S. Stephen Chapman was born February 15, 1914 in Trimountain, Michigan. He received a BA in chemistry (1938) from the University of Michigan and went on to earn a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Harvard (1950). He also did post-doctoral work at the Harvard Medical School in bacteriology and virology (1950-1954).
Chapman spent his scientific career (1940-1971) in various areas of microbiology, working for a number of academic institutions, corporate laboratories, and government and government research facilities and hospitals. His last such position was as an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and microbiology at the University of Minnesota (1966-1971).
After leaving the university, Chapman began a career in environmental activism. He worked as research director for the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG, 1974-1976) and, following that, as research director of the Minnesota Consumer Alliance . He also served as a director of a number of environmental organizations, and as a consultant or advisor to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other state governmental agencies and boards concerned with environmental matters, especially regarding the copper-nickel mining issues.
From the guide to the Stephen Chapman papers., 1964-1984., (Minnesota Historical Society)
