Front of Putnam Fadeless Dyes Tin Sign, circa 1920s. 📷 Science History Institute

If you love the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall leaves, then you’ll love learning about the chemistry of color and the history of dyes. Start by reading a Distillations article about the enduring appeal of tie-dye, followed by a Science at Home video that will show you how to tie-dye your own shirt. Our tutorial will also introduce you to British chemist William Henry Perkin, whose lab accident in 1856 led to the discovery of the first synthetic dye, now known as Perkin’s mauve. And while we do encourage you to explore all the colorful items in our digital collections, we also recommend taking in some of those fall hues on the way to our museum to see our new Downstream exhibition, which the Philadelphia Inquirer calls a “must-see.”

In Memoriam

Frederick Frank May 31, 1932–September 11, 2021 The Science History Institute mourns the loss of Frederick Frank, an esteemed member of our Board of Overseers and the recipient of our 2021 Biotechnology Heritage Award. A true visionary who was considered a giant in the biotech industry, the EVOLUTION Life Science Partners founder and chairman played a key role in shaping the $500 billion pharmaceutical industry as an innovator of biotech investment. Frank’s numerous honors also include the 2019 Richard J. Bolte Sr. Award for Supporting Industries, which was presented during the Institute’s annual Heritage Day Awards.

Programs & Events

Digitizing Materiality Online Workshop Series The Materialized Body, Digitization, and Surrogacy

Thursday, September 23, 2021 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. EDT

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The second session of this workshop series will explore medieval manuscripts, early modern pop-up books, 18th-century paintings, and 19th-century wax modeling from the Wellcome Collection.

Varsity Tutors Virtual Class Series  Disease in the Water: Typhoid Fever

Thursday, September 30, 2021 4:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m. EDT

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Nyomi Gonzalez, the Institute’s education and interpretation specialist, will lead this virtual class hosted by Varsity Tutors, where students will learn about typhoid fever in Philadelphia and what politicians did to protect residents from it.

Side view of aquaporin 1 channel. 📷 Wikimedia Commons

Ullyot Public Affairs Lecture Series  Aquaporin Water Channels: From Atomic Structure to Malaria

Thursday, September 30, 2021 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. EDT

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This year’s Ullyot Public Affairs Lecture features medical scientist and Nobel laureate Peter Agre, who will talk about the special role of water in biology and his transition into malaria research in the laboratory and in the field in sub-Saharan Africa where malaria remains a major killer of children.

Joseph Priestley Society Virtual Talk Series  New Cheese on the Block: Pleese Foods and the Future of Pizza

Thursday, October 7, 2021 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. EDT

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October’s JPS virtual talk features Pleese Foods founder Kobi Regev, who will talk about the creation of Pleese Cheese, a plant-based cheese worthy of New York pizza.

Distillations

Illustration from Marie Josephine Carr’s The Charm of Color, 1928. 📷 Science History Institute

Fit To Be Dyed The enduring appeal of tie-dye. Read the article >>

Colors Run Riot Ever had trouble matching an outfit? Discover how color consultants solved a problem created by chemistry. Read the book review >>

To Dye For Kelli Caldwell is using an abandoned lot in West Philadelphia to grow an unusual garden, one that provides the raw materials for her dyes. Read the article >>

Selections from Our Digital Collections

Detail of the page on primary colors from the National Certified Food Colors sample book, 1930. 📷 Science History Institute

Red and Yellow and Pink and Green, Purple and Orange and Blue Please feel free to sing everything you see as you browse all the colors of the rainbow found in our digital collections: Sample of Perkin’s Mauve, inset fabric sample from The Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 1906 American Aniline Products Dye Sample Box, display box of various products colored with dyes, undated Der Bildungstrieb der Stoffe, sample book of paper chromatography, 1858 It's Easy to Dye with Diamond Dyes, tin sign advertising dyes manufactured by Wells, Richardson & Co., 1885–1910 Badische Anilin & Soda-Fabrik Dye Label with Elephant, advertisement for the German chemical factory, circa 1900 Indanthren Dyeings on Rayon (Viscose) Yarn, sample book published by the General Dyestuff Corporation, after 1920

Scientist Spotlight

William Henry Perkin: Pioneer in Synthetic Organic Dyes, oil on masonite by Jerry Allison, 1980. 📷 Science History Institute

William Henry Perkin While attempting to produce quinine for the treatment of malaria, British chemist William Henry Perkin (1838–1907) accidentally synthesized mauve, the earliest synthetic dye. In 1906 the Society of Chemical Industry created the Perkin Medal to commemorate his discovery and awarded the first medal to its namesake at a banquet in his honor. The room was festooned with banners dyed a brilliant Perkin’s mauveine, a piece of which is on display in our museum. Today the award is presented as part of the Institute’s annual Innovation Day program, which just took place on September 14. Read Perkin’s biography >>

Support Our Mission

Now more than ever it’s important to tell the stories of science. Help us continue this work by supporting the Science History Institute. Give now >> You can also support the Institute while shopping on Amazon at smile.amazon.com or by asking Alexa to donate to the Science History Institute.

Stay Connected

Visit sciencehistory.org/learn and discover the stories of science. Resources and activities include digital exhibitions, role-playing games for students, and Distillations articles, podcasts, and videos. Comments, suggestions, or questions? Contact us at enews@sciencehistory.org.

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