Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science

Historical State Timelines
Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
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1890s

1899 First textiles courses offered

George Franks Ivey taught the first courses in textiles in fall 1899. Courses specialized in cotton manufacturing and milling, designing twills, and mill engineering. These course were taught in Holladay Hall.

Holladay HallHolladay Hall

1920s

1920 Textile chemistry program established

A degree program in textile chemistry and dyeing was established. The Department of Textile Chemistry later grew from this.

1923 School of Engineering established

The School of Engineering was established on May 28, 1923. The school included five departments: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, physics, and textile engineering.

1924 First Hong Kongese student graduated

Tayn Sung Thom of Hong Kong graduated with a degree in textile engineering.

Agromeck 1924Agromeck 1924
1925 First East Indian students graduated

Laxman Vinayak Gogate of India graduated with a degree in business administration and Shankar Krishna Marathe of India graduated with a degree in textile chemistry. They both enrolled in 1921.

Agromeck 1925Agromeck 1925

1940s

1947 Department of Textile Chemistry established
1947 Henry Rutherford became department head

Henry "Hank" Rutherford became head of the Department of Textile Chemistry, and he served in the position until 1974. While at NC State, he advanced research in radiation chemistry of fibrous polymers. In his research, he examined the durability of fibers exposed to radiation, which had applications in dyeing and finishing of textiles.

Henry A. Rutherford portraitHenry A. Rutherford portrait

1950s

1959 Department of Textile Technology established

The Department of Yarn Manufacturing, the Department of Knitting, and the Department of Fabric Development merged to form the Department of Textile Technology.

1960s

1966 Solomon Hersh joined textile faculty

Solomon "Sol" Hersh joined the faculty of the Department of Textile Technology. Previously, he received his BS from NC State in 1949. In 1995, he became the first faculty member from the College of Textiles to receive the Alexander Holladay Medal for Excellence.

1970s

5/15/1971 First PhD in textiles awarded

Joel L. Williams was awarded a PhD in fiber and polymer science. This was the first PhD awarded in NC State's College of Textiles.

circa 1973 Department of Textile Technology renamed

The Department of Textile Technology was renamed the Department of Textile Materials and Management.

1980s

1985 Department of Textile Engineering and Science established

The Department of Textile Engineering and Science was established when the Department of Textile Materials and Management split.

1988 Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science created

The Department of Textile Chemistry and the Department of Textile Engineering and Science merged to form the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science.