted in Connecticut. Organizations represented include the British Consumers Association, Consumers Union, International Organization of Consumers' Unions, and the U.S. Defense Department.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Consumer Reports is a product testing and consumer advocacy nonprofit organization based in Yonkers, N.Y., founded in 1936. Irving Michelson was a chemist who directed the Special Projects and Public Service Projects departments during the 1950s-1960s.
Irving Michelson was born in 1911 in New York. He graduated from Brooklyn College (BS chemistry, 1939). Michelson worked at the U.S. Naval Observatory (1930-1936) and the U.S. Customs Laboratory (1936-1947) before joining Consumers Union. Michelson served as head of the Chemical Division (1947-1952) and Special Projects Division (1952-1957) before being named Assistant Director of the Technical Division in 1957. In 1959 Michelson became Director of the Public Service Projects Division where he remained until he left Consumers Union in 1964 to become Director of Scientific Research at the America Safety Equipment Corporation. Michelson retired in 1976 and died in 2013.
- Acquisition information:
- The Consumer Reports. Irving Michelson papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2019.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Richard Collier, Mar. 2020
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2019-0130
- Arrangement:
-
Organized into the following series: General Files; Air Pollution; Nuclear Radiation/Fallout; Seat Belts
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Consumer Reports. Irving Michelson papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.