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Author:

Lucier, Paul, 1962-

Title:

Scientists & swindlers : consulting on coal and oil in America, 1820-1890 / Paul Lucier.

Publisher:

Johns Hopkins University Press,

Copyright Date:

2008

Description:

xiii, 426 p. : ill., maps ; 26 cm.

Subject:

Science and industry--History--United States--History--19th century.
Petroleum industry and trade--United States--History--19th century.
Petroleum industry and trade--Canada--History--19th century.
Coal trade--United States--History--19th century.
Coal trade--Canada--History--19th century.
Science and law--United States--History--19th century.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 325-395) and index.

Contents:

Coal -- Geological enterprise -- The strange case of the Albert mineral -- The American sciences of coal -- Mining science -- Kerosene -- The technological science of kerosene -- The kerosene cases -- Petroleum -- The rock oil report -- The elusive nature of oil and its markets -- The search for oil and oil-finding experts -- California crude -- Americanization of science.

Summary:

Scientists and Swindlers introduces us to a new service of professionals: the consulting scientists. Lucier follows these entrepreneurial men of science on their wide-ranging commercial engagements from the shores of Nova Scotia to the coast of California and shows how their innovative work fueled the rapid growth of the American coal and oil industries and the rise of American geology and chemistry. Along the way, he explores the decisive battles over expertise and authority, the high-stakes court cases over patenting research, the intriguing and often humorous exploits of swindlers, and the profound ethical challenges of doing science for money. --from publisher description.

Series:

Johns Hopkins studies in the history of technology.

ISBN:

0801890039 (hardcover : alk. paper)
9780801890031 (hardcover : alk. paper)

LCCN:

2008006551

Locations:

USUX851 -- Iowa State University - Parks Library (Ames)

UNUX074 -- University of Northern Iowa - Rod Library (Cedar Falls)

OVUX522 -- University of Iowa Libraries (Iowa City)