Mechanical Engineering Department Records, 1910-1976

The records of the Department of Mechanical Engineering are arranged in three series. A large part of the collection is correspondence and papers generated or received by Howard H. Langdon during his tenure as head of the department. Throughout the collection, the processor has attempted to maintain the original order of the materials within each folder.

Series one consists of general departmental correspondence, 1920-1944, divided into two subseries. The first subseries includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence from 1929 through 1943 relating to departmental activities, and is arranged alphabetically. Included in this subseries are inquiries pertaining to product analysis, research, and development of techniques and materials. This subseries also contains correspondence about departmental purchases, as well as communications from the public, manufacturers, and other educational institutions concerning published materials. Some of the correspondence in this subseries concerns prospective students, graduate placement, and departmental employment. The second subseries is correspondence from 1920 through 1944 arranged alphabetically by topic. Major topics include faculty hiring, industrial and professional associations minutes and materials, departmental financial data, departmental and university memoranda, and student information and letters. Also included in the second subseries are substantial portions of the professional correspondence of Howard H. Langdon as well as correspondence with manufacturers, such as General Electric.

The second series, curriculum and research, 1910-1976, is arranged alphabetically by topic. In addition to research and class materials, this series contains data derived from analyses of patented auto lubricants and records of concrete research and development.

The third series, Engineering, Science, and Manpower War Training, 1940-1944, reflects the University's participation in a federal engineer-training program for women, and is also arranged alphabetically by topic. Correspondence from prospective students, government publications, directives, memoranda, and minutes comprise the bulk of this series.