2017-04-11 Preliminary Inventory of the Thomas Alvin Boyd Papers, 1925-1982 SPEC.RARE.CMS.0043 Finding aid prepared by Zoe MacLeod, Beth Crowner Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2017 April; 2019 July

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 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2020-05-04T13:45-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Thomas Alvin Boyd Papers SPEC.RARE.CMS.0043 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 2.3 Cubic feet 1925-1982 Thomas Alvin Boyd was an internationally recognized authority on fuel chemistry and combustion, credited as being one of the inventors of tetraethyl lead gasoline. Boyd worked with General Motors Research Laboratories in Dayton, where he headed the Fuel Department. While at General Motors, he worked closely with Dr. Charles Franklin Kettering, an American inventor and engineer. The Thomas Alvin Boyd Papers contain the personal papers, correspondence, scrapbooks, diplomas, and publications of Thomas Alvin Boyd. Three autobiographical accounts are included, as well as many of Boyd’s speeches, unpublished papers, and other books and biographical accounts of his peers, such as Charles Franklin Kettering and Thomas Midgley. Boyd’s first book, Professional Amateur: The Biography of Charles Franklin Kettering is also included. The collection materials are dated 1925-1982. (4) 5" letter document boxes, (1) 5" oversize document box English Boyd, Thomas Alvin, 1888- Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

unknown

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Thomas Alvin Boyd Papers, SPEC.RARE.CMS.0043, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed. Finding aid written by: Zoe MacLeod, 2017 April; Beth Crowner, 2019 July

 Biographical Note

Thomas Alvin Boyd (born 1888) was an internationally recognized authority on fuel chemistry and combustion, credited as being one of the inventors of tetraethyl lead gasoline. Boyd received bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering, and a doctorate in 1953 from the Ohio State University. He then worked with General Motors Research Laboratories in Dayton, where he headed the Fuel Department. While at General Motors, he worked closely with Dr. Charles Franklin Kettering, an American inventor who developed the electric self-starter for automobiles. Boyd published two biographies on Kettering, as well as three autobiographical accounts and several other works dealing with the development of tetraethyl lead gasoline to extend fuel mileage. The proceeds from his first book, Professional Amateur: The Biography of Charles Franklin Kettering was also donated to Ohio State University. He also gave a series of lectures during the 1960s at OSU called the Thomas Alvin Boyd Lectures in Chemical Engineering. Boyd also funded the Thomas Alvin Boyd Lectureship in Engineering, and campaigned extensively to have a faculty chair named after Kettering.

 Scope and Contents

The Thomas Alvin Boyd Papers contain the personal papers, correspondence, scrapbooks, diplomas, and publications of Thomas Alvin Boyd. Three autobiographical accounts are included, as well as many of Boyd’s speeches, unpublished papers, and other books and biographical accounts of his peers, such as Charles Franklin Kettering and Thomas Midgley. Boyd’s first book, Professional Amateur: The Biography of Charles Franklin Kettering is also included. The collection materials are dated 1925-1982.

 Boyd, Thomas Alvin, 1888- Kettering, Charles Franklin, 1876-1958 Midgley, Thomas, 1889-1944 Ohio State University--Students. Authors, American--Ohio--20th century Autobiographies (literary works) Biographers--Ohio--20th century Biographies (literary works) Chemical engineers--Ohio--20th century Chemical engineers--United States--Biography Inventors--United States--Biography Manuscripts for publication Professional amateur: The biography of Charles Franklin Kettering Looking Back by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 1 1 1966 As I Remember It: 1888-1918 by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 1 2 1950 An Account of the Development of Lead Tetraethyl for Knock Suppression in Gasoline Engines by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 2 1 1964 The Years After Age 77 by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 2 2 1980 April Advances in Engines and Fuels: A History of Vital Pioneering in the Field by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 2 3 1958 Five Years of University Talks: A Summary Report by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 2 4 circa 1950s Some Recollections of Thomas Midgley, Jr. by Thomas Allen Boyd and Prof. Joseph J. Ermenc bound manuscript 2 5 1966 February Professional Amateur: The Biography of Charles Franklin Kettering by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 2 6 1957 Some Unpublished Speeches and Papers by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 3 1 undated Reviews of My Speeches and Experiences in Presenting Them by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 3 2 1982 Collected Reviews and Comments on the Five Books Authored by T. A. Boyd bound manuscript 4 1 1925-1969 Published Papers and Speeches of T. A. Boyd by Thomas Allen Boyd bound manuscript 4 2 undated Diplomas from Ohio State University 4 3 1938, 1953 Scrapbook 5 1 1973 December