Mellon Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 1966-1971

The Freeman F. Bentley Papers consist primarily of materials regarding his career in the field of spectroscopy. The majority of the material in this collection is scientific in nature and includes test results, data sheets, technical reports and articles. Bentley was actively involved in the scientific community as a member of professional organizations such as the Society of Applied Spectroscopy, the American Chemical Society, and the Coblentz Society. He also authored (in whole or part) several books and numerous articles.

Series I, Professional Life, is consists of materials relating to Freeman F. Bentley’s career, with materials dating from 1943 to 2006, and is divided into three subseries. Subseries IA, Symposiums and Organizations, consists of materials that Bentley collected at the various symposiums and conferences he attended, including correspondence, newsletters, and notes on conference speeches, as well as abstracts and some membership directories. The majority of the materials come from the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy (an annual conference that Bentley attended numerous times), Society of Applied Spectroscopy, American Chemical Society, Ohio Valley Chromatography Symposium, and Coblentz Society (of which Bentley served a term as president). Materials in Subseries IA date from 1957-2006. Subseries IB, Job Searching Materials, consists of career summaries, resumes, and job-search-related correspondence, including reference letters. Of particular interest may be the Career Summaries, which give detailed descriptions of Bentley’s professional qualifications and job duties. Materials in Subseries IB date from 1951-1986. Subseries IC, General Work Materials, consist of monthly reports related to specific contracts, such as with Mellon Institute or Monsanto Corporation; materials related to training and instruction (both as teacher and student), such as at the Army Chemical Corps and University of Dayton; materials related to Bentley’s time in the Army; and other materials. Materials in Subseries IC date from 1943-1995.

Series II, Lab Work, is consists of materials that are a result of Bentley’s time in the laboratory, with materials dating from X to Y, and is divided into three subseries. Subseries IIA, Reports, consists of written reports on topics related to Bentley’s laboratory and spectroscopy work. Bentley authored several of these reports, which are indicated in the collection inventory with Bentley’s name in parenthesis. Materials in Subseries IIA date from 1937 to 1986, with the bulk being from 1955 to 1975. Subseries IIB, Manuals, consists of manuals of the laboratory machinery that Bentley used in his testing. Materials in Subseries IIB date from 1945 to 1991. Subseries IIC, Data and Results, consists of undated test result sheets and corresponding data sheets.

Series III, Business Ventures, consists of materials related to Bentley’s life outside of his career. Included in this series are materials on independent business endeavors, such as his work through the Babee-Tenda Corporation, the Burger Chef Franchise, and his personal interest in chinchilla breeding. Materials in this series date from 1954 to 1963.

Series IV, Legal Matters, consists of materials related to the age-discrimination lawsuits that Bentley brought against the federal government as a result of a change in his position in the mid-1970s. Materials include Records of Proceedings, exhibits, appeals, and various subject files relevant to the proceedings. Materials in this series are minimally processed and date from approximately 1975 to 1981.