Historic Chemistry Images

All historic images presented in this slideshow are provided courtesy of the Science History Institute in Philadelphia, PA. Scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the dots beneath the slideshow to return to specific images.

Chemist experimenting with the Saran Bubble, 1955
Display demonstrating Styrofoam used as Insulation, 1964
Display highlighting Willard Dow and the Saran Wrap his company produced
Styrofoam insulation exhibits, 1964
Woman reclining in a chair made of Dow Chemical products
Here a woman is working diligently with Saran at Plant Box 10, 1944
More recent advances in Styrofoam Insulation, 1990
Saran Squares were a common way to sell Saran to the public, 1968
Early advertisement for Zip Loc bags made by Dow, 1965
Two chemists conferring with each other about the work of the electron microscope at Dow, 1952
Man displaying properties of Saran Wrap, 1963
Elephant carving named Ned Abby made completely of Styrofoam, 1980
Styrofoam used as a construction adhesive was a popular building product, 1986
In this portion of Plant Box 10 Saran Bubbles were created, 1951
The Dow Agricultural Greenhouse was cared for by members of the chemical community, 1941
A mannequin wearing Saran fabric clothing, 1951
Children admiring a Christmas tree made of Saran, 1964
Dow Chemical image celebrating the 40 year anniversary of the invention of Styrofoam, 1988
A variety of Saran Wrap Products, 1963
Unidentified female employee using a pipette to transfer a solution at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia, 1940s
Saran being produced in mass, 1955
As a part of their marketing campaign images such as this one showed the light weight of Styrofoam, 1949
An image of the Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland where chemicals were tested, 1919
Two models stand on a piece of Styrofoam manufactured at Dow demonstrating its strength, 1949
Male chemist working in a laboratory, 1920s
Woman working with chemicals, pre-1928
"Anything Goes With Styrofoam" Advertisement, 1986
Woman in grocery store featuring Dow Chemical products including Saran Wrap
Laboratory staff working with radiation while using little safety protection, 1959
Chemists monitoring the application of chemicals at Dow Seal Beach, CA, 1952
Specialist working in the Aromatics Laboratory at Dow Chemical, 1955
A group of dolls with hair made from Saran, 1951
The microscope at Dow in the Metallurgy Laboratory in Midland is crucial
Early chemistry students explore the possibilities of science, 1910
Woman chemist experimenting in a laboratory, 1920
An unknown woman working in a laboratory poses for a picture, 1920s
A large group of women working in a laboratory
Chemist using rats for experiments at the Dow Biochemical building, 1952
A wider view of Plant Box 10 where Saran was produced, 1951
A display of the many Saran product designs
A portion of the Saran packing plant, 1955
The implementation of Styrofoam Insulation in house construction, 1991
An early image of Plant Box 7 Main, an important building in the operations of Dow, 1944
Chemist working in the Dow Biochemical building, 1952
An unknown male employee working at the Dow Seal Beach, CA laboratory, 1952
Sandwich bags produced by Dow Chemical
Saran Wrap 1A, a way people could purchase Saran in stores , 1971
Styrofoam product boxes were used to transport large amount of Styrofoam around the country, 1948
This electron microscope was highly important to the operations at Dow, 1950s
This is an image of the Physical Properties Laboratory, 1949

Sign Up for Events and Volunteer Opportunities