Elise Frances Harmon '' was an American physicist, chemist, and influential contributor to the miniaturization of computers.
Career highlights
; Research During World War II, she worked in the United States Naval Research Laboratory's Aircraft and Electrical Division. In the early 1950, Harmon worked for the Bureau of Standards and the Naval Research Bureau in Washington, D.C. In 1953, she became chief research printed circuit engineer for the Aerovox Corporation, headquartered at Plant 2 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. At the time, she had the responsibility of directing the research and development, as well as establishing plant procedures for new methods of printed circuitry and printed circuit components. In the 1970s, she was head of Aerovox Corporation's printed circuit activities. She was a member of the American Chemical Society, the Institute of Radio Engineers, and the Texas Academy of Science. One of Harmon's major contributions to the field was the development of a hot die stamp method to create printed circuits in which silver conductors were infused on thermoplastics and thermosetting materials. She and Philip J. Franklin '' were awarded a patent in 1953 for this technological breakthrough. Harmon also researched the action of grease and lubricants in high speed bearings and established the pilot plant procedures for an entirely new method of printed circuitry. ; Teaching Harmon taught chemistry, physics, and biology at the Brownsville Junior High School from about 1934 to 1937. She later taught those subjects at Texas Junior College, the University of North Texas, and University of Texas at Austin. ; Death Harmon died March 6, 1985, in Santa Clara County, California, while a resident of Redwood City, California. She is buried in Section P, Block 35, Grave 1 of the IOOF Cemetery, Denton, Texas, next to her mother, Geoffie Harmon, in Grave 2, and brother, Hamlett Stephen Harmon, in Grave 3. The three grave sites were purchased in 1931 by her father, George Herbert Harmon.
1956, Harmon was awarded the Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award for her specialty in printed circuits.
1968, Harmon was awarded the IPC President's Award, honoring those who made the most significant contributions to IPC programs during the term of office of each departing IPC president
Selected published works
"Interconnection of Integrated Circuit Flat Packs in Autonetics Improved Minuteman Program," by Elise F. Harmon, IEEE Transactions on Component Parts, Vol. 11, No. 2, pps. 135–144;,
"Fabrication of Multilayer Boards at Autonetics for Minuteman II Program," by Elise F. Harmon, Anaheim, California: North American Aviation / Autonetics ;