Rubin Borasky Electron Microscopy Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Borasky, Rubin, 1910-1988
label: Creator
content: Schaeffer, Asa Arthur
label: Creator
content: Borasky, Charlotte S., Mrs.
label: Names
content: Electron Microscopy Society of America.
label: Names
content: General Electric Company
label: Names
content: Temple University.
label: Names
content: United States. Department of Agriculture
label: Names
content: University of Illinois.
topic: label: Topic
content: Electron microscopy
label: Topic
content: Electron microscopes
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated by Charlotte S. Borasky, August 1, 1992.
creator: label: Creator
content: Borasky, Rubin, 1910-1988
label: Creator
content: Schaeffer, Asa Arthur
label: Creator
content: Borasky, Charlotte S., Mrs.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Rubin Borasky Electron Microscopy Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: A collection of material relating to electron microscopes.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Rubin Borasky (1910-     ) was born in Philadelphia, PA and was educated at Temple University (AB in 1932, AM in 1936, Ph. D. in 1950).  He was employed as a teaching assistant at Temple 1932 1934 and as a teacher in Philadelphia secondary schools 1934-1939.  Later he worked as a biologist and chemist in U. S. Department of Agriculture, as senior scientist (electron microscopy) for the General Electric Company and as electron micographer at the University of Illinois.  He was a member of the Electron Microscopy Society of America and other professional societies in the field of electron microscopy.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5 Cubic feet (16 boxes
)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1930-1988
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0452
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Photomicrographs
label: Type
content: Electron micrographs
label: Type
content: Correspondence
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into seven series. 

Series 1: Personal, 1948-1987

Series 2: Surveys of Colleagues and Responses, 1959-1982

Series 3: Other Correspondence, 1940-1988

Series 4: Electron Microscopy Societies, 1942-1974

Series 5: Development and Applications of Electron Microscopy, 1935-1986

Series 6: Early History of Electron Microscope (draft material; correspondence), 1942-1987

Series 7: Scientific Publications, 1930-1985; 8. Audio Tapes, 1971-1977
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Don Darroch, October 10, 1994
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Photomicrographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Electron micrographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1930-1950
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This material was collected by Mr. Borasky over a long period during which he worked in the field of electron microscopy.

Borasky's correspondence with many of the major figures in the field is included.  Much of this correspondence was initiated by Borasky as a means of documenting the history of electron microscopy that he attempted to write over many years.  The question of priority of invention and the many steps in development of these instruments are prominent elements of the correspondence.

The collection includes documentation of early events in the development and use of the electron microscope.  Numerous reprints  of articles, some by pioneers in the field, are supplemented by micrographs (photos) of various materials. 

As part of the collection, more than 70 audio tapes were made by Mr. Borasky, recording interviews and lectures relating to microscopy and other matters.  The quality of these recordings is generally not satisfactory, however.