Frank Hastings Griffin (July 16, 1886 – October 13, 1974) was an American chemist and inventor who developed the double-godet, a stretch-spinning process that created rayon from artificial silk. He served as chief chemist, general manager, vice president and as a member of the board of directors for American Viscose Corporation.
Frank Hastings Griffin | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 16, 1886 Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 13, 1974 (aged 88) Wawa, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Media Cemetery, Upper Chichester Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Swarthmore College Swarthmore PA (BS) Columbia University (MS) Drexel Institute of Technology Philadelphia, PA (Honorary Doctorate) |
| Occupation | Inventor |
Early life and education
editHe was born July 16, 1886, in Chester, Pennsylvania, to John and Nancy Hastings (nee Mills) Grffin.[1] He attended the Drexel Institute of Technology from 1903 to 1906[1] and graduated from Swarthmore College in 1910, where he was an All-American basketball player. He received his master's degree in chemical engineering from Columbia University in 1916, and an honorary doctorate from Drexel University in 1947.[2] He taught chemistry at Hahnemann Medical School from 1909 to 1915[1] and at Swarthmore College.[2]
Career
editGriffin worked at American Viscose Corporation from 1918 until his retirement. He developed the double-godet, a stretch-spinning process that created rayon from artificial silk.[3] Artificial silk was originally too soft for practical use, but with the double-godet it became usable as rayon in many industrial products such as tire cords and clothing.[4][2] He served as chief chemist, general manager, vice president and as a member of the board of directors for American Viscose. He also served as a director of the Southeast National Bank in Chester, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and the American Insulator Corp. He had four children: Adele Griffin MacCoy Sands, Frank Hastings Griffin, John Tyler Griffin, and Priscilla Griffin Schaefer.[2]
He died on October 13, 1974, in Wawa, Pennsylvania[2] and was interred at Media Cemetery in Upper Chichester Township, Pennsylvania.
References
edit- ^ a b c The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. J.T. White. 1979. p. 338. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Frank Hastings Griffin obituary". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 15 October 1974. p. 26. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Cook, Bonnie L. (25 September 2016). "F. Hastings Griffin Jr., 95, lawyer and star athlete". www.philly.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ Chester County News, October 15, 1974