How did a scientist split time between social calls, "automobiling," and laboratory work at the beginning of the twentieth century? Help us transcribe Leo Baekeland's diaries to learn more about his daily activities and scientific work.

Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863-1944) was a Belgium-born, American chemist whose inventions include Velox photographic paper and the versatile, popular plastic Bakelite. His work with Bakelite marks the beginning of the modern plastics industry. The diary entries discuss his experiments during the time period in which he filed process patents for Bakelite.

This diary, held by Archives Center at the National Museum of American History, details Leo H. Baekeland's daily activities. He writes often of his visits and discussions, as well as the subjects of correspondence he has written and received. Furthermore, Baekeland's diary sheds light on the use and distance of travel by automobile in the early twentieth century. In the notes, Baekeland explains increasing time spent in the laboratory at the end of 1907 into 1908. The diary spans the spring months through the winter. Learn more about Baekeland's work and life from the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History.