;
:
Warsaw, as Assistant in Technology of synthetic rubber. My research
- @pproved by the Polytechnic School of Warsaw, and accepted as my Thesis
Wiss ;
bd F a | See b
; = as :
JAN WILGA , Chemical Imgineer, Doctor of Chemistry .«
I was bom in Russia in 1895, of Polish parentage.. I an single, of
. Roman Catholic Yaithe
| 5 cinitsstin’: Conn ten Setatemehe Gtius’s 60 tiene i palend\. ue
Chemical Engineer, I took my postegraduate work at the Institut Chimique
of the University of Nancy, France in 1923-1924, specializing in research
work in the domain of catalytic reduction of organic compounds,
I have been employed by the following firms and academic schools :
1924-1925 : chief laboratory engineer at the oii refinery works
* Limanowa * in Poland, .
1926=1929 : chief laboratory engineer at Giesche-Harriman concern
in Upper Silesia « cond and sins mints, plu, endeien | mumtnstere of
sulfuric acid, :
19301933 I vas in busiriess, in the sales of entensbile olis
(Wing- oil $ in Warsaw, Poland.
In 1933 I was appointed Assistant professor of Technology of sugar,
and Technology of organic compounds at the Polytechnic School of Warsaw,
I also made reserach work in Technology of cellulose, synthetic rubber,
synthetic resins, plastics, compounds received by way of polymerisation |
or condensation, "tn this research work I was collaborator of Professor
Ke Smolenski. During these years I.also worked as Assistant in the labora-
tory of oe analysis ( analysis of water, coal, oils, fats, chenie
Cals, ete ae: ;
in 2996 % was Graneforves te tho Gheshens Ressoweh Institute of | |
included work on obtaining synthetic rubbers of the German type : Buna S ,—
Buna N ( Perduren ), thioplasts, work on polymerisation in water emulsion
of butadien, and mixed polymerisation. Also organic synthesis for ieee
tic resins, and studies on cmiaten and colloid chemistry.
During the years 1936<1939 I have completed my work entitled ;
® Polymerisation of butadien 1-3 in water emulsion *, This work has been
for the degree of Doctor of Chemistry. I also have published several 2
articles on plastics ( methods of testing tyoes of artificial resins, as
fee ae thiocel ) in the scientific publication "Przemysl Chemiczny * . “4
I have obtained, jointly with Prof, Smolenski, several Patents in _
Poland : 6wo Patents concerning polymerisation in emulsion ( method;
catalisator ds one Patent concerning mixed polymerisation, and one
Se Ae "a
* MS a ee
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i etabeady
,
August 23, 1940.
br. Alvin Johnson . -.
Director, New School for Social Research ae
New York City. el
Dear Sir , | Re
Knowing of your interest in outstanding scientists coming 0B) oe
ea the United States from countries involved in war, I wish to call your: -—4
ose attention to a brilliant Polish chemist, one of the outstanding research-
i bd
ers in synthetic rubber and other organic compounds. The enclosed a
a biography of JAN WILGA, which I have compiled from data he sent me, will |
: give you a factual summary of what he has done during his many years e
ae of investigation in Poland. All the facts enumerated in the biography —
a I know to be accurate. In addition, Mr. Wilga is a person of such cate
a modesty as far as his accomplishments are concerned ~ a man whose sole a
interests in life are scientific research -— that there is much more than —
the bare facts he thought worth mentioning. ee
I think I should say at once that Mr. Wilga is a second cousin me
of mine, but that my interest in him extends beyond this family connec=
tion. It is primarily a concern for a briiliant scholar —s person - iZ
one who may prove of great value to our country. :<. on
Mr. Wilga, an Aryan of Catholic faith, was known in Poland as
an one of the brilliant men in his field. The government erfrusted him with
ee the planning of its new synthetic rubber plant at Debice, Poland, and ~
S appointed him head of its research laboratory. This plant was considered
of vital importance to the Polish government.
The invasion of Poland in September 1939 cut short his work in| 30
that. country. Like so many others, he emigrated from his native count
ee to Roumania and then to Turkey where he was appointed a research man a
os os: a large sugar refinery. He desires to come to the United States, i. he =
oe ean obtain a visa. eboat 3 | a ee
1
NO
k
I should very much appreciate any suggestions from you, concer-
ning Mr. Wilga's possibilities in this country, and ways in which I
could he instrumental in bringing him here. I am convinced that he will
prove a brilliant addition to any research staff working within his
field of competence.
mm
Thanking you in advance, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
Wiktor Lab
unski
Doctor of Music
Head of Piano Department
KeCeConservatory of Music.
a oe
7% ee ‘ Se
% ‘ 9 bi, £ ao ‘ Te ee ¢
iar sin Se ee Sais 25 es yh De pe ee hd i HE: Ses
= Wace. bp os eS als 4 7 kr) 2 ee be =“ = :
Dear Dr. Labunski:
I reveived your letter of August twenty-third in which you present
the case of Jan Wilgs. He is a man we ought to bring into the country,
but at present the obstacles to bringing him in are very great.
Under the immigration law non-quote visas may be granted to scholars
who have been regularly employed as university or academy teachers in
the last two years prior to application for vieas. This qualifica-
tion Dr. Wilga cannot meet. The only ether possibility is & visitor's
visa. The general rule is that a visitor's visa can be granted only
to a person who can return to the place from which he came as visitor.
In view of the transportation difficulties the possibility of return
has all but disappeared, and 90 in the ordinary case consuls are not
granting the visitor's visa.
Phere has been a recent relaxation of these conditions for distinguished
scholars who are in peril but the State Department has its own defini-
tion of "in peril”. Refugees in such regions as Holland, Belgium and
the occupied parts of France are conceived to be in peril, but persons
living elsewhere are not in peril.
I am taking up a special case with the State Department with the hope
of broadening the scope of this provision. If anything comes of my ef-
fort, I shall let you know.
Sincerely,
Alvin Johnson
Director
Ad: BY
Dr. Wiktor Labunski
fhe Conservatory of Music
Kansas City, Missouri
‘Sept. 3, 1940
3525 Central Str.
Kansas City, Mo
Dear Dr. Johnson ,
pees | Just a short note to thank you for. your
kind letter of August 29, and for your interest
2 Dre ean Ep ee. |
| It may be an unfortunate coincidence that
“he ended his connection with the Chemical Research
Institute ( which is an institute of higher Tearn— —
ing after all ) just a few months before the invas-_
ion of Poland. But as I understand the Immigration —
- rulings, this clause which you mention in your
letter was made to avoid giving non-quotas to
‘persons who either are not sufficiently experts in
their fields, or who become fictitious members of
teaching staffs in order to obtain such non-quota
visas. In the case of Dr. Wilga, it is quite evi-
dent that he is a person of learning and of wide ,
experience in the teaching field. However, the Ime
migration Ofiice may take a different point of ~
view,
‘With very much appreciation for your inte-—
ne Se a eo, Cae ee eee Een ee
rest, and with kindest regards,
a |
Very sincerely yours,
XN
Wiktor Labunski
Dr. Alvin Johnson , Director
The New .School for Social Research
New York City
In Copyright