William G. Fateley: Scholar, Editor, and Innovator in Vibrational Spectroscopy

This article profiles William G. Fateley, whose career bridged the theoretical foundations of vibrational spectroscopy and the practical realities of instrument design, remote sensing, and reference publishing. From his coauthored work on selection rules and group frequencies to his advocacy of Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and his pioneering work in Hadamard transform spectrometry, Fateley’s influence continues through the resources he left behind and the students and colleagues he inspired.

Introduction: Bridging Theory, Instruments, and Community

William G. Fateley (1929–2009) was among the most versatile spectroscopists of the 20th century. His contributions spanned theory, reference compendia, instrumentation, and editorial leadership. He coauthored definitive works on vibrational selection rules and group frequencies, promoted Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) for environmental monitoring, and pioneered Hadamard transform spectrometry using electro-optic masks. As Editor-in-Chief of the journal Applied Spectroscopy for nearly two decades, he shaped scholarly communication in the field. This article reviews his life and career, emphasizing his publications, mentorship, patents, and professional service, and concludes with reflections on his personal character and lasting impact.

Spectroscopists often cluster into one of three archetypes: theorists, instrument builders, or community leaders. William G. Fateley uniquely embodied all three. He codified theory into usable selection-rule methods, translated ideas into practical multiplexed instruments, and served nearly two decades as Editor-in-Chief of Applied Spectroscopy (1975–1993) (1,2). Few individuals have left such broad imprints on the science of spectroscopy and its institutions.

William G. Fateley

Early Life and Education: From Indiana Roots to Physical Chemistry

Born in Franklin, Indiana, on May 17, 1929, Fateley studied chemistry and biology at Franklin College, graduating in 1951. Bill pursued graduate studies at Northwestern University, and then briefly attended Indiana University medical school for one year before turning toward physical chemistry, earning his Ph.D. at Kansas State University in 1956 (1). Postgraduate studies followed at the University of Maryland and the University of Minnesota (1). This breadth of training equipped him with the dual sensibilities of a theorist and an experimentalist.

From Industry to Academia: Mellon Institute, Carnegie Mellon, and K-State

Following his doctorate and postgraduate studies, Fateley worked at Dow Chemical, gaining industrial experience in both California and Virginia. He then joined the Mellon Institute as a research fellow, rising from assistant to the president. When Mellon merged with Carnegie Institute of Technology to form Carnegie Mellon University, he was appointed professor of chemistry. In 1972, he returned to Kansas State University as a professor and department head, later being named a University Distinguished Professor, a role he held until his retirement in 1997 (1).

Publications and Research: Handbooks, Selection Rules, and Transform Spectrometry

Building Reference Libraries

Fateley coauthored seminal research and two books that became permanent fixtures in spectroscopy labs worldwide. Fateley authored more than 350 publications, including numerous peer-reviewed papers. His major publishing contributions to spectroscopy included the following.

The 1971 paper, Infrared and Raman Selection Rules for Lattice Vibrations: The Correlation Method (3), provided a systematic approach to applying group theory for predicting and interpreting vibrational spectra of molecular and crystalline systems. By formalizing the correlation method, it enabled spectroscopists to assign bands with greater confidence, especially in solid-state and lattice vibration studies, and remains a widely cited theoretical framework.

The monograph Characteristic Raman Frequencies of Organic Compounds (1974) (4) shifted focus to practical laboratory application. It offered an organized tabulation of Raman-active functional group frequencies for a wide range of organic molecules, serving as a hands-on tool for experimentalists. This volume helped establish Raman spectroscopy as a more routine technique by simplifying the interpretation of spectral data.

Finally, The Handbook of Infrared and Raman Characteristic Frequencies of Organic Molecules (1991) (5) synthesized decades of vibrational data into a single, authoritative reference. Coauthored with Lin-Vien, Colthup and Grasselli, the book unified IR and Raman frequency data in a functional-group framework, becoming one of the most heavily used interpretive guides in both academic and industrial spectroscopy laboratories. Its longevity as a reference testifies to its utility for band assignment, quality control, and materials characterization. This handbook remains one of the most heavily cited vibrational spectroscopy references.

Together, these works bridged rigorous theoretical formalism, practical frequency tables, and comprehensive handbooks—forming an enduring foundation for both teaching and applied vibrational spectroscopy.

Instrumental Innovations

Fateley was an early proponent of FT-IR spectroscopy and its application to remote atmospheric monitoring (6). He also pioneered Hadamard transform spectrometry (HTS), developing multiplex Raman and NIR systems using electro-optic and solid-state masks. His group demonstrated practical encoding schemes that foreshadowed modern multiplexed and imaging instruments (7,8).

Patents and Technology Translation

Through D.O.M. Associates and later Plain Sight Systems, he pursued patents on electro-optical masking devices and Hadamard-encoded Raman spectrometers (9,10). These innovations reflected his drive to translate ideas from theory into manufacturable devices.

Mentorship: Training the Next Generation

At Kansas State University, Fateley led with rigor and warmth, mentoring graduate students and postdocs who went on to leadership positions in academia, government, and industry.

Collaborators such as R.M. Hammaker, D.C. Tilotta, and R.A. DeVerse extended his Hadamard work into biomedical and imaging spectroscopy (7,8). His commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration blended chemistry with optics and engineering, setting a model for today’s convergent research culture.

Special Service: Editor and Community Builder

From 1975 to 1993, Fateley served as Editor-in-Chief of Applied Spectroscopy (2), setting editorial standards, refining peer review practices, and fostering a balance between theoretical and applied work. He also contributed to the programming and governance of the Coblentz Society and promoted student participation at scientific meetings (11). These contributions reflect his commitment to building and sustaining spectroscopy as a professional community.

Personality: Scientist, Teacher, and Craftsman

Fateley combined analytical precision with creativity and humor. Beyond spectroscopy, he was an accomplished woodworker, building more than 50 tall clocks and numerous fine furniture pieces. Many pieces of furniture still stand in the homes of family and friends across the country—enduring testaments to a craftsman’s devotion and a legacy as tangible as his scientific contributions (1). He published a humorous memoir, Science or Fiction—The 10% Solution, reflecting his wit and narrative flair. Family and colleagues alike recall his enthusiasm, humor, and generosity (6).

Honors and Recognition

Fateley’s career brought him major awards, including:

• Coblentz Award for outstanding contributions to molecular spectroscopy (1).
• Eastern Analytical Symposium Near-Infrared Award (1995) for progress toward noninvasive glucose monitoring (1).
• Sigma Xi Research Award, Maurice Hasler Award, and SAE Highest Award in Science (1).
• Distinguished Graduate Faculty recognition at Kansas State University and Distinguished Alumni recognition at Franklin College (1).

The William G. Fateley Student Award, created by the Coblentz Society, continues his legacy by recognizing outstanding students in the field of vibrational spectroscopy at SciX (11).

Legacy: A Clockmaker’s Precision in Spectroscopy

Fateley’s trifecta of contributions—spanning reference texts that anchor spectral interpretation, instrumentation innovations, and journal and conference leadership—ensures his continued relevance. His editorial and community leadership helped build the scaffolding that allows spectroscopy to flourish today. Like the tall clocks and beautiful woodworking he crafted, his work combined precision, durability, and artistry. Through the Fateley Student Award (11) and the enduring use of his reference publications (3–5), his influence continues to mark time in the field of vibrational spectroscopy.

References

(1) Kansas State University. William G. Fateley Obituary and Tribute. https://www.k-state.edu/chem/news/more10.html (accessed Aug 29, 2025).

(2) Society for Applied Spectroscopy. List of Editors-in-Chief of Applied Spectroscopy. https://www.s-a-s.org/history (accessed 2025-08-25).

(3) Fateley, W. G.; McDevitt, N. T.; Bentley, F. F. Infrared and Raman Selection Rules for Lattice Vibrations: The Correlation Method. Appl. Spectrosc. 1971, 25 (2), 155–173. DOI: 10.1366/000370271779948600

(4) Dollish, F. R.; Fateley, W. G.; Bentley, F. F. Characteristic Raman Frequencies of Organic Compounds; Wiley: New York, 1974. https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1971993809713433888 (accessed 2025-08-25).

(5) Lin-Vien, D.; Colthup, N. B.; Fateley, W. G.; Grasselli, J. G. The Handbook of Infrared and Raman Characteristic Frequencies of Organic Molecules; Academic Press: San Diego, 1991.

(6) Chase, B. Bill Fateley and Ellis Lippincott: Remembering the Men Behind the Awards. Spectroscopy 2013, 28 (2). https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/bill-fateley-and-ellis-lippincott-remembering-men-behind-awards (accessed 2025-08-25).

(7) Tilotta, D. C.; Hammaker, R. M.; Fateley, W. G. Multiplex Advantage in Hadamard Transform Spectrometry Utilizing Solid-State Encoding Masks. Appl. Opt. 1987, 26 (19), 4285–4292. DOI: 10.1364/AO.26.004285

(8) Fateley, W. G.; Hammaker, R. M. Hadamard Transform Spectrometry: A New Analytical Technique; Progress Report, Second Year, March 15, 1992–November 15, 1992; Report No. DOE/ER/13347-5; Kansas State Univ., Dept. of Chemistry: Manhattan, KS, 1992. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc619799/ (accessed 2025-08-25).

(9) Fateley, W. G. Stationary, Electrically Alterable, Optical Masking Device and Spectroscopic Apparatus Employing Same. U.S. Patent 4,615,619, Oct 7, 1986. https://patents.google.com/patent/US4615619A/en (accessed 2025-08-25).

(10) Fateley, W. G.; Tilotta, D. C. Raman Spectrometer Having Hadamard Electrooptical Mask and Diode Detector. U.S. Patent 4,856,897, Aug 15, 1989. https://patents.google.com/patent/US4856897A/en (accessed 2025-08-25).

(11) Coblentz Society. William G. Fateley Student Award. https://www.coblentz.org/awards/william-g-fateley-student-award/ (accessed 2025-08-25).

About the Author

Jerome Workman, Jr. serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Spectroscopy and is the Executive Editor for LCGC and Spectroscopy. He is the co-host of the Analytically Speaking podcast and has published multiple reference text volumes, including the three-volume Academic Press Handbook of Organic Compounds, the five-volume The Concise Handbook of Analytical Spectroscopy, the 2nd edition of Practical Guide and Spectral Atlas for Interpretive Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, the 2nd edition of Chemometrics in Spectroscopy, and the 4th edition of The Handbook of Near-Infrared Analysis. He is the recipient of the 2020 NYSAS Gold Medal Award (with Howard L. Mark). Author contact: JWorkman@MJHlifesciences.com ●