PROFILE OF A PIONEER: INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR EMERITUS CLYDE BERRY

Introduction

The purpose of this project was to interview Professor Clyde Berry. Professor Berry was a former student and a faculty member at the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health (now the College of Public Health) until he retired from the University of Iowa in 1991. He was a pioneer in the field of Industrial Hygiene, and is known nation wide for his contributions to the field of Industrial Hygiene and for his mentoring skill. Professor Berry is 86 years old and lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina. We hope to capture Professor Berry’s views on the history of the Industrial Hygiene profession and its evolution for future generations of industrial hygienists. The interview was conducted on November 5, 1999 at the Berry residence by Chandran Achutan. Chandran was the 1999 recipient of the Clyde Berry Scholarship Award from the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation.

About Clyde

Clyde M. Berry graduated with a BS in Chemistry and Biology from McKendre College in 1933. Three years later,  he obtained an MS degree from the University of Illinois, with a major in Biochemistry.  Upon graduation with an MS degree, Clyde, together with Lewis and Lester Cralley, conspired to start an industrial hygiene program at a university.  The ideal university would offer both medicine and engineering, and since all three were residents of Illinois, decided to come to the nearby University of Iowa.  Through the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, they could earn advanced degrees by taking a balanced set of courses in both medicine and the graduate school.  Clyde was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1941.

Dr. and Mrs. Berry live in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He is a board member on the Henderson County Crime Stoppers and on the Advisory Committee of the Environmental Sciences Program at Blue Ridge Community College.

Video (To see some samples of the interview: Left Click to Play, Right Click to Download)
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Clyde & Jean at  home
(642KB)

Clyde's views on academia
(491KB)

Clyde on the early days of the IREH
(459KB)

Clyde's philosolphy on learning
(310KB)

Clyde's advice to new Industrial Hygienists
(1.16MB)

Sponsors

The Clyde Berry interview was sponsored by the University of Iowa College of Public Health and the University of Iowa Student Government (UISG).

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Dr. and Mrs. Berry for graciously agreeing to the interview and for hosting Mr. Achutan's visit to their home. We would also like to acknowledge technical assistance from Professor Thomas Cook, Dr. John Rosecrance and Mr. Lance Fuller. The input from students (past & present), faculty and staff at the College of Public health was very helpful in developing the interview and is greatly appreciated.
 

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