HISTORY
In 1920, a group of men in Chicago felt the need for an organization where
they could meet and discuss common problems relating to paint and varnish
products. John R. MacGregor was selected as the most suitable person to make initial contacts among the local industry people. As a result of his efforts, a meeting was held on December 17, 1920, ant the Hamilton Club in Chicago, which
saw the founding of the Paint and Varnish Superintendents' Club of Chicago. This
new club, which prospered and grew from the outset, subsequently became known as
the Chicago Society for Paint Technology. The Society continued to flourish and
in 1973, in keeping with the modern role of the industry, the name was again
changed to the Chicago Society for Coatings Technology.
Today, the Chicago Society is among the two largest of the 26 societies that
are affiliated with the Federation throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the
United Kingdom.
Among those present at the founding were John R. MacGregor, Ralph Darner,
Truman Dahlberg, George Sutherland, J.D. Barker, Robert J. Knox, L.E. Morgan,
Paul D. Buckminster (Federation President -- 1928-29), Charles Seitz, Fred
Thoyer, Roy Ayers, L.B. Logan, O. McG. Howard, Henry Wheeler, Gay R. Harrington,
Clark Bennet, Otto Wold, Jack Shilvock, William Fenton, Bill Ware, and W.H.
MacKenzie. Ralph Darner was elected President, Truman Dahlberg as Secretary, and
O. McG. Howard as Publicity Chairman.
The official gavel was presented to the Chicago Society in 1938 by Fred L.
Brooke. In 1949 the gavel box was a gift from Emory F. Schneider. The name of
each president is engraved on a plate on the gavel box. In 1949, The Nuodex
Company established the precedent of presenting a gavel as a symbol of office to
be retained by each President.
Past President's Night, when the past presidents are entertained as guests of
the Society, came into being in 1937, at the suggestion of Thomas E. O'Connor.
This night eventually evolved into the annual gala affair honoring the
recipient(s) of the Outstanding Service Award (1955), and the Ladies (1958). The
first program listing of the officers, the past presidents, and awards was
issued in 1955.
Changes in the By-Laws in 1957, terminated firm memberships in favor of
individual memberships (1965 nationally). Locally, all interested persons such
as raw material suppliers (formerly not qualified for membership) were invited
to become associate members in 1967.
The Executive Committee was expanded in 1959 to include the Alternate
Federation Council Representative (an elective office). The June meeting was
eliminated at the same time.
A change in the By-Laws in 1971 affected the operational year of the Chicago
Society for Coatings Technology. The old fiscal year of November 1st to October
31st was changed to May 1st to April 30th, and finally to July 1 to June 30.
Starting in 1978, the By-Laws were amended to include two Executive Board
associate members, who will serve for a two year term.
The initial dues for active members of the Chicago Society for Coatings
Technology were $5 ($3 of which was sent to the Federation), until 1957 when the
dues were changed to $10. The dues increased to $15 in 19968. In 1977 dues were
again increased to $25 then to $30 beginning with the 1980-81 season.
Education was and is the hallmark of the Chicago Society and the Federation.
Through the 1980s and 1990s and into the 2000s the Society has continued to
produce programming of an exceptional quality. Beginning in the 1960s, a variety
of cooperative programs were established with local colleges and universities
that produced certificates and degrees in coatings sciences. It was recognized
in the early 1950s that a joint effort in education between the Society and the
Association had far greater strength than either alone, hence the Joint
Education Committee. this strength is still evident after 45 years of
cooperation and will be even more viable in the future. Throughout the years,
various lecture series and seminars have been produced as the needs dictated.
Subject matter included Management Development, Color Science, Production
Technology, as well as Coatings Science. SYMCO (SYMposium for COatings) has been
an award winning example of this effort that we expect to be active well into
the next century. In the 1960s, a lecture series was outlined by N.D.S.U. and
given under the auspices of Roosevelt University. Funds generated by this and
other education activities since that time have supported scholarships and
grants in aid for students within and from outside of the coatings industry.
The Associate Class Membership, that was available in Chicago in the 1950s,
was adopted by the Federation in 1967 and resulted in considerable increase in
total membership. This Associate Class of Members has added strength to the
Society, it's programs and activities and will be even more important in the
future.
—Warren C. Ashley, Clifford Schwahn, and Victor M. Willis
they could meet and discuss common problems relating to paint and varnish
products. John R. MacGregor was selected as the most suitable person to make initial contacts among the local industry people. As a result of his efforts, a meeting was held on December 17, 1920, ant the Hamilton Club in Chicago, which
saw the founding of the Paint and Varnish Superintendents' Club of Chicago. This
new club, which prospered and grew from the outset, subsequently became known as
the Chicago Society for Paint Technology. The Society continued to flourish and
in 1973, in keeping with the modern role of the industry, the name was again
changed to the Chicago Society for Coatings Technology.
Today, the Chicago Society is among the two largest of the 26 societies that
are affiliated with the Federation throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the
United Kingdom.
Among those present at the founding were John R. MacGregor, Ralph Darner,
Truman Dahlberg, George Sutherland, J.D. Barker, Robert J. Knox, L.E. Morgan,
Paul D. Buckminster (Federation President -- 1928-29), Charles Seitz, Fred
Thoyer, Roy Ayers, L.B. Logan, O. McG. Howard, Henry Wheeler, Gay R. Harrington,
Clark Bennet, Otto Wold, Jack Shilvock, William Fenton, Bill Ware, and W.H.
MacKenzie. Ralph Darner was elected President, Truman Dahlberg as Secretary, and
O. McG. Howard as Publicity Chairman.
The official gavel was presented to the Chicago Society in 1938 by Fred L.
Brooke. In 1949 the gavel box was a gift from Emory F. Schneider. The name of
each president is engraved on a plate on the gavel box. In 1949, The Nuodex
Company established the precedent of presenting a gavel as a symbol of office to
be retained by each President.
Past President's Night, when the past presidents are entertained as guests of
the Society, came into being in 1937, at the suggestion of Thomas E. O'Connor.
This night eventually evolved into the annual gala affair honoring the
recipient(s) of the Outstanding Service Award (1955), and the Ladies (1958). The
first program listing of the officers, the past presidents, and awards was
issued in 1955.
Changes in the By-Laws in 1957, terminated firm memberships in favor of
individual memberships (1965 nationally). Locally, all interested persons such
as raw material suppliers (formerly not qualified for membership) were invited
to become associate members in 1967.
The Executive Committee was expanded in 1959 to include the Alternate
Federation Council Representative (an elective office). The June meeting was
eliminated at the same time.
A change in the By-Laws in 1971 affected the operational year of the Chicago
Society for Coatings Technology. The old fiscal year of November 1st to October
31st was changed to May 1st to April 30th, and finally to July 1 to June 30.
Starting in 1978, the By-Laws were amended to include two Executive Board
associate members, who will serve for a two year term.
The initial dues for active members of the Chicago Society for Coatings
Technology were $5 ($3 of which was sent to the Federation), until 1957 when the
dues were changed to $10. The dues increased to $15 in 19968. In 1977 dues were
again increased to $25 then to $30 beginning with the 1980-81 season.
Education was and is the hallmark of the Chicago Society and the Federation.
Through the 1980s and 1990s and into the 2000s the Society has continued to
produce programming of an exceptional quality. Beginning in the 1960s, a variety
of cooperative programs were established with local colleges and universities
that produced certificates and degrees in coatings sciences. It was recognized
in the early 1950s that a joint effort in education between the Society and the
Association had far greater strength than either alone, hence the Joint
Education Committee. this strength is still evident after 45 years of
cooperation and will be even more viable in the future. Throughout the years,
various lecture series and seminars have been produced as the needs dictated.
Subject matter included Management Development, Color Science, Production
Technology, as well as Coatings Science. SYMCO (SYMposium for COatings) has been
an award winning example of this effort that we expect to be active well into
the next century. In the 1960s, a lecture series was outlined by N.D.S.U. and
given under the auspices of Roosevelt University. Funds generated by this and
other education activities since that time have supported scholarships and
grants in aid for students within and from outside of the coatings industry.
The Associate Class Membership, that was available in Chicago in the 1950s,
was adopted by the Federation in 1967 and resulted in considerable increase in
total membership. This Associate Class of Members has added strength to the
Society, it's programs and activities and will be even more important in the
future.
—Warren C. Ashley, Clifford Schwahn, and Victor M. Willis