CH113 - History of
Chemistry - Background
Reading and Other Resources for Papers and Projects (Placed on Reserve in
the Library)
1. E. Barber - Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years
(Focuses on weaving cloth.)
2. C. Cobb and H. Goldwhite - Creations of Fire: Chemistry's Lively
History (Gives some alternative perspectives on the history of chemistry,
including biographical vignettes.)
3. C. Cennini - The Craftsman's Handbook (15th century artist's handbook,
translated.)
4. M. Eliade - The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and
Structures of Alchemy (Examines the role of myth and some of the religious
connections to early metallurgy.)
5. E. Ercker - Treatise on Ores and Assaying (Written in 1580, this
modern translation helps put you back into the thought patterns being used
at that time.)
6. I. Freestone and D. Gaimster - Pottery in the Making: Ceramic
Traditions (Useful coverage of a variety of techniques, old and new, from
around the world.)
7. E. Grant, ed. - A Source Book in Medieval Science (Has translations of
a number of "primary" sources.)
8. C. E. K. Mees - From Dry Plates to Ektachrome Film (Somewhat out
of date and dry treatment of photographic film science. But at least
there are some details given!)
9. G. C. Nelson - Ceramics: A Potter's Handbook (Excellent reference
with many glaze formulas and other useful tidbits from the science
perspective.)
10. M. Orna - Archaeological Chemistry (5th in a series of collected
papers on the measurement of trace evidence from the past used to shed
light on archaeology.)
11. N. Powell - Alchemy, the Ancient Science (Alternative to
Aromatico's paperback, but now out of print. Beautiful pictures with
some commentary.)
12. M. Simmons - Dyes and Dyeing (Excellent treatment in a small
volume.)
13. B. Toale - The Art of Papermaking (Very good pictures on the
techniques.)