Allen Sheeley Janssen Papers

Allen Sheeley Janssen Papers, 1928-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Allen Sheeley Janssen, 1908-1983
Title: Allen Sheeley Janssen Papers
Dates: 1928-1974 (inclusive)
19281974
Quantity: 4.0 cubic feet
Collection Number: MG381 (collection)
Summary: Personal and professional papers of engineering professor Allen Janssen concerning administration, teaching, research, and civic activities.
Repository: University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Allen Sheeley Janssen was born in Boise, Idaho, September 12, 1908, the son of Alfred E. and Edna M. (Sheeley) Janssen. After graduating from Boise High School he attended the University of Idaho, earning a B (Arch) in 1930, a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1933, and his M.S. in Civil Engineering in 1937.

Following his graduation in 1930, he worked for the Idaho Department of Highways. In 1931 he returned to the university as an instructor in the Civil Engineering Department. He continued teaching at the university for over forty years, becoming dean of the College of Engineering in 1946. He resigned as dean in 1967, but continued to teach half-time until his retirement in 1972. While at the university he served on the Academic Council, Research Council, Research Foundation, Patent Committee and Water Resources Committee; he was also faculty advisor to the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity from 1936 to 1956.

While teaching he also acted as consultant and designer on many civil engineering projects, with emphasis on highway work, materials of construction, and construction and analysis research. He also worked as a field draftsman for the Idaho Department of Highways from 1930 to 1946. After his semi-retirement from the university he worked part-time as an office engineer for Pacific Consultants.

He interrupted his teaching during World War II (1942-1946) when, as part of the 55th Naval Construction Battalion, Civil Engineering Corps. he spent two and a half years in the Seabees constructing overseas bases in the South Pacific, and a year and a half in research and development work with the Bureau of Yards and Docks in Washington, D.C.

He was the author of a dozen published works and a member of numerous professional organizations and fraternities, holding regional offices in many of them. His honors and awards include a Distinguished Service Certificate from the National Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners (1957), Engineer of the Year award given by the Idaho Society of Professional Engineers (1959), Engineer of Merit commendation from the Spokane Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (1965), and Outstanding Service to the Community award given by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. In 1972 the new engineering building at the University of Idaho was named after him.

In 1947 he was elected to the Idaho State Board of Engineering Examiners to fill the unexpired term of Jesse Buchanan, who resigned upon assuming the Presidency of the University of Idaho. Janssen continued on this board until his resignation in May 1968.

He was also active in community affairs, serving as chairman of the Transportation Committee of the Chamber of Commerce (1969-1972), on the Board of Trustees of the Moscow School District (1948-1953), as a member of the Board of Directors for the Highway District, and on the Technical Advisor Committee for the Regional Airport (1969-January 1972). He was active in the Republican Party and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He married Ada Jones on July 14, 1930, in Logan, Utah; they had two children, a son Alfred and a daughter Sheila. Janssen suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and died at the Good Samaritan Village in Moscow on December 26, 1983.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The papers of Allen Janssen span the years 1928 to 1974, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1930 to 1960. Included are papers related to his activities at the University of Idaho, personal papers, including military service, and papers concerning investigations and research.

Additional papers of Allen Janssen, totaling 11 cubic feet, are located in MG 149.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The papers of Allen Janssen were in labeled file folders which were removed from file cabinets in the Department of Civil Engineering. Using the file drawer labels as guides, the papers were easily divided into three series: University Related, Personal, and Reports, Investigations, Research. Although the contents were transferred to acid neutral folders, all folder headings were retained. The folders retain their original alphabetical sequence, and no attempt was made to rearrange the material within the folders.

Series one contains university related material. Included are reports from committees on which Janssen served, correspondence, financial and other records from the Delta Tau Delta fraternity to which he was faculty advisor, material concerning the department of civil engineering, and talks which Janssen gave to other classes about the importance of engineering.

Personal papers are contained in series two and include material on his time in the navy, military courses taken in later years, and correspondence with organizations to which he belonged.

The third series contains materials related to research on the use of asphalt and concrete, primarily as used in road building, as well as other areas of interest.

Printed books and documents, both state and federal, and duplicates of near print material were removed from the collection; this reduced the records by two cubic feet.

Acquisition Information

The Records of Allen Janssen were transferred to the University of Idaho Library by the Department of Civil Engineering between March 1989 and August 1992.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. University Related Papers, 1928-1974Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Academic Council 35 items	1959-1950
1/2	Accrediting committee (NICE inspection trip) 3 items	1946
1/3	All University Day 5 items	1942-1951
1/4	Alpha Phi wall 3 items	1940
1/5	Alumni 2 items	1938-1940
1/6	American Society for Testing Materials 7 items	1937-1940
1/7	American Society of Civil Engineers 28 items	1934-1942
1/8	Architects, State Board of Examiners 9 items	1941-1943
1/9	Asphalt Institute 25 items	1937-1942
1/10	Beta Chi Corporation 105 items	1947-1958
1/11	Beta Chi Corporation, Building loan fund ledger 1 item	1925-1933
1/12	Catalog changes 1 item	1957
1/13	Civil Engineering 160 1 item	undated
1/14	Civil Engineering 203 5 items	1947-1952
1/15	Civil Engineering 241 2 items	1948
1/16	Civil Engineering curriculum 3 items	1946
1/17-18	College of Engineering 79 items	1941-1943
1/19	College of Engineering, Administrative memos 9 items	1939-1946
1/20	College of Engineering, Alumni letters 4 items	1928-1941
1/21	College of Engineering, Alumni news and addresses 4 items	1946
1/22	College of Engineering, Applications for work 7 items	1947
1/23	College of Engineering, Budget requests 6 items	1945
1/24	College of Engineering, Letters 50 items	1934-1939
1/25	College of Engineering, Miscellaneous 5 items	1935-1935
1/26	College of Engineering, Notes 1 item	1946-1947
1/27	Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Delta Mu chapter by-laws 1 item	November 1946
1/28	Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Financial (Beta Chi bond) 21 items	1936-1946
1/29	Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Pledges 14 items	1949-1954
1/30-39	Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. General 482 items	1946-1959
1/40	Dormitory Planning Committee 2 items	1947
1/41	Emergency Classroom and Office Space Committee 15 items	1946
1/42	Engineering inspection trip 11 items	1935
1/43	Engineering report grading 9 items	1939-1947
1/44	Engineering student activities 15 items	1933-1936
1/45	Engineering student list 9 items	1930-1936
1/46	Engineer's show 5 items	1933-1942
1/47	Examinations and absences 8 items	1952-1953
1/48	Exams 20 items	1929-1938
1/49	Extension and short courses 6 items	1939-1956
1/50	Faculty personnel reports 31 items	1954
1/51	Farm Electrification Committee 1 item	1968
1/52	Fluorescent lighting, Engineering drawing building 15 items	1946-1947
1/53	Freshman conferences 25 items	1944-1960
1/54	Freshman students, Carnegie tests 22 items	1940-1944
1/55	Graduate picture display 13 items	1947
1/56	Guidance - Testing 32 items	1938-1948
1/57	Highway conference 4 items	1940
1/58	History - College of Engineering 9 items	1920-1946
1/59-60	Idaho Society of Engineers 100 items	1938-1942
2/61	Idaho Society of Engineers, Publications, Idaho Engineer 71 items	1939-1942
2/62-63	Idaho Society of Engineers, Northern Section 196 items	1940-1942
2/64	Informal Engineering faculty meetings 14 items	1947-1948
2/65	In-service training 21 items	1939-1950
2/66	Letters to high school students & parents 31 items	1941-1956
2/67	Library 25 items	1938-1941
2/68	List of officials 12 items	1939-1946
2/69	Materials school 17 items	1948
2/70	Materials testing lab, CE 103 manual 4 items	undated
2/71	Mechanics special committee 53 items	1957-1960
2/72	Nuclear engineering 6 items	1950-1952
2/73	NYA 6 items	1951
2/74	Patent policy 4 items	1947
2/75	Personnel Records 15 items	1941
2/76	Pre-engineering testing program 16 items	1947-1954
2/77	President Buchanan matters to discuss 46 items	1952-1954
2/78	President's committee, area IV 31 items	1957
2/79	Radio talk 1 item	1951
2/80	Recommendations 152 items	1937-1961
2/81-92	Registration 329 items	1936-1951
2/93	Student personnel practice 6 items	1941-1951
2/94	Salary data 19 items	1946-1955
2/95	Sigma Tau 3 items	1939-1947
2/96	Sigma Xi 36 items	1949-1950
2/97	Sigma Xi 20 items	1969-1974
2/98	Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, Reports 9 items	1936-1939
2/99	Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, Northwest meeting, Moscow 16 items	April 24-25, 1936
2/100	Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, Idaho 18 items	1936
2/101	Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, Oregon 5 items	1940
2/102	Speech training survey 2 items	1951
2/103	Student employment 21 items	1938-1941
2/104	Student Union Building Committee 13 items	1950
2/105	Statistical data 9 items	1935-1945
2/106	Suggestions from seniors 63 items	1946-1963
2/107	Talk to Dr. Giles guidance institute 2 items	1961
2/108	Talk to education classes 3 items	1952
2/109	Talks to high school students 3 items	1954
2/110	Teaching loads 33 items	1937-1948
2/111	Testimonials 11 items	1952-1954
2/112	Transfer students 1 item	1951
2/113	Water and sewage short course 9 items	1947-1948
2/114	Water Resources Research Institute 3 items	1965

Series II. Personal Papers, 1930-1971Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
3/115-116	Aerial bombardment protection course, New York University 22 items	1942
3/117	American Concrete Institute, C-115 committee 19 items	1938-1971
3/118	American Institute of Steel Construction 7 items	1938-1942
3/119-120	American Society of Civil Engineers 118 items	1949-1971
3/121	Applications, work experience 11 items	1930-1942
3/122	Certificates 2 items	1968
3/123-125	Correspondence 135 items	1934-1942
3/126	Industrial Committee, Chamber of Commerce 4 items	1948
3/127	Miscellaneous 29 items	1949-1973
3/128	Moscow School Board 7 items	1948
3/129	National Society of Professional Engineers 17 items	1950-1952
3/130	Navy: Application 38 items	1942
3/131	Navy: 55th review 103 items	1945-1956
3/132	Navy: 55th Seabees reunion 2 items	1954
3/133	Navy: Civil Engineer Corps 39 items	1947-1963
3/134	Navy: Civil Engineer Officers School 47 items	1948-1950
3/135	Navy: Naval law - correspondence course 1 item	1949
3/136	Navy: Office of Naval Research 9 items	1948-1949
3/137	Navy: Orders 60 items	1942-1946
3/138	Navy: Seminar, Port Hueneme, CA 9 items	November 1949
3/139	Navy: Separation papers 16 items	1946-1948
3/140	Northwest Scientific Association 4 items	1939
3/141-142	Sons of the American Revolution, Idaho Society 118 items	1948-1971
3/143	Talks to various groups 15 items	1946-1961

Series III. Reports, Investigations, Research, 1931-1949Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
3/144	Airports 9 items	1938-1939
3/145	Moscow 15 items	1947-1948
3/146	Alkali content - cement 5 items	1940-1941
3/147	Asphalt 2 items	1937
3/148	Asphalt mixtures 2 items	1939
3/149	Base stabilization correspondence 5 items	1939-1940
3/150	Bearing test 17 items	1937-1938
3/151	Boise laboratory reports 5 items	1940-1941
3/152	Byers, A.M. & Co. (wrought iron) 10 items	1941-1944
3/153	Cement 5 items	1935-1942
3/154	Cement for Umatilla ordnance depot 22 items	1941
3/155	Cement, heat of setting 2 items	1933
3/156	Codes 6 items	1933
3/157	Concrete: Durability 14 items	1931
3/158	Concrete: General 10 items	1932-1940
3/159	Concrete: Mix design chart 23 items	1933-1942
4/160	Concrete: Proportioning 13 items	1939-1941
4/161	Concrete: Proportioning, bibliography 3 items	undated
4/162	Concrete: Properties 3 items	1941
4/163	Concrete: Strength, relationship - 7 & 28 days 1 item	1939-1940
4/164	Design notes 43 items	1935-1936
4/165	Duthie Co. warehouse, Lewiston 10 items	1935
4/166	Geological classification 7 items	1941
4/167	Highway Research Board 7 items	1939-1943
4/168	Highway study committee, Chamber of Commerce 57 items	1948-1950
4/169	Highway district reorganization 12 items	1945-1949
4/170	Memorial Gym stone and miscellaneous 3 items	1928
4/171	Mine tailings 8 items	1938-1939
4/172	Miscellaneous projects 2 items	1932-1933
4/173	Mud Mountain Dam (Boyd Walter) 14 items	1940-1941
4/174	National Board of Fire Underwriters 4 items	1941-1942
4/175	Oil - Aggregate 3 items	1939
4/176	Oil mix design 7 items	1942
4/177	Paving (concrete) study, Report 2A 14 items	1937-1941
4/178	Portland Cement Association 11 items	1934-1942
4/179	Proctor test (Reference CE 112) 12 items	1939-1941
4/180	Research cylinder capper soil compression device 1 item	1935
4/181	Sands, Commercial 8 items	1936-1939
4/182	Soil-cement airports 2 items	undated
4/183	Soil conservation service, shear test 4 items	1940
4/184	Soil mechanics conference, Purdue 15 items	1940
4/185	Soils: Mechanical analysis 40 items	1937
4/186	Specifications: Road oils 2 items	1940
4/187	Special investigations and reports 1 item	1941
4/188	Slide investigation 16 items	1937
4/189	Stripping: Furfural article 12 items	1940-1941
4/190	Stripping: Furfural correspondence, data 38 items	1940-1942
4/191	Stripping tests: Jacobs' thesis 5 items	1939-1940
4/192	Stripping tests: Miscellaneous 6 items	1936-1940
4/193	Surveys 3 items	undated
4/194	Timber Engineering Company 23 items	1938-1942
4/195	Waterproofing 9 items	1938-1945
4/196	Welding, Bibliography 4 items	undated
4/197	West Coast Lumberman's Association 5 items	1942
4/198	Wood: drying of wood 2 items	undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Engineers -- Idaho -- Correspondence

Corporate Names

University of Idaho -- Faculty -- Records and correspondence

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Janssen, Allen S.--Archives.

Archives West Finding Aid

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