Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Eric B. Denton papers, 1951-2015
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Denton, Eric B. (Eric Bruce)
- Title
- Eric B. Denton papers
- Dates
- 1951-2015 (inclusive)19512015
1951-1957 (bulk)19511957 - Quantity
- 0.42 cubic feet (1 box)
- Collection Number
- 5789
- Summary
- Papers by Denton regarding the Seattle Vanillin Plant
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Eric Denton earned his Master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Washington in 1951. Shortly after, he was hired by Monsanto Chemical Company as construction engineer for a new vanillin plant. The plant used a technique created by Collis Bryan to produce vanillin from pulp mill waste liquor which was sent by barge to Seattle from a sulfite-based mill in Bellingham. Denton’s colleagues included Phil Sharpe, design engineer, and Sharpe's assistant Bob LaRiviere. The plant opened in 1952 and eventually produced enough material to flavor most vanilla ice cream produced in the United States. It later became the Rhone-Poulenc Plant and closed in 1991.
(Biographical information from Denton’s introduction, box 1, folder 1)
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Documents written by Eric Denton describing the construction, operation, and components of the plant; news articles; reports; piping blueprints; and photographs. Also includes summary, written by Bob LaRiviere, of his role in the Seattle Vanillin Plant.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 5789-001: Eric B. Denton papers regarding Seattle Vanillin Plant and his personal career, 1951-2015 (bulk 1951-1957)Return to Top
Scope and Content: Documents written by Eric Denton describing the construction, operation, and components of the plant; news articles; reports; piping blueprints; and photographs.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Eric Denton, September 2013.
Processing Info: Processed by A. Demeter, 2013.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 1/1 | 5789-001 | Inventory from Denton and flash drive |
undated |
| 1/2 | 5789-001 | Project summary |
undated |
| 1/3 | 5789-001 | Summary of Bob LaRiviere's Role |
2015 |
| 1/4 | 5789-001 | Plant and extraction unit photographs
(copies) |
1954 |
| 1/5 | 5789-001 | Engineering team photographs (copies) – D. Dana,
Collis Bryan, Phil Sharpe, Eric Denton |
1953 |
| 1/6 | 5789-001 |
Seattle Times article on vanillin
debut |
31 October 1954 |
| 1/7 | 5789-001 | Startup team photograph – Howard Hand, Al
Christianson, Eric Denton |
1954 |
| 1/8 | 5789-001 | Letter to
Seattle Times from Eric
Denton |
1991 |
| 1/9 | 5789-001 | “Vanillin era over,”
Seattle Times article |
26 February 1991 |
| 1/10 | 5789-001 | Vanillin structural formula |
undated |
| 1/11 | 5789-001 | Production report |
August 1957 |
| 1/12 | 5789-001 | Work crew list |
November 1956 |
| 1/13 | 5789-001 | Safety report |
September 1957 |
| 1/14 | 5789-001 | Equipment list |
undated |
| 1/15 | 5789-001 | “Exhibits MNRST” - diagrams |
undated |
| 1/16 | 5789-001 | Cost estimate to add the 7th oxidation
reactor |
24 October 1957 |
| 1/17 | 5789-001 | P. Sharpe detailed design calculations |
1951 |
| 1/18 | 5789-001 | Eric’s career |
undated |
| 1/19 | 5789-001 | School Career Day presentation by Denton |
undated |
| 1/20 | 5789-001 | “Eric’s other credentials” -
personal, miscellany |
ca. 1951-1998 |
| 1/21 | 5789-001 | Oxidation (200 area) piping drawings |
1952 |
| 1/21 | 5789-001 | Alcohol extraction - 300 area piping |
1952 |
| 1/21 | 5789-001 | Toluene extraction - 400 area piping |
1952 ; 1955 |
| 1/21 | 5789-001 | Oil distillation (500 area) |
ca. 1955 |
| 1/21 | 5789-001 | Crystallization - 600 area piping |
1955 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Lignosulfonates
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
- Vanillin
- Wood-pulp industry--By-products
Personal Names
- Denton, Eric B. (Eric Bruce)--Archives
Corporate Names
- Monsanto Chemical Company
