Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Edgar Francis Westrum

ChemistChicago, IL

Manhattan Project VeteranScientist

Edgar Francis Westrum (1919-2014) was an American chemist.

Westrum was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Soon after, he was recruited to work on the Manhattan Project at the Chicago Met Lab in the Chemistry Division under Glenn Seaborg. During his time there, Westrum worked on the isolation of plutonium. He would also sign the Szilard Petition protesting the use of the atomic bomb.

After the war, Westrum went to teach at the University of Michigan, where he would work for 43 years.

Westrum died on May 7, 2014, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Edgar Francis Westrum's Timeline
1919 Mar 6th Born in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
1944 Received a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
19441947 Worked at the Chicago Met Lab.
19471990 Taught at the University of Michigan.
2014 May 7th Died in Ann Arbor.

Related Profiles

Paul L. Eisenacher

T-Plant/200 Areas

Paul L. Eisenacher worked at the 200 West Area at Hanford during the Manhattan Project.

Andrew H. MacMahon

Chicago, IL

Andrew H. MacMahon was the Chief Property Officer of the University of Chicago’s Metallurgical Laboratory (“Met Lab”) during the Manhattan Project.

Arthur C. Damask

Tinian Island

Arthur C. Damask served in the 603rd Air Engineering Squadron. 

Walter J. Grundhauser

Chicago, IL

Walter J. Grundhauser was a research assistant the University of Chicago’s Metallurgical Laboratory (“Met Lab”) during the Manhattan Project.