Earl Berkley was born in Clayton, West Virginia on July 9, 1902. He received a bachelor of arts degree from West Virginia in 1929, a master of science degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1930, and a Ph.D. in 1933 in plant physiology from that same institution.
Berkley worked as a chemist at the Cellulose Research Corporation , in East Alton, Illinois, and then as an associate cotton technologist for the U.S. department of Agriculture. He then held several positions at the National Cotton Council of America, including cotton technologist, senior fiber technologist, and chief fiber technologist. Following these appointments, Berkley accepted the position of Director of the Fiber and Spinning Lab at Anderson, Clayton & Company in 1949, an office he held until 1961. In 1961, he joined the Fiber Research and Testing section of the Cotton Department, Pacolet Industries, Inc., Deering Milliken Service Corporation. Throughout his career, Berkley made contributions to fiber chemistry, structure, physical properties and end uses of cotton and other natural cellulose fibers.
From the description of Earl E. Berkley papers, [1921-1991?] [manuscript] (North Carolina State University). WorldCat record id: 535539322
