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Birthplace of Environmental Research in America

• Founding of the Lawrence Experiment Station: 1887
• MIT Scientists Play Major Roles in Early Work
• Hiram Francis Mills
• William Ripley Nichols
• Ellen Swallow Richards
• William Thomson Sedgwick
• Thomas Messinger Drown
• Pioneering Research in:
  • Wastewater Treatment,
  • Drinking Water Treatment
  • Bacteriology
• Training of Sanitary Scientists and Engineers

Early Facilities at the Lawrence Experiment Station

• Lawrence Experiment Station: 1903
• Bacteriology Laboratory: 1903
  Bacteriology Laboratory: 1905
• Tanks for Filtration Experiments: 1891 - 1892
  Chemical Laboratory: 1905
• Slow Sand Filters to Combat Typhoid Fever: 1907

Continuation of a Proud Heritage

• New Station Building Constructed: 1952 - 1953
• Designation as a National Landmark: 1975
• Station Celebrates its 100th Anniversary: 1987
• Station Renamed in Honor of Senator Wall: 1993

The Wall Experiment Station Today

• Primary Responsibilities of WES
• Microbiology Laboratory
• Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
  Organics Laboratories
• Extractable Organics
• Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry
• Laboratory Certification Program
• Air Assessment Branch

Future: Wall Experiment Station Renovation

• Leading by Example: The WES Renovation

References

McCracken, R.A. and D. Sebian. 1988. Profiles in History: Lawrence Experiment Station - Birthplace of Environmental Research in America. The Diplomate 24(2): 12-18.

Patterson, R.S. 1953. Proud Heritage (1886-1953): A Review of the Lawrence Experiment Station. Massachusetts Publication #3M-8-53-910309.

Selected photographs were kindly provided by the MIT Museum.

This photohistory was prepared by Dr. Oscar Pancorbo, WES Director; some elements were adapted from an earlier exhibit by D. Sebian and K. Marquis.

WES history in poster form (JPEG format, 1.6 Megabytes)

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