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Joseph Andrew Brink Papers, 1923-1978

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Brink, Joseph Andrew
Title
Joseph Andrew Brink Papers
Dates
1923-1978 (inclusive)
Quantity
5 containers., (4.25 linear feet of shelf space.), (2310 items.)
Collection Number
Cage 466
Summary
Correspondence, reports, articles, publications, research notes, technical data and other papers of a Washington State University researcher and industry consultant concerning the development of the Brink Mist Eliminator and other pollution control devices.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Joseph Andrew Brink was born July 8, 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri. He received his B.S. in 1947 and M.S. in 1948 both in Chemical Engineering from Denver University. Following graduation, he worked as a research engineer at the Denver Research Institute. From 1949-1954 he was an Instructor and then Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue. Brink completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Purdue in 1953.

In order to gain the industrial experience he felt he needed, Dr. Brink joined the Monsanto Chemical Company's Inorganic Research Department in 1954. His work centered around air pollution control. Brink's first project resulted in the development of fiber bed mist eliminators which were trademarked by Monsanto as the Brink Mist Eliminator (BME) in honor of his achievement. Brink was the only engineer in Monsanto's history to have a line of products bear his name.

After 19 years with Monsanto in various upper level research and management positions, Dr. Brink returned to education in 1973 as Chariman of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Washington State University. The WSU isotope laboratory and air pollution research branch were both under Brink's management. During this period he was also president of Brink and Associates, a private consulting firm.

Throughout his career, Dr. Brink received numerous awards and honors including the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award of Purdue University. In addition, he authored over 70 technical publications and patents.

Brink died suddenly on March 15, 1979 at his home in Moscow, Idaho.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 466, Joseph Andrew Brink Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The Joseph A. Brink papers have been arranged in nine series: Articles and Reports by Brink, 1948-1975; Biographical and Personal, 1954-1977; Brink and Associates, 1975-1978; Conferences and Meetings, 1966-1972; Correspondence, 1950-1978; Pollution Control--Brink Mist Eliminator, 1923-1978; Reference Materials, 1923-1978; Washington State University, 1974-1978; and Work Files, 1955-1978.

These groups were artificially created by the processor due to the lack of perceived order in the collection. Much of the material is heavily interrelated. For example, the Reference Materials section contains information per taining to Brink's various work projects, which are located in the Work File. Although the collection dates fom 1923 through 1978, there are only a few items which predate 1948. The vast majority of the material in the collection dates from the mid-1950s through the 1970s.

The groups are arranged alphabetically by subject as are all of the folders in each group. Wherever possible, Dr. Brink's own folder headings have been preserved and material within folders was kept in its original order.

Series 1, Articles and Reports by Brink, 1948-1975, contains various technical or industry related reports and articles which Brink authored or co-authored. His master's thesis and doctoral dissertation are included. Some of the papers were translated into Spanish, Italian, French or German. These foreign language papers have been grouped together and placed at the end of this series.

Series 2, Biographical and Personal, 1954-1977, contains resumes, biographical sketches, awards, transcripts, newspaper clippings and other personal memorabilia.

The third series, Brink and Associates, 1975-1978, is made up of records from Brink's private consulting firm. Most of the items are financial in nature, such as check stubs, a record book, bank statements, and receipts. A prospectus for an ammonia/urea plant is also included.

The fourth series, Conferences and Meetings, 1966-1977 contains information and records from various trade-related events which Brink attended. Correspondence, itineraries and schedules make up the bulk of the material.

Correspondence, 1950-1978, the fifth series, is comprised mainly of correspondence relating to the profession or professional societies. Associations such as The American Chemical Society and the American Institute of Chemical Engineering are included.

The sixth series, Pollution Control--Brink Mist Eliminators, 1923-1978, is divided into two groups, Advertising and Patents. Advertising consists mainly of Monsanto pamphlets and brochures on Brink Mist Eliminators (BME) in English and foreign languages. Technical and sales bulletins are included. Also there are several articles dealing with air pollution which specifically mention the BME and/or Dr. Brink. In addition, photographs of the BME and its various components are located here. The second subgroup, Patents, contains copies of patents granted for BME's in Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. Copies of a patent dealing with glass fibers is also included.

Series 7, Reference Materials, 1923-1978, is the largest group in this collection. It contains a wide variety of information which Dr. Brink collected over the years on many aspects of air pollution, air pollution con trol equipment, chemical engineering, and other technologies in this field. It is assumed he used these materials in his research and consulting work. Items such as reports, articles, and papers are included, advertising pamphlets make up a great deal of this group.

The eighth series, Washington State University, 1974-1978, has been divided into two subgroups: Correspondence and Research. Correspondence consists of letters to collegues and other University chemical engineering departments, letters to and replies from possible participants in an Environmental Exposition WSU attempted to sponsor, personnel files and information on enrollment restrictions. The Research subgroup contains papers concerning coal research, fibers, fertilizer plants and patent disclosure decisions.

The ninth and last series, Work Files, 1955-1978, concerns various records of Dr. Brinks's work with several clients both while at Monsanto and Brink and Associates. Drawings, photos, blueprints for equipment, records, mist eliminator work and reports are contained in this section.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Joseph Andrew Brink were donated to the Washington State University Libraries in June 1979 (MS 79-23) by his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Brink.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Chemistry, Technical--Research
  • Pollution control equipment--Research

Personal Names

  • Brink, Joseph A. (Joseph Andrew), 1925-1979. --Archives (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Barbara Kovarik Gahl
2012

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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