About
McCrone Research Institute® is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, located in Chicago, dedicated to teaching and research in applied microscopy.
Active since 1952 and founded by Walter C. McCrone in 1960, McCrone Research Institute (McRI) was organized to fill a technical and scientific gap. Although the light microscope is a valuable analytical research tool, few universities in the world teach its proper use and application. McCrone Research Institute meets this need.
Recognized internationally as a leader in microscopy education and as a world-class, Illinois research organization on the forefront of the technological frontier, McCrone Research Institute continues to fulfill Dr. McCrone’s mission of providing the highest quality microscopy and microanalytical education and research without commercial objectives so that you can focus on your own educational and scientific goals. Learn more about Dr. Walter C. McCrone
Teaching
McCrone Research Institute is fully equipped with polarized light and other light microscopes, as well as scanning electron microscopes, IR microspectrometers, Fluorescence microscopes, hot and cold stages, and all of the accessories, reagents, and library resources necessary for critical industrial, forensic and practical microscopy. Courses taught at the McCrone Research Institute range from basic microscopy, emphasizing the proper use of the microscope, to specialized microscopy focusing on a particular technique, a particular material, or a particular industrial, field of application. Information about courses and their descriptions can be accessed on this website. We will be happy to work with you in planning a curriculum and courses best suited to you and your company.
More Information on McRI Courses
Most of the courses are taught in our permanent Chicago location, but some each year are taught “on your site” at host organizations in government, industry and academia, nationally and internationally.
More Information on ‘On-your-site’ courses
Inter/Micro Conference
In 1948, Dr. McCrone started the series of annual international conferences on microscopy now known as Inter/Micro. This conference is held every year in Chicago and continues to be sponsored and hosted by McCrone Research Institute.
More Information on the Inter/Micro Conference
During the 1960’s, Dr. McCrone invited the State Microscopical Society of Illinois (SMSI) into McRI, providing gratis clerical, secretarial and professional services in addition to a home and facilities for the storage of its collections. SMSI continues to utilize McRI lecture rooms and classrooms for its adult and young student groups, general meetings, and workshops. SMSI holds its annual meeting and auction at Inter/Micro and presents awards to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to microscopy.
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Publishing
Another major activity of the McCrone Research Institute is publication of The Microscope, an international journal emphasizing new equipment, new methods and important applications of light and electron microscopy. This journal began in 1937 with Arthur L. E. Barron as Editor but became a part of the McRI operations in 1962. Through this journal, McRI is continually expanding the efforts to increase the use of microscopy both here and abroad.
More Information on The Microscope Journal
Microscope Publications, a division of McCrone Research Institute, publishes many books for the light microscopist including the Monographs in the Microscope Series, Chamot and Mason’s Handbook of Chemical Microscopy, Winchell’s “Organic” and “Inorganic” handbooks on optical properties, the Asbestos Identification textbook, the Polarized Light Microscopy textbook, Fusion Methods, The Particle Atlas, and various others.
More Information on Microscope Publications
Research
Continuing the tradition that started with Dr. McCrone’s first research projects (applying Chemical Microscopy to explosives at Cornell), McCrone Research Institute conducts basic and applied research related to its mission of expanding particle analysis capabilities and using microscopical and microanalytical techniques to address problems in forensic, industrial, pharmaceutical, environmental and conservation sciences. This research is currently funded internally and by selected grants and contracts associated with a variety of academic institutions, government agencies and corporations.
More Information on Research at McRI
Our experience, longevity, stability, and reliability are evidenced by our track record: 27,000 students and growing. Since 1960, our outstanding references and reputation distinguish McCrone Research Institute from the alternatives.
Contact Us
McCrone Research Institute
2820 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616-3230
phone: 312-842-7100
fax: 312-842-1078