Shellac Bureau

In 1940 most of the shellac imported into the United States came in through the docks of Brooklyn. It was, therefore, appropriate that W. H. Gardner had selected the Polytechnic as the site to establish a national testing laboratory a few years before. Research at the laboratory, called the Shellac Bureau, centered on evaluating the properties of this important natural resin. On assuming his position in Brooklyn, Mark was assigned to the Shellac Bureau. 

Letter, E. E. Turner to Miss Monkhouse, 19 December 1933, Bedford College Archives (held at Royal Holloway College). Dorothy Ellen Cook completed a B.Sc. at Bedford in 1933 and a Ph.D. in 1935. Her first position was Assistant to the Research Chemist at the Shellac Bureau, London then from 1936 to 1938, she was librarian at Imperial Chemical Industries. That year, she married Frank Stewart and ceased employment. Diana Lockhart obtained her B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees the same years as Cook. In 1936, she was a Demonstrator in the Biochemical Department at King s College, London. Then in 1952, it was reported that she was married to Mr. Huish, had school-age children, and was attempting to find work for interest. ... 

Dr. Mark was appointed head of the Shellac Bureau in 1939 and was promoted to a full professor in 1942. During the World War II years, Mark directed many research projects for the United States government. Among the many notable polymer scientists on his research teams were Drs. Turner Alfrey, Paul Doty, Isidor Fankuchen, W. Hohenstein, Arthur Tobolsky and B.H. Zimm. 

Shell Company 208,221 Shellac Bureau 148 Sherwin-Williams 183 Shriner, R.L. 175... 

Bureau of the Census, United States Imports of Merchandise for Consumption, Rept. No. FT 110, monthly and annual, 1820-. Imports of natural resins, shellac, etc. 

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