History of Lake States TAPPI

By John R. Peckham*

Revised and updated by H.S. (Doug) Dugal.

Little did Dr. Theobald Bentzen, Chief Chemist of the Whiting-Plover Paper Co., realize what he had set in motion when he floated the idea of a "Wisconsin Paper Technologist Club" in early 1930. A meeting held at the Hotel Menasha on October 17 and attended by more than 50 men (plus President Max Krimmel and Secretary "Mac" Mac Donald of National TAPPI) resulted in a request for a "Wisconsin Section of TAPPI" charter! When it arrived, it was for a Lake State Section (LST) and Upper Michigan and Minnesota had been appended.

Early meetings were confined mostly to the Fox River Valley, and for years the Hotel Conway in Appleton was the chosen site. Meetings were held on the second Tuesday of the month, and dues were set at $1 per year. By 1933 the new section boasted 133 members. In their first decade a solid membership basis and a reputation for informative speakers were established. Good coverage of their accomplisments was provided by the official TAPPI publication, then the Paper Trade Journal.

The year 1943 saw the beginning of a competition for young paper scientists, which in 1955 became known as the C. J. West Meeting and later C. J. West Memorial Competition (Named afte Dr. West who was editor at the Institute of Paper Chemistry from 1936 until his death in February 1953. He received the TAPPI Medal in 1937). Between 1943 and 1955 our records do not reveal the success of the idea, perhaps because of the wartime when meeting continuity was at the mercy of travel restrictions. Winning authors at the C.J. West Competition were given small cash stipends by the Section. We have come a long way since then. For example, the 1987 five cash prizes ranged from $50 to $200. Also the winner was authorized to go to the TAPPI Annual Meeting. In 1990, because of lack of industry participation, the C. J. West competition was cancelled.

The 20th year anniversary of our founding was celebrated in Wausau on April 10, 1951, where Allen Abrams, perhaps the most influential of our promoters, spoke on "The Next 20 Years." The fifties were especially exiting for the Section: a social meeting was unaugurated, a special meeting featuring internationally famous Bjorg Steenberg drew over 300 members and guests, and regular meetings fanned out over the state as far as Madison and Milwaukee.

Now a leader in TAPPI, the LST of the 1960's introduced an Educational Committee, and state high shcool students were made aware of the careers available in the pulp and paper industry. Minnesota, with the help of the Executive Committee, split off a a separate District in 1965 (it is now the Minnesota Section). Lake States Reflections were first published in 1967. The seventies were exuberant times - the two-day meeting was started, past chaimen were honored in 1975, and student Chapters were established at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Fox Valley Technical Institute (now know as Fox Valley Technical College, FVTC). LST took over membership lead of all TAPPI Section in 1975 and granted its first Life Membership in 1979.

The decade of the '80's began with a heavy celebration of our Fiftieth Anniversay, again in Wausau. Specially designed mugs and lapel pins went to all who attended. A new student chapter was also established at the Institute of Paper Chemistry, IPC (now known as Institute of Paper Science and Technology) which moved to Atlanta, GA in July 1989. LST-PIMA ties were strengthened. One joint meeting is now held every other year.

The goals ofLST are to disseminate technical information, provide opportunities for professional development, encourage exchange of ideas and create an environment for improved camaraderie so that people may get to know each other better. LST is also committed to the educational needs of the budding technical peolple. Annual contributions are given to the Paper Science Foundation of the UW-SP ($3000), FVTC ($1800) Paper Science Dpet. University of Minnesota ($1000), and until their departure to the IPC student Chapter of TAPPI ($800). These moneys are used for Scholarship Awards, books and student expenses to cover tehcnical meeetings. In addition, LST has established an endowment fund of $82,000 at UW-SP to support three students per year. LST plans to contiue to add more money to this fund as and when possible.

Membership records continue to be set; we're now over the 1,400 mark. Program planning and meeting expertise continue to improve, and industry support has never been better. Our future looks bright.

The LST Executive Committee works hard to provide interesting, timely and quality programs year after year. Our technical sessions have been well attended and many times have attracted people from out of our region. This would not have been posssible without help from our membership. Your participation is requested and is mandatory for continued success of our programs.

* Note: John Peckham died September 7, 1986, age 72.