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Professor of chemical and nuclear engineering and director of the Fission Product Laboratory at The University of Michigan. Professional correspondence and reports largely concerning his interest in the use of radiation for preserving food.

The Lloyd Brownell papers consist largely of materials documenting Brownell's food irradiation experiments at the University of Michigan from 1951 to 1954. Other topics include experiments on the effects of radiation on petrochemical processes and pharmaceuticals and Brownell's work in sugar beet processing techniques. Beyond his work as a scientist, the collection also depicts the social climate of mid-1950s America, characterized by popular and industrial faith in progress and the powers of science. The collection has been divided into six series: Biographical/Bibliographical, Correspondence, Conferences, Projects, Articles and Programs, and Clippings.