American Can Company in Princeton

By John A. Church

In 1964, American Can Company established a corporate research & development laboratory on North Harrison Street in Princeton. The mission of this laboratory was to carry out fundamental and long-range work in areas of interest to the company that could not easily be done at the divisional laboratories in Wisconsin, Illinois, and other locations that specialized more in short-range applied development work.

 

American Can at that time was a diversified company that produced not only metal cans but also a variety of paper and plastic goods for both commercial and direct consumer use. Hence the laboratory was staffed with scientists and engineers representing a wide variety of disciplines to address the tasks at hand. Employment reached a maximum of about 80 at one point in the late 1970’s, but had gradually declined to about 45 by the time the facility was closed in 1983. Closure was due to a decision by management to divest out of manufacturing operations and become heavily involved with financial services. Many of the staff were successful in finding appropriate positions in the local area.

My Favorite Professor

By Dr. Charles N. Muldrow, a 50-year member of the ACS

In 1957 I was accepted for doctoral programs in chemistry at Princeton University and at the University of Virginia. To investigate the latter school, I went to Charlottesville, Virginia. There a friend from undergraduate days at the College of Charleston enthusiastically recommended his research supervisor, a young Assistant Professor, Dr. Loren Hepler, and introduced me to him. Loren was from Kansas and had obtained his Ph.D. in physical chemistry under Nobel laureates at the University of California at Berkeley. He offered research in solution calorimetry of inorganic compounds of chromium and molybdenum.

 

 I decided to attend the University of Virginia, which offered small classes and individual attention. My doctoral dissertation was under Dr. Hepler. He was a wonderful teacher and dear friend. He made his courses in inorganic and physical chemistry interesting and clear, but challenging. He required excellence in our laboratory work and in writing papers for the Journal of the American Chemical Society and the Journal of Physical Chemistry.

He and his wife Olivia often invited his graduate students over to their home for dinner and bridge. Another graduate student was working slowly despite being married and a father. I heard Loren counsel the student in a kind but firm way. The professor got the student working hard and finishing up his research.

 

While studying at the University of Virginia, I met and courted Miss Nancy Fugelso, who was attending Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Dr. Hepler wanted to meet my fiancée and invited us to dinner. I remember his coming to the car one rainy evening with an umbrella to greet us. I believe that he wanted to be sure that I was marrying the right young lady.

 

I received my Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, and Nancy is now my beloved wife of almost 45 years. Professor Hepler went on to become a full professor at the University of Calgary in Canada. We kept up over the years, and he helped me with appropriate references. I have many admiring memories of the late Professor Hepler, who encouraged his students to improve in many ways. I regard him as an ideal Professor of Chemistry.