Guide to the John T. Yates, Jr. Papers, 1960-2015 UA.90.F106

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
John T. Yates, Jr. Papers
Creator
Yates, John T., Jr.
Collection Number
UA.90.F106
Extent
11.25 Linear Feet (9 boxes)
Date
1960-2015
Language
English .
Author
Cassidee Knott.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

John T. Yates, Jr., an American chemist, physicist, and astronomer, was born in 1935 in Winchester, Virginia, and died in 2015 in Free Union, Virginia. Yates attended Juniata College, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1956, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 1960. After graduation, Yates served as an Assistant Professor at Antioch College in Ohio from 1960 to 1963. Yates then proceeded to work at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C from 1965 to 1981. During his time at the NBS, he was a visiting professor at the University of East Anglia and California Institute of Technology.

In 1982, Yates settled at the University of Pittsburgh, where he served as the first R.K. Mellon Professor of Chemistry from 1982 to 2006.  While at Pitt, Yates was the Founding Director of the Surface Science Center, his specialized field. In 1994, he was given appointment to the Physics and Astronomy departments. Yates was the lead researcher in creating a coating that detected biochemical dangers in the air for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency in 2001.  In 2004, Yates was a head researcher in studies on carbon nanotubes, dubbed the World's Smallest Test Tubes. In 2006, he aided in the creation of semi-conductor islands smaller than 10 nanometers called Quantum Dots, which was an integral step toward the creation of Quantum computers.  After retiring from Pitt in 2007, Yates joined the University of Virginia as a Shannon Research Fellow and Professor. During this time, Yates found himself involved in astrochemistry. Yates was the winner of various awards both locally and internationally. He was also a member of numerous scientific organizations, notably the National Academy of Sciences. 

Scope and Content Notes

The collection covers the research, publications, patent, teaching, and professional activities of John T. Yates, Jr., as well as his awards and honors. The collection provides an overview of Yates' carreer at the National Bureau of Standards, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Virginia. Each series spans the wide variety of interests that Yates had throughout his career.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Karen Yates in August 2016 and 2021.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Cassidee Knott in May 2018.

Preferred Citation

John T. Yates, Jr. Papers, 1960-2015, UA.90.F106, University Archives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Subjects

    Personal Names

    • Yates, John T., Jr.

    Genres

    • Faculty papers

    Other Subjects

    • Surface chemistry
    • University of Pittsburgh
    • Chemistry -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List