Norman & Wilma Erway
Scientific Glassblowing
Norm: 6/24/1922 – 3/31/2013 Willie: 5/24/1923 – 12/16/2015
Key Achievement
Norman and Wilma Erway began their careers as scientists but decided to start a scientific glassblowing business to supply custom-made glass apparatus to other scientists.Both of the Erways had taken a glassblowing course as part of their Bachelor of Science programs at Kalamazoo College. After graduation in 1944, Norm went to work first as a glassblower and later as a research assistant under Glenn Seaborg in the Metallurgical Laboratory of the atomic bomb developing, Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago. Willie worked towards her master’s degree in zoology.
At the end of World War II, Norm and Willie came to UW – Madison, he as a Wisconsin Alumnae Research Foundation research assistant in chemistry and she as a research assistant in endocrinology. She received a master’s degree, but he left his studies to start their business.In addition Norm’s work under Glenn Seaborg who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his part in the discovery of 10 chemical elements, the Erways did glassblowing for other notable scientists. H. Gobind Khorana and Howard M. Temin were two additional Nobel laureates that Norm worked with.
At the end of World War II, Norm and Willie came to UW – Madison, he as a Wisconsin Alumnae Research Foundation research assistant in chemistry and she as a research assistant in endocrinology. She received a master’s degree, but he left his studies to start their business.In addition Norm’s work under Glenn Seaborg who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his part in the discovery of 10 chemical elements, the Erways did glassblowing for other notable scientists. H. Gobind Khorana and Howard M. Temin were two additional Nobel laureates that Norm worked with.
Connection to Wisconsin
The Erway Glass Blowing Company was established in Oregon Wisconsin late in 1946. It was operated from the Erway home there until after Willie’s death in 2015. They had one employee, John Ames who worked in the business from September 1959 to July 2016. Although the UW–Madison chemistry department had a full-time glassblower during that time, the Erways provides some of their requirements plus the requirements of other departments. In addition, the Erways provided glass to industrial laboratories in the area. They had some specialty products that they sold to university and other laboratories in many parts of the USA and a few other countries.
The Erways are prime examples of the technicians of many specialties that support the work of scientists and engineers.
The Erways are prime examples of the technicians of many specialties that support the work of scientists and engineers.