About the National Plastics Center and Museum
1970's
The National Plastics Center and Museum began as a cooperative effort of the Pioneer Valley Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers and several local Leominster Historians. During the 1970's, they became concerned that the early history of the plastics industry, much of which was located in Leominster, was being lost.
As early as 1971, plans were drawn up to preserve some of the regional artifacts and archival material as well as develop exhibits. Originally, these items were to be integrated into the Field Museum of the Leominster Historical Society. On May 28, 1976, the first exhibit was open featuring the first injection molding machine used to produce a commercially marketed product in the United States.
1980's
As more interest was developed, it became clear that this rich history called for a "museum of our own," with a national constituency. In June 1982, the National Plastics Museum was incorporated as a not for profit 501(c) 3 public charity in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In the mid 1980's, the City of Leominster sold the NPCM a 1900 circa school building, our current home, for the sum of $1.00. The national fund raising campaign that followed resulted in the renovation of the first floor and half of the basement.
While the original group found national interest in our historical mission, they found even greater interest in developing a national Education Center to the exciting story of the present and future of plastics. Our mission was broadened and our name changed to the National Plastics Center and Museum in order to address these areas.
The late 1980's saw the beginning of a National Outreach Program with the commission of the video "Passing Through", distributed to teachers and students throughout the United States.
1990's
Renovations to basement and second floor continued for the first three years of the decade and the first staff members were hired. By June 13, 1992, the National Plastics Center and Museum had opened its doors to the public.
Ten thousand visitors came the first year, 85% of whom were with school groups. Our Chemistry of Plastics demonstrations and hands-on laboratory experiences were especially popular, as was the Discovery Corner, where young and old could build interesting structures with a variety of donated plastics materials. Another important focus was the National Plastics Hall of Fame, which had been in storage for a number of years.
While we had had an informal national group of advisors since the 1980's, the Board of Governors was formally founded in June 1994. This group was given the charge to advance our mission nationally.
In 1995, thanks to the generosity of several members of this Board of Governors, we purchased our first PlastiVanTM. We began a national outreach pilot program in 1995 and 1996 which is still in existence.
By the time of our fifth anniversary celebration in 1997, we offered three hands-on programs In-House and had two PlastiVans crisscrossing the United States and Canada. They brought the story of plastics science and technology to schools, with assembly and hands-on laboratory programs. Also a capital campaign to finish the Leominster building was begun.
At the end of the decade, we had three PlastiVansTM on the road, a full time and part time staff, the first designed-in-house exhibit (Plastics in Medicine and construction in the Leominster building was completed.
The New Millennium
In May 2000, the National Board of Governors
began to explore the possibility of take over the fiduciary
responsibility for the Corporation. Our small, regional Board
of Directors had brought the Center and Museum from the dream
of a few local people to an active, exciting national historical
and educational center poised on the brink of a major expansion.
In October 2000, the Governors took formal vote to accept this responsibility. This generous offer was gratefully accepted by the then Board of Directors in December 2000. In January 2001, the appropriate papers were filed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, completing the transfer of governance.
With this solid foundation on which to build, we look forward to great things in the future.
Newsletters
2008 - Winter
Plastics Hall of Fame to Induct Four Posthumous Honorees at SPE ANTEC in May (March 3, 2008)
John (Jack) Keville, industry icon, passes away at 96 (November 12, 2007)
National Plastics Center's Doyle Library and Archives Now Searchable Online (October 8, 2007)
Nominations are Open for Posthumous Inductees to the Plastics Hall of Fame (March 1, 2007)
PlastiVan Science Program to Visit Chicago Area Schools November 13-15 to Promote Science and Technology Education (November 11, 2006)
Traveling PlastiVan™ Science Program to Visit Area Schools to
Promote Studies in Science and Technology (October 27, 2006)
The NPC Celebrates National Engineers Week (February 8, 2006)
Plastics Hall of Fame and NPC Board Member, Harold Holz Dies at 80 (December 26, 2005)
Leominster Library Announces Addition of New Museum Passes (July 19, 2005)
Oh! Polymer PlastiVan™ Debuts in Ohio (March 9, 2005)
New "Green Plastics" Lab at the National Plastics Center (November 12, 2004)
'Plastics and the Environment' Exhibit to Debut at NPC Open House (May 24, 2004)
Leominster Premiere of Tupperware! (October 15, 2003)
Society of the Plastics Industry, www.plasticsindustry.org
Society of Plastics Engineers, www.4spe.org
Plastics News, www.plasticsnews.com
National Plastics Center . 210 Lancaster Street . Leominster . MA . 01453
Questions? Please contact us at npcinfo@plasticsindustry.org.
© Copyright 2008 National Plastics Center