Wilfred F.

Langelier Papers
006

Finding aid created and encoded into EAD by Kenton G. Jaehnig..

Last updated on September 13, 2018.

Science History Institute Archives

 Wilfred F. Langelier Papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information....................................................................................................................................3

Biography/History..........................................................................................................................................4

Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4

Administrative Information........................................................................................................................... 5

Related Materials........................................................................................................................................... 5

Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6

Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 7

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 Wilfred F. Langelier Papers

Summary Information

Repository Science History Institute Archives

Creator Langelier, Wilfred F.

Creator Busch, Kenneth W.

Title Wilfred F. Langelier Papers

Call number 006

Date [inclusive] 1931-1948

Extent 0.5 linear feet ((1 half hollinger box))

Language English

Language All collection materials are in English.

Abstract Article and paper manuscripts concerning American sanitary engineer

Wilfred F. Langelier. The materials in this collection were collected and
maintained by Kenneth W. Busch, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at
Baylor University.

Cite as:

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Wilfred F. Langelier Papers, 1931-1948, Science
History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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 Wilfred F. Langelier Papers

Biography/History

Wilfred F. Langelier was an American sanitary engineer and civil engineering professor. Born in 1886
in Nashua, New Hampshire, Langelier earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from New
Hampshire College (now the University of New Hampshire) in 1909. From 1909 to 1916, he worked for
the Illinois State Water Survey. While working at the Illinois State Water Survey, he earned his Master of
Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois (1911).
In 1916, Langelier joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley?s Department of Civil
Engineering, where he enjoyed a long and distinguished career (1916-1955). He was brought to Cal-
Berkeley to teach water chemistry by Charles G. Hyde, a renowned sanitary engineering pioneer. At
Cal-Berkeley, he was best known for formulating the Langelier Saturation Index. Introduced in his 1936
journal article ?The Analytical Control of Anti-Corrosion Water Treatment? and still used today, the
Langelier Saturation Index determines how corrosive water might be to pipes and plumbing. He was also
noted for his research on the coagulation/flocculation water treatment method. In addition to his research
and teaching duties, Langelier served as consulting sanitary engineer for the East Bay Water Company
(1921-1928). He retired from Cal-Berkeley in 1955.
Langelier was awarded five patents over the course of his career, including those for ?Method of Water
Purification? (1923) and ?Process of Clarifying Turbid Water or Other Liquids? (1926). He was also an
active member of the American Chemical Society and the American Water Works Association, and was
the author of a number of journal articles and papers.
Wilfred F. Langelier passed away on September 13, 1981.
Sources
Wilfred F. Langelier Papers, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Scope and Contents

The Wilfred F. Langelier Papers contain materials concerning American sanitary engineer and civil
engineering professor Wilfred F. Langelier. The materials in this collection were collected by Kenneth
W. Busch, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at Baylor University. The files in this collection are arranged
alphabetically by author and alphabetically by title. The collection?s contents provide a limited amount
of documentation regarding sanitary engineering research conducted by Langelier during the 1930s.
Of particular interest are the manuscripts of his 1936 article ?The Analytical Control of Anti-Corrosion
Water Treatment?, in which he introduced the Langelier Saturation Index. To a much lesser extent,
research carried out by other sanitary engineers that was of interest to Langelier is also documented here.

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 Wilfred F. Langelier Papers

The manuscripts of three articles/papers written by Langelier, including ?The Analytical Control of Anti-
Corrosion Water Treatment?, are preserved in this collection. A manuscript of a paper co-written by
David H. Caldwell and Walter B. Lawrence, and an article by an unidentified author are found in this
collection as well.

Administrative Information

Science History Institute Archives

Finding aid created and encoded into EAD by Kenton G. Jaehnig..

Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes and the collection is open to the
public.

Use Restrictions
The Science History Institute holds copyright to the Wilfred F. Langelier Papers. The researcher assumes
full responsibility for all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Acquisition Information
The Wilfred F. Langelier Papers were donated to the Science History Institute by Kenneth W. Busch in
March 2018.

Processing Information
The Wilfred F. Langelier Papers were processed by Kenton G. Jaehnig in March 2018.

Related Materials

Related Materials
There is one other known Wilfred F. Langelier collection preserved at the University of California,
Riverside?s Water Resources Collections and Archives in Riverside, California.

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 Wilfred F. Langelier Papers

Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

• Sanitary engineering--United States--History

• Sanitary engineers--United States
• Water--Purification--Research--United States
• Archival materials

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 Wilfred F. Langelier Papers

Collection Inventory

box folder

David H. Caldwell and Walter B. Lawrence ? ?Solution of Water Softening 1 1

and Water Conditioning Problems by Chemical Equilibrium Methods?,
1948.

Wilfred F. Langelier ? ?The Analytical Control of Anti-Corrosion 1 2

Water Treatment?, 1936.

General Note

Contains 4 black and white images.

General Note

Nitrate negative in cold storage.

Wilfred F. Langelier ? ?A Corrosion Activity Index for Raw and Treated 1 3

Waters?, undated.

Wilfred F. Langelier ? ?The Theory and Practice of Aeration in Water 1 4

Purification and Sewage Treatment?, 1931.

Unidentified Author ? ?Reverse Osmosis as a Unit Process Tool?, undated. 1 5

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