The Wilsons and UChicago
Thomas E. Wilson helped organize the American Meat Institute, an industry trade association, in 1906. He later served as its President in 1919. In 1923, Wilson provided funding to establish commercial laboratory facilities for the Institute on the campus of the University of Chicago. A new lab was built in 1950 at 939 E. 57th Street to further scientific research and education in the field of livestock production and processing.
![Press release begins "The following joint statement was issued today by Robert H. Hutchins, President of The University of Chicago, Thomas E. Wilson, Chairman of the Institute Plan Commission of the Institute of American Meat Packers, Robert I. Randolph, President of The Chicago Association of Commerce, Fred W. Sargent, President of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and Elmer T. Stevens, President of The Industrial Club of Chicago: A leader from each of the following fields has been or is being asked to come to Chicago on October 22 to discuss the current situation of the business or businesses with which he is associated: Agriculture, Aviation, Railroads, Iron and Steel, Automobiles, Petroleum, Rubber, Shipping, Merchandising, Communication, General Business..."](/media/images/wilsonte-0426-001.original.jpg)
University of Chicago. Office of the President. Hutchins Administration. Records, Box 139, Folder 7, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.
![Front cover of booklet with faded salmon-colored paper covers, titled "Research: The New Frontier. A Formal Record of the Dedication of New Laboratories, October 3, 1950. American Meat Institute Foundation, At the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois."](/media/images/wilsonte-0424-001.original.jpg)
University of Chicago. Office of the President. Hutchins Administration. Records, Box 15, Folder 13, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.
![Continued text of Thomas E. Wilson's address. Opposite page is a black-and-white photograph of the dedication luncheon at the Quadrangle Club. All white men in suits seated at round tables with white tablecloths.](/media/images/wilsonte-0424-005.original.jpg)
![Address by Robert M. Hutchins, Chancellor of the University of Chicago, titled "The Foundation and the University of Chicago." Opposite page is a black-and-white photograph of Hutchins standing behind a podium.](/media/images/wilsonte-0424-006.original.jpg)
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![Title of article is "The Educated Sausage." Article begins "American Meat Institute Foundation research scientists at the University of Chicago have developed a pure starter culture which will enable sausage makers to produce a uniform, tangy-flavored summer sausage in one-third of the customary processing time...." Large black-and-white photograph depicts young white man in white lab coat making sausage.](/media/images/wilsonte-0427-002.original.jpg)
University of Chicago. Office of the President Kimpton Administration Records, Box 22, Folder 3, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.
![Article titled "AMIF - Research and Roast Beef." Article begins "Ask an average American to look up from his dinner long enough to guess the center of the industry which has provided his steak, chop or roast, and chances are he'll say 'Chicago.'"](/media/images/wilsonte-0427-005.original.jpg)
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![Cover of booklet titled "The Research Laboratory of the Institute of American Meat Packers Founded by Thomas E. Wilson at The University of Chicago. A Co-operative Endeavor Between the University and the Institute."](/media/images/wilsonte-0423-001.original.jpg)
University of Chicago. Office of the President. Hutchins Administration. (title page) Records, Box 15, Folder 13, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.
![Text begins "For more than ten years the American meat packing industry has enjoyed an affiliation accorded by The University of Chicago. Through this affiliation important education and research activities benefiting that industry, its employees and the consumers of its products have been conducted..."](/media/images/wilsonte-0423-002.original.jpg)
University of Chicago. Office of the President. Hutchins Administration. (interior) Records, Box 15, Folder 13, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.
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