T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME: Jesse Coates # 4700.0291

IDENTIFICATION: (1908-1994) LSU Class of 1928, professor of chemical engineering, 1936-1975, head of department of chemical engineering (1955-67), Professor Emeritus of Chemistry.

INTERVIEWER: James G. Traynham

PROJECT: LSU History

DATE(S): 9/4/93, 9/6/93 FOCUS DATES: 1908-1968

ABSTRACT:

Tape 371

Family background; growing up on old, downtown campus of LSU; establishment by his father, Charles E. Coates, of LSU's chemistry department; the Audubon Sugar School and father's involvement; early professors in the chemistry department--Raoul L. Menville, Arthur Chopin, Raymond Fries; mother's social and civic activities; father's establishment of football at LSU; chemistry department when Jesse Coates joined the department in 1936--faculty, policy on hiring, research projects; jobs before coming to teach at LSU; curriculum at Michigan State where he got his Ph.D.

Tape 372

Coates's equipping and setting up chemistry labs and developing of experiments for chemistry department; hiring faculty as head of the department--Frank Groves, James Cardner, Clayton Calahan, Ed McLouhlin, Paul Murrill; football games on the old campus; marriage to Judith Mills Williams in 1938; father's death; brothers Victor and Charles.

TAPES: T 371; T 372 TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 3 hrs.

# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 82

RESTRICTIONS: none