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Styrofoam Santa

  • 1940s

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Santa Claus figurine carved out of Styrofoam, created by Dow employee Ray McIntire (1918-1996). The Santa was never produced commercially, but was said to be a regular at Dow Christmas parties.

McIntire invented foam polystyrene in 1941 while working in Dow's Chemical Physics Lab. "Styrofoam," as McIntire's invention was subsequently branded, properly refers to the Dow Chemical Company’s trademarked brand of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam commonly used for thermal insulation and craft applications.

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  • 68.6 cm W x 116 cm H x 47.7 cm D x 160 cm C
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  • Courtesy of Science History Institute

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McIntire, Ray. “Styrofoam Santa.” Styrofoam (tm), paint (coating), 1940–1949. Science History Institute. Philadelphia. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/u6ppgl5.

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The Science History Institute recognizes there are materials in our collections that may be offensive or harmful, containing racist, sexist, Eurocentric, ableist, or homophobic language or depictions. The history of science is not exempt from beliefs or practices harmful to traditionally marginalized groups. The Institute is engaged in ongoing efforts to responsibly present and address the evidence of oppression and injustice inextricable from the history of science. If you would like to learn more about our ongoing efforts or if you encounter harmful, inaccurate, or insufficient descriptions, please contact us at digital@sciencehistory.org.