Chester Carlson

Chester Carlson was an American physicist, patent attorney, and inventor who revolutionized document reproduction by inventing the process of xerography, the foundation for modern photocopiers and laser printers. His persistent work in a makeshift laboratory led to the first successful demonstration in Astoria, New York City, fundamentally altering office work worldwide. Despite initial rejections, his invention was eventually commercialized by the Haloid Photographic Company, which later became the global corporation Xerox.

Early life and education

Born in Seattle, Washington, he spent much of his youth in poverty, supporting his invalid parents by working various jobs including as a printer and newspaper publisher. He attended San Bernardino Valley College before earning a Bachelor of Science in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1930. After struggling to find work during the Great Depression, he took a position in the patent department of the Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York City, which inspired him to study law at the New York Law School at night, becoming a registered patent attorney.

Invention of xerography

Frustrated by the difficulty and expense of obtaining copies of patent drawings and documents, he began independent research into electrophotography. Working evenings in a rented room behind a beauty salon in Astoria, he collaborated with physicist Otto Kornei, an Austrian refugee. On October 22, 1938, they successfully produced the first xerographic image, using a sulfur-coated zinc plate, a handkerchief for static charge, and lycopodium powder to create a copy of the inscription "10-22-38 Astoria." He patented the revolutionary process, which used static electricity and dry powder instead of wet chemicals.

Career and development of Xerox

For years, he was unable to interest major corporations like IBM, General Electric Company, and the RCA in his invention. In 1944, he entered a development agreement with the Battelle Memorial Institute, a non-profit research organization in Columbus, Ohio. This partnership attracted the attention of the Haloid Photographic Company, a small Rochester-based firm specializing in photographic paper. Haloid, led by Joseph C. Wilson, invested heavily, and after years of refinement, launched the first commercial automatic copier, the Xerox 914, in 1959. The explosive success led Haloid to rename itself Xerox Corporation.

Later life and philanthropy

As his wealth grew from royalty payments and Xerox stock, he became a dedicated philanthropist, donating an estimated $100 million to charitable causes. He supported numerous organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP, and the United Negro College Fund. A lifelong advocate for world peace, he made significant contributions to the Society for Social Responsibility in Science and the Friends Service Committee. He also funded research into parapsychology at institutions like Stanford University and supported the work of Carl Rogers. He continued to invent, holding numerous patents, and died of a heart attack in 1968 while attending a Broadway performance in New York City.

Legacy and honors

His invention of xerography is considered one of the most significant of the 20th century, creating the reprographics industry and enabling the rapid dissemination of information. Major honors bestowed upon him include the Horatio Alger Award, the Inventor of the Year award, and the National Medal of Technology, presented posthumously in 1985. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the American National Business Hall of Fame. The Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology and a laboratory at Xerox PARC bear his name, cementing his status as a pivotal figure in information technology.

Category:American inventors Category:American physicists Category:People from Seattle