| Description |
sound files digital, mp3 file |
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Transcript : (135 leaves) ; 29 cm. |
| Series |
Chemical Heritage Foundation Oral history transcript ; 0680.
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| Note |
This oral history is one in a series initiated by the Chemical Heritage Foundation on behalf of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. |
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The series documents the personal perspectives of individuals related to the advancement of mass spectrometric instrumentation, and records the human dimensions of the growth of mass spectrometry in academic, industrial, and governmental laboratories during the twentieth century. |
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This project is made possible through the generous support of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. |
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Interview conducted by Michael A. Grayson at Orange County Convention Center, Oralndo, Florida. |
| Summary |
Marvin L. Vestal obtained both bachelor's and master's degrees in Engineering Sciences from Purdue University, taking a break after two years to volunteer for the draft; he finished his undergraduate degree and master's degree on the GI Bill, coming out of Purdue with no college debt. During college he worked part time at Johnston Laboratories, meeting there Henry Rosenstock and Merrill Wallenstein, who had studied at the University of Utah under Austin Wahrhaftig and Henry Eyring, and who developed the quasi-equilibrium theory (QET) of mass spectrometry (MS). Vestal worked on the coincidence time-of-flight (TOF) project and also improved the machine with his invention of an electron multiplier. He founded Scientific Research Instrument Corporation (SRIC), with Gordon Fergusson, William Johnston (of Johnston Labs), and Bob Jones. The company licensed the new process chemical ionization (CI) from its inventors, Burnaby Munson and Frank Field. Ever restless, Vestal decided that the academic world held appeal, so he went to the University of Utah for a PhD in chemical physics, studying under Wahrhaftig and Futrell. He built a triple quadrupole MS for photodissociation; with Calvin Blakely he built a crossbeam MS for his dissertation. PhD in hand, Vestal accepted a position at the University of Houston, where he stayed for eleven years. During those years he invented and patented thermospray and started another company, Vestec, which did so well he had to leave the University to work at Vestec (the company commercialized MALDI/TOF instruments). Vestec's merger with PerSeptive, led by Noubar Afeyan, eventually led to the merger with Applied Biosystems. After retiring for a short while, Vestal founded Virgin Instruments. |
| Cite As |
Marvin L. Vestal, interviewed by Michael A. Grayson at Orange County Convention Center, Oralndo, Florida. (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript 0680). |
| Note |
Sound files Science History Institute. |
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Transcript Science History Institute. |
| Use |
No restrictions on access. Reproduction and use with permission. Chemical Heritage Foundation. |
| Note |
Born in Pendleton, Indiana on 8 September 1934. Education: B.S., Engineering Sciences, Purdue University (1958), M.S., Engineering Sciences, Purdue University (1960), Ph.D., Chemical physics, University of Utah (1975). Employment: 1958-1967 Johnston Laboratories ; 1967-1976 Scientific Research Instruments Corp. ; 1976-1987 University of Houston ; 1983-1993 Vestec Corporation, Houston Texas ; 1993-2004 PerSeptive Biosystems, Framingham, Massachusetts ; 2004- Virgin Instruments. |
| Indexes |
Transcript has been indexed. |
| Note |
Part or all of this item has been digitized by Science History Institute. |
| Subject(s) |
Vestal, Marvin L., (Marvin Leon) 1934- -- Interviews.
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American Society for Mass Spectrometry.
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American Society for Testing and Materials.
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Chemists -- Biography.
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Chemists -- Interviews.
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Mass spectrometry -- History.
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Mass spectrometers -- History.
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| Genre |
Oral histories. lcgft
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Interviews. aat
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| Alternate Author |
Grayson, Michael A. interviewer.
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Chemical Heritage Foundation.
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American Society for Mass Spectrometry.
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| Alternate Title |
Marvin L. Vestal oral history interview |
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