Van Zandt Williams, Norman E. Wright, and the Legacy of the Coblentz Society

Van Zandt Williams from Perkin-Elmer Corporation and American Cyanamid, and Norman E. Wright from the Dow Chemical Company have made significant contributions to the field of vibrational spectroscopy. Their efforts have been recognized through the annual Coblentz Society Williams-Wright Award, inaugurated in 1978. Wright and Williams officially founded the Coblentz Society in June 1954; sent out the first newsletter on May 10, 1955; and held the society’s first official meeting on June 16, 1955. Together, Williams and Wright were true pioneers in the formation and application of industrial infrared spectroscopy, and with Clara D. Smith Craver, in the organization and compilation of the first set of accurate reference infrared spectra for research comparison and industrial use. The importance of these early high-quality infrared spectra cannot be overstated.

Van Zandt Williams was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1916. Demonstrating academic promise early on, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in his hometown at age 21 in 1937, followed by a Ph.D. in physics at age 25 from Princeton University in 1941. After completing his formal education, Williams embarked on a professional journey with the Research Laboratories of American Cyanamid in Stamford, Connecticut. In the early 1940s, American Cyanamid produced agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, textile dyes and chemicals, consumer products, and paper chemicals. Williams employed industrial applications of infrared spectroscopy for identification, formulation, and problem solving for many of these American Cyanamid products (1,2).

In 1948, Williams made a significant career shift to the Perkin-Elmer Corporation, which had grown rapidly as a force in optical technology developments following World War II. Over the next seventeen years, he dedicated himself to enhancing infrared spectrophotometers, sampling accessories, and software tools, which had a transformative global impact on the field of organic chemistry by facilitating the rapid and precise infrared analysis and identification of compounds.

Van Zandt Williams

Williams instinctively contributed much technical expertise to the growing field of infrared spectroscopy and was also an active member of the optical scientific community. In addition to being a key founder of the Coblentz Society, he served on the Board of Directors for the Optical Society of America (OSA), where he initiated the “Optics in Action” program for promoting optics education, research, and awareness (1,2).

In 1965, Williams became director at the American Institute of Physics (AIP), working to advance the field of spectroscopy for many applications. Throughout his illustrious career, his passion for infrared spectroscopy never waned. He served as the first registrar of the Coblentz Society and rose to the position of executive vice president at Perkin-Elmer. His impactful life was cut short at age 50 in 1966 (1).

Norman E. Wright, an industrial spectroscopist and physicist (3), was born in 1906, and made significant contributions to the field of industrial infrared spectroscopy. After completing his formal education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he joined Dow Chemical Company in Midland Michigan in 1937. His initial assignment was to design and build an infrared spectrometer, and within four months, he was recording infrared spectra of chemicals that were of significant industrial interest. His work demonstrated that infrared spectroscopy was a powerful tool for characterizing pure materials and analyzing mixtures (2,4,5).

Norman E. Wright

Wright also played a crucial role in forming the Coblentz Society, serving as its first Chairman/President. He, along with Van Zandt Williams from Perkin-Elmer, were key figures in the society’s establishment and promotion as an important organization in the field of spectroscopic studies, specifically infrared spectroscopy, at the time of its foundation in June 1954. Wright’s efforts included giving influential talks at the American Chemical Society (ACS) meetings and publishing detailed infrared spectra and methodologies in the journal Analytical Chemistry, which spurred the growth of industrial and forensic infrared spectroscopy (2,4–6). Some of his research papers go into great depth and are valuable reading for spectroscopists, physicists, and scientific historians (5).

His legacy in vibrational spectroscopy is honored through the annual Williams-Wright Award. Despite his impactful work, Wright was known for being industrious and humble, avoiding the limelight. He passed away in 1992 at the age of 86, and beyond his professional achievements and publication record, little public biographical information is available about the details of his life and career (2,4).

The Coblentz Society is Founded

The following Coblentz Society Newsletter, Mailing No. 1, May 10, 1955, is reproduced with permission from the Coblentz Society (6). The newsletter describes the details of establishment of the society, its membership numbers, and the inaugural officers of the society. Editor’s notes are indicated in brackets.

“This represents the first mailing to the Coblentz Society, which, as of the above date, has 827 members. It is informal because the Society intends its first formal meeting at Columbus [Ohio] in June, as discussed below. The Executive Board met informally at Pittsburgh for its first discussion and has now completed its roster as follows. [Its initial membership fees were $1.00 per year.]

Norman Wright, Chairman [Dow Chemical Company]

Yan Zandt Williams, Registrar [Perkin-Elmer Corporation]

Howard Cary (Cary Instruments)

Bryce Crawford (University of Minnesota)

E. D. McAlister

Robert Oetjen

Eugene Rosenbaum

First Meeting of The Coblentz Society

“The Coblentz Society will hold its first meeting at the Ohio State Symposium on Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy, Thursday, June 16, 1955, at 8 p. m., in the New Physics Laboratory auditorium. With this meeting, the Society will come into official existence. As stated in the by-laws, the annual meetings of the Society will be for discussion, and there is certain to be plenty of material for interesting discussion at this first meeting. The Executive Board expresses a fervent wish that all the members of the Coblentz Society will find it possible to be present to take part in this inaugural meeting.”

The Coblentz Society Leadership: Early History

The Coblentz Society did indeed hold its first meeting at the Ohio State Symposium on Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy on Thursday, June 16, 1955, at 8 p. m., in the then new Physics Laboratory auditorium. With this meeting, the Coblentz Society was officially born (6). The executive board for the first meeting consisted of the following roster: Norman Wright, Chairman; Van Zandt Williams, Registrar; Howard Cary (Cary Instruments), Bryce Crawford (University of Minnesota); and researchers E. D. McAlister, Robert Oetjen, and Eugene Rosenbaum.

Here is some background information on the founders of the Coblentz Society:

1. Norman Wright was a leading industrial spectroscopist from Dow Chemical, contributing significantly to the formation and application of industrial infrared spectroscopy. He was the first recipient of the Williams-Wright Award in 1978, recognizing his outstanding contributions to vibrational spectroscopy while working in industry (7).
2. Van Zandt Williams worked at American Cyanamid’s Research Laboratories, continuing his research in the application of infrared spectroscopy to analytical chemistry. In 1948, he joined Perkin-Elmer Corporation, where he devoted the next 17 years to making infrared spectroscopy tools accessible to chemists and physicists. He also served as the director of the American Institute of Physics and was involved in various community-oriented programs (1).
3. Howard Cary founded Cary Instruments, which produced scientific equipment, especially spectrophotometers. His contributions to the field of analytical instrumentation helped establish Cary Instruments as a leader in the industry. Cary’s innovations in spectrophotometry and contributions to the Coblentz Society had a lasting impact on spectroscopic research and instrumentation.
4. Bryce L. Crawford, Jr. was a distinguished chemist and professor at the University of Minnesota, where his research focused on molecular spectroscopy and physical chemistry. His work contributed to the understanding of molecular structure through spectroscopic techniques. Crawford’s academic and scientific achievements have significantly impacted the field of spectroscopy.
5. E. D. McAlister was part of the early development and application of infrared spectroscopy. His role in the Coblentz Society involved promoting the use of vibrational spectroscopy in industry and academia.
6. Robert A. Oetjen was involved in the formation of the Coblentz Society and contributed to the advancement of infrared spectroscopy in industrial settings. He helped foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among spectroscopists.
7. Eugene Rosenbaum was another key figure in the early development of the Coblentz Society. He played a role in unifying infrared workers and providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative research.

These founders and early leaders collectively contributed to the advancement of vibrational spectroscopy and laid the groundwork for the Coblentz Society, initially fostering a community of scientists dedicated to the study and application of infrared spectroscopy and the formation of a compilation of high-quality infrared reference spectra.

The Coblentz Society: Contributions of Williams and Wright

During the late 1940s and early 1950s, chemical infrared (IR) spectroscopy was emerging as a rapidly growing field, bolstered by advancements in double-beam spectrometers and new techniques. The infrared spectrophotometer instruments at that time (1950s) were dispersive type in design, using a grating or prism to disperse the IR light. In these early instruments, the beam of infrared light was split into two paths (using an optical half-mirror beam splitter): one path passing through the sample and the other path through a reference (that is, a sample cell containing solvent or air). This double/dual-beam design helped to correct for fluctuations in the light source and electronics, improving measurement accuracy.

In 1964, Peter Fellgett, a British physicist and professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, introduced the idea of using a Michelson interferometer for IR spectroscopic measurements. This led to the development of the Fellgett’s Advantage, which states that Fourier transform spectroscopy could provide better signal-to-noise ratios compared to dispersive methods. It would not be until 1971, with improvements in microprocessors and computational devices for calculating the multipoint Fourier transform, that the first commercial FT-IR spectrometer was introduced by Digilab as the Model FTS-14.

The summer symposium at Ohio State University and the spring Pittsburgh Conference became key events for spectroscopists to exchange information. Recognizing the need for a unified organization, the Columbus Committee was formed in 1953, comprising Howard Cary, Bryce Crawford Jr., R. A. Oetjen, Eugene Rosenbaum, Van Zandt Williams, and Norman Wright. They proposed creating an association to address common issues and promote the field of infrared spectroscopy (8).

By June 1954, the Coblentz Society was officially established, named after William Weber Coblentz, whose early 20th-century work at Cornell University and the US National Bureau of Standards significantly advanced the application of infrared spectroscopy in chemistry. The society aimed to foster understanding and application of infrared spectra and promote international collaboration among spectroscopists (8,9).

Van Zandt Williams and Norman Wright were pivotal in the society’s formation. Wright had demonstrated the power of infrared spectroscopy for chemical analysis in 1937. His talks and publications spurred interest in the field, as he became the leader and first president of the Coblentz Society (5). Williams maintained a strong interest in infrared spectroscopy and improving infrared spectrophotometers throughout his career and served as the first registrar and serious promoter of the society (8).

The society engaged in numerous activities, including publishing quantitative infrared methods in the journal Analytical Chemistry and later in the journal Applied Spectroscopy. The initiative to publish the advancements of spectroscopy, managed by various editors over the years, provided a valuable resource for the scientific community. The Coblentz Society continues to honor its founders’ vision by promoting advancements in infrared and other types of vibrational spectroscopy, notably including near-infrared and Raman (2,8,10).

Happiness is a Class II Spectrum

In 1967, the Coblentz Society and the American Society for Testing and Materials (now ASTM International) embarked on a pioneering project to generate high-quality (class II) infrared reference spectra (10). This initiative aimed to enhance the precision and reliability of infrared spectroscopy, a critical tool for molecular identification and characterization.

Six infrared laboratories participated in this collaborative pilot project, each tasked with producing 25 spectra from a carefully selected pool of 57 pure chemical compounds. To ensure consistency and comparability, three of these compounds were analyzed by all participating laboratories. A paper describing this work, authored by A. Lee Smith of Dow Corning Corporation and W. J. Potts of The Dow Chemical Company, details the results and insights gained from this collaborative effort (10).

The importance and requirements of new high-quality reference spectra could not be overstated in the 1960s. Infrared spectroscopy relies heavily on accurate reference spectral libraries to identify and characterize molecular structures. Poor quality or mislabeled spectra can lead to erroneous conclusions, while high-quality reference spectra enhance the accuracy of mechanized and computerized identification systems. As these spectrophotometer and computer systems grew in complexity and the size of reference spectra files increased, the precision of the reference data became ever more critical. According to Erley (11), inaccuracies in the recorded peak wavelengths in reference spectral files significantly reduces the probability of correctly identifying unknown samples.

In 1966, the Coblentz Society Board of Managers (12), under the sponsorship of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), now NIST, formulated specifications for evaluating infrared spectra. These specifications classified spectra into three categories based on quality and purpose (4,10–12):

• Class I: Spectra that are completely independent of the spectrometer, akin to a physical constant of the material. Although no class I spectra had been produced at the time, advancements in Fourier transform spectrometers promised to make them a reality in the near future.
• Class II: High-quality spectra of pure materials, produced using optimal techniques using a good grating spectrometers.
• Class III: Approved analytical reference spectra, produced on high-quality NaCl prism spectrometers or grating spectrometers that do not meet class II standards.

To upgrade the quality of infrared reference spectra, the Coblentz Society had been publishing contributed spectra for over a decade. Starting in 1968, they focused on evaluated spectra, with at least 90% meeting class III standards or better. By 1971, they had published 2000 such spectra. The pilot study, conducted in collaboration with ASTM, aimed to assess whether it was more cost-effective to contract class II spectra for publication rather than adapting existing class III spectra.

Approximately 60 compounds meeting class II purity standards were donated by various chemical companies. Six laboratories, selected for their expertise and equipped with high-quality grating spectrometers, were provided with 12 compounds each, including three common to all laboratories for comparison. The laboratories were asked to scan spectra using two specified sampling techniques for each compound, such as KBr pellet and mull, or CCl₄/CS₂ solution and liquid capillary film. The Coblentz Society had previously published high-quality infrared reference spectra contributed by various laboratories (4).

Two of the common compounds presented special challenges in sample preparation, providing an additional test of the participants’ skills. The laboratories were also asked to provide cell blanks and indene reference spectra to document the performance of their spectrometers.

The pilot project successfully demonstrated the feasibility and importance of producing high-quality class II infrared spectra. The collaboration not only provided valuable reference data but also encouraged participating laboratories to adopt higher standards in their spectroscopic practices. This effort highlighted the critical role of precise and reliable reference spectra in advancing the field of infrared spectroscopy.

The Legacy of Williams and Wright: The Williams-Wright Award

This award is presented annually to an individual at the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy to an industrial spectroscopist who has made significant contributions to vibrational spectroscopy while working in industry. The work may include infrared or Raman spectroscopy, instrumental development as well as theory, and applications of vibrational spectroscopy. Government laboratories are not considered industry in this definition. The awardee must still be working at the time the award is presented (7).

An industrial spectroscopist award was established with Charles Angell as chairman of the first award committee (13,14). The following narrative text to establish the Williams-Wright Award is recorded in the Coblentz Society Newsletter No. 74, on April 25, 1978 (13):

The Williams-Wright Award

"The Williams-Wright Award (to honor the contributions of the late Dr. Vanzandt Williams and Dr. Norman Wright) has been established by the Coblentz Society. The purpose of the award is to recognize industrial spectroscopists who have made significant contributions to vibrational spectroscopy. These contributions may include instrument development, theory, or application of infrared or Raman spectroscopy. No restrictions are placed on the age, sex, or nationality of the awardee, but he must still be active at the time the award is presented.

Awardees are to be selected by a committee of spectroscopists; currently Charles Angell, Union Carbide, Chairman; Abram Davis, Hooker Chemical; R. W. Hannah, Perkin-Elmer; and Wilbur Yellin, Proctor & Gamble. Nominations for the 1979 award should be sent to Dr. Angell (Union Carbide Corporation, Tarrytown, N.Y.) before July 1, 1978 (13,14).”

In conclusion, the contributions of Williams and Wright are remembered and remain at the forefront and center of honors for industrial vibrational spectroscopy and the scientists dedicated to this field. We encourage our readers to consider nominating a worthy candidate for the Williams-Wright Award by following the link given in reference (7).

Acknowledgements

An excellent summary paper describing the history of spectrometer development and professional spectroscopic societies is found in reference (15). Images are from references (1,3). The author acknowledges the Coblentz Society Newsletter archive, and Ellen Miseo, Mary Carrabba, and Richard Crocombe for their kind assistance in providing additional source material for this article.

References

(1) Optica Van Zandt Williams Home Page https://www.optica.org/history/biographies/bios/van-zandt-williams/. This photograph is used under the Fair Use doctrine for educational and commentary purposes.

(2) Nyquist, R. A.; Craver, C. D. The Coblentz Society Desk Book of Infrared Spectra. The Coblentz Society, French Village, 1977. Current Version Home Page. https://members.coblentz.org/Sys/Store/Products/264337 (accessed 2024-07-08)

(3) American Institute of Physics Home Page. https://repository.aip.org/islandora/object/nbla:302649 This photograph is used under the Fair Use doctrine for educational and commentary purposes. Abstract/Description: from Harald H. Nielsen, Nelson Fuson, Harrison M. Randall and N. Wright after presentation. Cropped for Wright, Norman. (accessed 2024-05-24)

(4) (N1) National Institute of Standards and Technology Web Page. The Coblentz Society Desk Book of Infrared Spectra, Forward by A. Lee Smith, The Coblentz Society, 1985. https://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/coblentz/desk-bk.pdf (accessed 2024-05-22)

(5) Google Scholar Article Page for Norman E. Wright. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Norman+Wright+Dow+Chemical&oq=Norman+ (accessed 2024-05-24)

(6) THE COBLENTZ SOCIETY NEWSLETTER, Mailing No. 1, May 10, 1955. https://www.coblentz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MailingNo1.pdf (accessed 2024-05-24)

(7) The Coblentz Society Williams-Wright Award Home Page. https://www.coblentz.org/awards/the-williams-wright-award/ (accessed 2024-06-25)

(8) Smith A. L.; Kiley, L. R. Infrared Quantitative Analytical Data Indices. Appl. Spectrosc. 1964, 18 (2), 3856. DOI: 10.1366/000370264789620682

(9) The Coblentz Society William-Weber-Coblentz Web Page. https://www.coblentz.org/william-weber-coblentz/ (accessed 2024-05-24)

(10) Smith, A. L.; Potts W. J. Happiness is a Class II Spectrum. Appl. Spectrosc. 1972, 26 (2), 262–269. DOI: 10.1366/000370272774352308

(11) Erley, D. S. 1968. Fast Searching System for the ASTM Infrared Data File. Anal. Chem. 1968, 40 (6), 894–898. DOI: 10.1021/ac60262a033

(12) The Coblentz Society Board of Managers. Specifications for Evaluation of Infrared Reference Spectra. Anal. Chem. 1966, 38, (9), 27A–38A. DOI: 10.1021/ac60241a722

(13) THE COBLENTZ SOCIETY NEWSLETTER, Mailing No. 74, April 25, 1978. https://www.coblentz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Newsletter74.pdf (accessed 2024-05-24)

(14) Workman, Jr., J. Icons of Spectroscopy Laureate Series: Eponym Spectroscopy Awards. Spectroscopy 2023. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/eponym-spectroscopy-awards (accessed 2024-06-24).

(15) Crocombe, R. A. The Interplay Between Spectrometer Development and Professional Spectroscopic Societies. Appl. Spectrosc. 2024, 78 (5), 449–455. DOI: 10.1177/00037028241233307

About the Author

Jerome Workman, Jr. serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Spectroscopy and is the Senior Technical Editor for LCGC and Spectroscopy. He is the co-host of the Analytically Speaking podcast and has published multiple reference text volumes, including the three-volume Academic Press Handbook of Organic Compounds, the five-volume The Concise Handbook of Analytical Spectroscopy, the 2nd edition of Practical Guide and Spectral Atlas for Interpretive Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, the 2nd edition of Chemometrics in Spectroscopy, and the 4th edition of The Handbook of Near-Infrared Analysis. ●