Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 13/6/17
Charles A. (1908-1985) and Sidonia (1901-1996) Goetz
Papers, 1933-1986


Descriptive summary

creator:

Goetz, Charles A. (1908-1985) and Sidonia (1901-1996)
title:

Papers
dates:

1933-1986
extent:

1.05 linear feet (2 document boxes and 1 half-document box)
collection number:

RS 13/6/17
repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

Charles A. and Sidonia Goetz Papers, RS 13/6/17, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

Charles Albert Getz (he changed his name to Goetz in 1947) was born to Jacob George and Mary Elizabeth (Ripper) Getz on January 7, 1908, in Lockwood, Missouri. He attended the University of Wisconsin (1926-1931) where he studied agricultural bacteriology and chemistry and received his B.S. (1932), M.S. (1934), and Ph.D. (1938) in chemistry from the University of Illinois.

Following the completion of his degrees, Goetz pursued his interests in analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, and in fire extinguishing by carbon dioxide. Goetz worked as an industrial chemist and served as Vice President in charge of research for the Cardox Corporation and later as Director of engineering and development at the Brunswick Corporation, both of Chicago, Illinois. He invented and received patents for a number of important and useful ideas including the aeration process for whipped cream which allows it to be dispensed from pressurized containers. He also patented a number of fire extinguishing processes and devices for outdoor use on large fires.

Goetz was hired at Iowa State as Associate Professor (1948-1950) in the Department of Chemistry. He was soon promoted to Professor (1950-1978) and Head (1950-1965) of the department. Goetz also served as Chief (1950-1965) of the Division of Chemistry of the Ames Laboratory. Goetz retired on June 30, 1978, and was named Professor Emeritus (1978-1985).

Throughout his career, Goetz actively promoted the interests of chemistry. He was a member of several scientific organizations including Sigma Xi, the American Chemical Society, the Electrochemical Society, and the National Fire Protection Association. He was a co-host (1953-1954) on the WOI-TV program Challenge, a show produced at Iowa State. Goetz received the Faculty Citation (1965) from Iowa State University and for many years was honored by the Dow Chemical Company which sponsored the Charles A. Goetz Scholarship.

Goetz married Sidonia Helen Heck on February 24, 1934, and they had two children, Charles Albert and Roger Melvin. Goetz died on August 19, 1985.

 

Collection description

This collection (1933-1986) includes biographical information, correspondence, scientific articles, patents, and reports. Many of Goetz's writings reflect his interests in analytical chemistry and fire extinguishing methods. Most of his patents are related to fire extinguishing devices and processes, but there are a couple patents that are related to food processes. Goetz was involved in a patent lawsuit against Marshall C. Reinecke for claims regarding the invention of the process of producing an aerated cream using nitrous oxide under pressure. Goetz won the lawsuit and a published testimony and trial briefing are included in the collection. The collection also contains a number of reports related to fire extinguishing. Most of these were created while Goetz was an employee of the Cardox Corporation in Chicago.

Materials related to Sidonia Goetz include photocopies of several diaries she kept during the 1940s.  These diaries record family events and activities and offer a glimpse into the life of a mother and homemaker in Ames, Iowa, during the 1940s.  Many of these diaries were transcribed by her son, Roger Goetz. These transcriptions, along with additional commentary by Roger, can be found in the Roger M. Goetz Papers, RS 21/7/223.

 

Related materials

Related collections in the University Archives include:

 

Organization

This collection is organized alphabetically by record type and listed chronologically within each grouping. Biographical information is listed first.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical information (3 b/w photographs)

1938-1986

1

2

Article: "Gel Formation in Sodium Metasilicate Solutions"

1933

1

3

Article: "Mixed Perchloric and Sulfuric Acids. II. Potassium Ferro- and Ferricyanides as Reference Standards in the Evaluation of Titanous Solutions"

1934

1

4

Article: "A New Aeration Process for the Preparation of Whipped Cream"

1934

1

5

Article: "Art of Whipping Cream Acquires a Scientific Finesse. New Device Assures Consumer of 100% Whipping Success"

1935

1

6

Article: "Destruction of Organic Matter in Plant Material by the Use of Nitric and Perchloric Acids"

1935

1

7

Article: "The Improved Synthesis of o-Phenanthroline"

1935

1

8

Article: "Determination of Chromium in Chromite"

1937

1

9

Article: "Determination of Chromium in Ferrochrome. Phosphoric Acid as Solvent with Mixed Perchloric and Sulfuric Acids as Oxidant"

1937

1

10

Article: "Instant Whipping Cream by Aeration"

1937

1

11

Article: "Rate of Dehydration of Ehtyl Alcohol Using Metallic Calcium"

1937

1

12

Article: "Cerate Oxidimetry. Evaluation of Solutions Using Sodium Oxalate, Arsenious Acid, and Iron and Standards of Reference, and Ferroin and Nitro-Ferroin and Indicators"

1938

1

13

Article: "Cerate Oxidimetry. Preparation and Stability of Solutions"

1938 circa

1

14

Article: "Cerate Oxidimetry. Theoretical Considerations and Determination of Approximate Electrode Reference Potentials"

1938

1

15

Article: "Transportation and Storage of Bulk, Low-Pressure Liquid Carbon Dioxide"

1941

1

16

Article: "Carbon Dioxide Fire Protection in the Steel Industry"

1944

1

17

Article: "Use of Perchloric Acid in Determination of Copper in Sulfide Ores"

1949

1

18

Article: "Total Hardness of Water. Stability of Standard Disodium Dihydrogen Ethylenediamine Tetraacetate Solutions"

1950

1

19

Article: "Versenate Titration for Total Hardness"

1950

1

20

Article: "Chemistry + TV = Challenge"

1954

1

21

Article: "Carbon Dioxide Fire Protection"

1955

1

22

Article: "Determination of Lead in Lead Sulfide Ores and Concentrates"

1955

1

23

Article: "Mixed Perchloric-Phosphoric Acids as Solvents for Iron Ores"

1956

1

24

Article: "Present Status of Cerium(IV)-Cerium(III) Potentials"

1957

1

25

Article: "Evaluation of Various Methods and Reagents for Total Hardness and Calcium Hardness in Water"

1959

1

26

Article: "Preparation and Chelate Stability of (Ethylenedinitrilo)Tetra-α-Propionic Acid"

1959

1

27

Article: "Rapid Complexometric Analysis of Brass with CDTA"

1966

2

12

Correspondence: Aeration Processes, Inc.

1934-1945
2 13 Correspondence: Aeration Processes, Inc. 1964-1968

2

16

Correspondence: Letters of Charles and Sidonia Getz (Goetz)

1934-1941

2

14

Correspondence: Letters of Charles Getz (Goetz) and family

1958-1976

3

4

Correspondence: To Charles Getz (Goetz) (1 b/w photograph)

1955-1978, undated

2

9

Diary of Sidonia Goetz (photocopies)

1942

2

10

Diary of Sidonia Goetz (photocopies)

1942-1943

2

11

Diary of Sidonia Goetz (photocopies)

1943

3

3

National Fire Protection Association Documents (1 b/w photograph)

1951-1956

2

15

News articles related to Charles Getz (Goetz) and Aeration Processes, Inc.

1935-1940

3

5

Newspaper Clippings of Charles Getz (Goetz)

1952-1977, undated

1

30

Patent Interference Case: Reinecke vs. Goetz, Brief for Getz

1938

1

31

Patent Interference Case: Reinecke vs. Goetz, Testimony on Behalf of Getz

1937

3

1

Patent Interference Case: Reinecke vs. Goetz Court Documents

undated

1

32

Patent No. 2,287,873: "Fire Extinguishing Apparatus"

1942

1

33

Patent No. 2,294,172: "Process of Making Aerated Food Products"

1941

1

34

Patent No. 2,295,571: "Method and Apparatus for Extinguishing Fires"

1942

1

35

Patent No. 2,322,625: "Method and Apparatus for Conditioning and Supplying Water and Carbon Dioxide to Carbonators"

1943

1

36

Patent No. 2,322,627: "Method and Apparatus for Conditioning and Supplying Water and Carbon Dioxide to Carbonators"

1943

1

37

Patent No. 2,341,436: "Fire-Extinguishing Method and Apparatus"

1944

1

38

Patent No. 2,341,437: "Fire-Extinguishing Method and Apparatus"

1944

1

39

Patent No. 2,343,767: "Ice Cream and Ice Cream Making"

1944

1

40

Patent No. 2,356,989: "Control Box for Fire Extinguisher System"

1944

1

41

Patent No. 2,356,990: "Fire Extinguishing System"

1944

1

42

Patent No. 2,360,413: "Vitreous Enamel Coated Objects and Method of Producing the Same"

1944

1

43

Patent No. 2,435,682: "Aeration of Butterfat-Containing Liquids"

1948

1

44

Patent No. 2,477,736: "Fire Extinguishing System"

1949

1

45

Patent No. 2,477,737: "Method for Dehydrating Liquid Carbon Dioxide"

1949

1

46

Patent No. 2,477,738: "Methods of Dehydrating Liquid Carbon Dioxide"

1949

3

2

Programs and Speaking Engagements (7 b/w photographs)

1952-1978

1

47

Publication: "Standard for Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems"

1957

1

48

Report: "Fire Extinguisher Tests with 'Cardox' on Large Outdoor Transformer Fires"

1939

1

49

Report: "Manually Operated Carbon Dioxide Apparatus for Protection of Enclosed Spaces"

1940

1

50

Report: "Application of Carbon Dioxide to Large Pocahontas Coal Pile Fire"

1941

2

1

Report: "Carbon Dioxide Apparatus for Automatic Protection of Enclosed Spaces"

1941

2

2

Report: "Chanute Field Airplane Engine Test-Block Fire Extinguishment Demonstrations"

1941 circa

2

3

Report: "Examination and Test of Manually Operated Carbon Dioxide Fixed Piping Fire Protection System"

1942

2

4

Report: "Cardox Airport Fire Truck Airplane Fire Extinguishing Tests at Wright Field"

1942 circa

2

5

Report: "'Gas Freeing' by Inerting with Carbon Dioxide Vapor from Low Pressure Liquid Storage"

1946

2

6

Report: "Studies of Carbon Dioxide Fire Protection for Fur Vaults"

1946

2

7

Speech: "Science Education"

1958

2

8

Testimony of Dr. Charles A. Getz, Vice-President in Charge of Research, Cardox Corporation, Before the Interstate Commerce Commission

1944