WAUMuellerJamesIPHColl194.xml Guide to the James I. Mueller University of Washington College of Mines Photograph Collection circa 1905-1949 Mueller (James I.) University of Washington College of Mines Photograph Collection Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2008 (Last modified: 4/17/2018)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written inEnglish. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH0094 Mueller, James I James I. Mueller University of Washington College of Mines photograph collection circa 1905-1949 39 photographic prints (1 box) Collection materials are inEnglish. Photographs of various University of Washington College of Mines activities

James I. Mueller was a widely respected University of Washington Professor of Ceramic Engineering. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1917. Mueller earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and his doctorate from the University of Missouri. During World War II he served in the Army Corps of Engineers.

In 1949 Mueller became a Professor of Ceramic Engineering at the University of Washington at what was then the College of Mines. Among his students and friends, he was most well known for his inspirational and encouraging approach to students. Mueller encouraged students to achieve excellence, whatever their goals. Former NASA space shuttle astronaut Bonnie Dunbar remembers being encouraged by Mueller to pursue her dreams to become an engineer and NASA astronaut, despite the fact that at the time NASA only accepted fighter pilots.

From 1964 until his death in 1986, Mueller was the principal investigator on the NASA ceramics research grant to the University of Washington. The primary accomplishment of this long-term program was the development of silicon nitride as a structural material, today used to produce high temperature engine parts. In a parallel effort, Mueller led the team of scientists who helped develop the insulating ceramic tiles used to protect NASA's space shuttle Columbia, which launched in 1981.

Mueller was a past president of the American Ceramics Society, a member of the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers, American Society of Engineering Education, American Defense Preparedness Association, and several ceramic societies. Over the course of his career, he received many awards for his professional contributions, including the NASA Public Service Medal in 1982, and the American Ceramic Society’s Albert B. Bleininger Award for outstanding achievement. Mueller died of cancer on April 2, 1986 at the age of 69. His contributions to the field of ceramic engineering continue to be recognized through the many awards named in his honor, including the James I. Mueller Lecture Award given annually by the Engineering Ceramics Division of the American Ceramic Society.

The University of Washington College of Mines was established in 1893 as the School of Mines. The mining industry was second only to lumbering in economic importance in Washington State and it was considered important to provide an education for the industry.

The School of Mines’ first permanent home at the University of Washington was the Power House, formerly the express office of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909. The Power House was subsequently renamed Mines Hall. In 1911 the School was renamed the College of Mines. In 1947 the College of Mines became the School of Mineral Engineering, and new Mines Hall, built in 1921, was renamed Roberts Hall in honor of Milnor Roberts, former Dean of the College of Mines. With the continued development of the college and its expanding curriculum, the College of Mines became the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Ceramic Engineering in 1968 and then the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in 1983.

Initially, the School offered several degree programs in mining, as well as a three month Winter Mining Session or “Short Course.” The Winter Mining Session or “Short Course” was offered for 27 years. The shorter course was more technical in nature than the regular academic course offerings and had regular, often repeat attendance. Attendees were often professionals who were faced with various on-the-job challenges.

Throughout the development of the program, including new degrees in ceramic engineering and metallurgy, the curriculum continued to include numerous field trips, including an annual excursion of ten days duration to a mining region. Field trips included visits to mines, smelter companies, cement, and quarries, including Sunset Mine, in Index, Washington, Tacoma Smelter Company, and Washington, Superior, and Olympic Portland Cement Companies.

The collection contains photographs related to the University of Washington College of Mines. Images include students and faculty on field trips, smelters, cement companies, mines and various portraits. Some photographs were taken by Clarence R. Corey, a University of Washington professor and active Mountaineer. Almost all photographs pre-date Mueller's tenure at the University of Washington.

The collection is open to the public.

Request at UW

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

The required credit line for use of images from Special Collections is: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, [plus the negative number].

The negative number is provided with the image and is a letter + number combination such as UW13452; Hegg 1234; or NA1275. A typical credit line would be, University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, UW13452.

Processed by Laurel G. Evans and Megan Peacock; processing completed in 2006.

Roberts, Milnor, 1877-1965 History of the College of Mines, University of Washington, written for the diamond jubilee of the University, 1936

Corey, C.R Portland Cement Co.--Photographs University of Washington. College of Mines--Photographs Concrete (Wash.)--Photographs Tacoma (Wash.)--Photographs College students--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs Mining schools and education--Photographs Mines and mineral resources--Washington (State)--Photographs School field trips-- Washington (State)--Photographs Cement plants--Washington (State)--Photographs Portland cement industry--Washington (State)--Photographs Cement Plants --Equipment and supplies--Washington (State)--Photographs Photographic prints Portrait photographs Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Photographs Mines and Mineral Resources Colleges and Universities

 

Cement Companies Washington Portland Cement Company, Concrete, Washington 1 1 Exterior of plant undated 1 2 Clay pit undated 1 3 Burner end of clay and limestone drying kiln undated 1 4 Tube mills undated Superior Portland Cement Company, Concrete, Washington 1 5 Exterior of plant 1907-1910 1 6 Quarry face 1907-1910 1 7 Students and faculty in front of staff house 1931

University of Washington College of Mines Spring Trip, 1931. Individuals pictured include: Professor Daniels, Tom L. Pittman (Class of 1932), A. Frederickson, L.B. Faulkner, W.P. Pevrenaud, Paul Bundy (Class of 1932), Robert L. Thorne (Class of 1931)

 1 8 View of a cement company (possibly Superior Portland Cement Company) in valley undated 1 9 Machinery and railroad track on hillside (possibly Superior Portland Cement Company) undated Olympic Portland Cement Company, Bellingham, Washington 1 10 Interior of plant undated

"2 Komminuters on left, 1 tube mill on right; finishing end. Mixing bins in foreground."

 Smelter Companies Tacoma Smelter Company, Tacoma, Washington University of Washington College of Mines Spring trip 2 11 Men working at casting machine casting copper ingots 1916 2 12 Cooling copper ingots 1916 2 13 Men loading cooled copper ingots onto trucks 1916 University of Washington College of Mines Short Course 2 14 Faculty and students at smelter January 27, 1917 C.R. Corey 2 15 Faculty and students at smelter January 27, 1917 C.R. Corey

Identified on front of photo are are: Dean Roberts, Professor Corey & Professor McAllen.

 Smelter, Keller, Washington 2 16 Daniel Barr and Mr. Roberts standing on either side of lead stack March 1939

'Darrell Barr, Mr. Roberts on Mine Excursion to Republic and Holden. Lead stack about 36" X 72"'

 Mines 3 17-18 Students and faculty on field trip at Sunset Mine portal, Index, Washington November 15, 1949

"Mining 52 (Sophomores), Mining 180 (Seniors), Prospector's Class."

 3 19 Group of men in formal attire at mining site undated 3 20 Five men sitting in a mine undated

"Visiting State Patrolmen in face of the Basin Manway, now being driven in No. 5."

 University of Washington College of Mines 4 21 Old College of Mines building, University of Washington undated

Built in 1901 (new College of Mines building built in 1921).

 4 22 Interior of Ceramics Lab 1935

"Jigger in foreground. Me [James I. Mueller] in background."

 4 23 Jean Peterson, probably in the University of Washington Ceramics Lab 1935 Field Trips 4 24-26 Students and faculty at ferry dock with ferry behind March 18, 1933 4 27-28 Students and faculty seated on ridge overlooking gravel pit at Pioneer Sand and Gravel March 19, 1933 4 29 Dean Milnor Roberts with another man (possibly a student), Glacier, Washington March 19, 1933 4 30 Students and faculty at Wilkeson stone quarry March 22, 1933 Portraits 5 31 Coal mining class on front steps of the College of Mines 1911 C.R. Corey

Class includes a Japanese student.

 5 32 Practical mining short course class on front steps of the College of Mines 1911 C.R. Corey 5 33 Winter Session students and faculty with a mule, probably outside the College of Mines 1919 5 34 James H. Hauce at U.S. Assay office, Salt Lake City, Utah 1909

Graduate of University of Washington College of Mines class of 1908.

 5 35 James H. Hauce and three unidentified men at the U.S. Assay office, Salt Lake City, Utah 1909 5 36 William C. Speidel in the University of Washington football uniform 1904 Seattle Photographic Co, 49 Sullivan block, Seattle

Captain of 1904 University of Washington Varsity Football Team.

Autographed.

 5 37 E.A. Bridgeman 1916 5 38 Bill Canton 1911

On back: "Best 100 yd. man in camp."

 5 39 Seismologist and geologist Bailey Willis 1925 Newton Studio, Palo Alto, California

Autographed by Bailey Willis, November 1935.