Carl R. Fellers
Encyclopedia
Carl R. Fellers was an American
food scientist
and microbiologist
who was involved in the pasteurization
of dried foods and canning
Atlantic blue crab.
, Fellers worked in research for the United States Department of Agriculture
, the National Canners Association (Food Products Association
since 2005), and the University of Washington
before joining the University of Massachusetts Amherst
(known in 1925 as Massachusetts Agricultural College) department of horticulture
manufacturing on December 1, 1925.
Fellers' research during that time involved canning of blue crab, an article that was featured in a 1939 Time
magazine article which greatly increased the quality and quantity of crab produced in the US for consumption.
Following Chenoweth's retirement in 1941, Fellers became department chair in 1941 and would serve in that position until his retirement in July 1957. During his tenure as department chair, the department would change its name to food technology
, a name it would keep until 1962. It is now the department of food science, a name it has had since 1988. 75 of the 140 students who would earn Ph.D.
s at the University of Massachusetts (known as Massachusetts State College from 1931 to 1947) would come from the food technology department.
Fellers as department chair also gave the go ahead to faculty member Gideon E. (Guy) Livingston to form an honor society
for food science and technology which would be called Phi Tau Sigma
(ΦΤΣ). Additionally, he also created a fisheries school and laboratory at the University of Massachusetts as well. Even during the 1950s, the food technology department did testing for Consumer Reports
magazine, thanks to Fellers' negotiating with the Consumers Union
, mainly focusing on their research to the nutritive
values of frozen food
and canned
foods.
Involvement with the Institute of Food Technologists
Fellers was a charter member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), even serving in the role of Secretary-Treasurer from 1947 to 1949 before Charles S. Lawrence
took over the Executive Secretary position and moved the secretary role from Amherst, Massachusetts
to its current location in Chicago, Illinois. Fellers served as IFT President in 1949 - 1950. He also received the Babcock-Hart Award
, then the Stephen M. Babcock Award in 1950.
's Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He also was a very competitive badminton
player as noted by Roy E. Morse, a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst would later be elected to IFT President in 1987 - 1988.
by 1987.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
food scientist
Food science
Food science is a study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork"...
and microbiologist
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
who was involved in the pasteurization
Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a process of heating a food, usually liquid, to a specific temperature for a definite length of time, and then cooling it immediately. This process slows microbial growth in food...
of dried foods and canning
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
Atlantic blue crab.
Early life and career
A native of Hastings, New YorkHastings, New York
Hastings is a town in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 8,803 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Hastings Curtiss, a prominent citizen and member of the State Assembly in 1824....
, Fellers worked in research for the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, the National Canners Association (Food Products Association
Food Products Association
The Food Products Association or FPA was the principal scientific and technical U.S. trade association representing the food products industry...
since 2005), and the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
before joining the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
(known in 1925 as Massachusetts Agricultural College) department of horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
manufacturing on December 1, 1925.
Career at the University of Massachusetts
From 1925 to 1941, Fellers, current department head Walter Chenoweth, and two other professors worked to develop the research and teaching areas of the department.Fellers' research during that time involved canning of blue crab, an article that was featured in a 1939 Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine article which greatly increased the quality and quantity of crab produced in the US for consumption.
Following Chenoweth's retirement in 1941, Fellers became department chair in 1941 and would serve in that position until his retirement in July 1957. During his tenure as department chair, the department would change its name to food technology
Food technology
Food technology, is a branch of food science which deals with the actual production processes to make foods.-Early history of food technology:...
, a name it would keep until 1962. It is now the department of food science, a name it has had since 1988. 75 of the 140 students who would earn Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
s at the University of Massachusetts (known as Massachusetts State College from 1931 to 1947) would come from the food technology department.
Fellers as department chair also gave the go ahead to faculty member Gideon E. (Guy) Livingston to form an honor society
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
for food science and technology which would be called Phi Tau Sigma
Phi Tau Sigma
Phi Tau Sigma is an honor society for food science and technology students. The organization was founded in 1953 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst by Gideon E. Livingston, a food technology professor...
(ΦΤΣ). Additionally, he also created a fisheries school and laboratory at the University of Massachusetts as well. Even during the 1950s, the food technology department did testing for Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
magazine, thanks to Fellers' negotiating with the Consumers Union
Consumers Union
Consumers Union is a non-profit organization best known as the publisher of Consumer Reports, based in the United States. Its mission is to "test products, inform the public, and protect consumers."...
, mainly focusing on their research to the nutritive
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
values of frozen food
Frozen food
Freezing food preserves it from the time it is prepared to the time it is eaten. Since early times, farmers, fishermen, and trappers have preserved their game and produce in unheated buildings during the winter season. Freezing food slows down decomposition by turning water to ice, making it...
and canned
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
foods.
Involvement with the Institute of Food TechnologistsInstitute of Food TechnologistsThe Institute of Food Technologists or IFT is an international, non-profit professional organization for the advancement of food science and technology. It is the largest of food science organizations in the world, encompassing 22,000 members worldwide as of 2006. It is referred to as "THE Society...
Fellers was a charter member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), even serving in the role of Secretary-Treasurer from 1947 to 1949 before Charles S. LawrenceCharles S. Lawrence
Charles S. Lawrence was a United States Army colonel who would survive the Bataan Death March to later become the first Executive Vice President of the Institute of Food Technologists .-Early life and career:...
took over the Executive Secretary position and moved the secretary role from Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
to its current location in Chicago, Illinois. Fellers served as IFT President in 1949 - 1950. He also received the Babcock-Hart Award
Babcock-Hart Award
The Babcock-Hart Award has been awarded since 1948 by the Institute of Food Technologists. It is given for significant contributions in food technology that resulted in public health through some aspects of nutrition. It was first named the Stephan M. Babcock Award after the agricultural chemist...
, then the Stephen M. Babcock Award in 1950.
Other activities
Fellers served as chairman of the American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
's Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He also was a very competitive badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
player as noted by Roy E. Morse, a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst would later be elected to IFT President in 1987 - 1988.
Death and legacy
Fellers died in 1960. In 1984, IFT presented the Phi Tau Sigma award in honor of a member of both the honor society and IFT who brought honor and recognition in food science through achievements in areas other than teaching, research, technology transfer, or development. The award changed to it current name, the Carl R. Fellers AwardCarl R. Fellers Award
The Carl R. Fellers Award has been awarded every year since 1984. It is awarded to members of the Institute of Food Technologists who are also members of Phi Tau Sigma, the honorary society of food science and technology, who have brought honor and recognition to food science through achievements...
by 1987.