Inventory of the Knut Schmidt-Nielsen Papers, 1939-1994 and undated
[top]Descriptive Summary
Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Creator
Schmidt-Nielsen,
Knut
Title
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen
Papers,
1939-1994 and
undated
Language of Material
Material
in English, Norwegian, and German
Extent
18 Linear Feet
13,500 Items
Abstract
13,500 Items
Biologist whose main area
of research was in animal physiology, particularly that of the camel.
Schmidt-Nielsen spent the bulk of his career at Duke University, from 1952 to
1995, during which he published approximately 300 articles, and key works such
as Animal Physiology, and Scaling: Why Is Animal Size So Important?
Collection contains correspondence,
research notes, field data, published materials, lecture notes, memos, reports,
grant applications, and other materials. The papers span the years 1939-1994,
documenting Schmidt-Nielsen's active research and teaching careers.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is restricted.
In addition, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal
Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
In addition, original audiovisual materials are closed to patron
use. Technical Services staff need to produce use copies before contents can be
accessed.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in
Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour
delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare
Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Copyright Notice
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred
to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the
Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Knut Schmidt-Nielsen Papers, Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Knut Schmidt-Nielsen Papers were received by the Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift in 1994, 2001, and 2006.
Processing Information
Processed by Lauren Hunt and Ioanna Zlateva, July 2007
Encoded by Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, Dan Ruccia, and Ioanna Zlateva, July 2007
Accessions 1994-015, 1994-087, 1996-0026, and 2001-0075 were merged into one
collection, described in this finding aid. Addition 2006-0026 is
unprocessed but available for research. Please contact the Research Services
staff before coming to use this collection.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local
Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical Note
Chronology List| 1915 Sept. 15 | Born in Trondheim, Norway |
| 1933-1937 | Attended University of Oslo |
| 1946 | Received D.Phil. from University of Copenhagen |
| 1949-1952 | Assistant professor at University of Cincinnati |
| 1952 | Became a United States citizen |
| 1952-1995 | Professor at Duke University |
| 1953 | Awarded Guggenheim fellowship |
| 1970 | Published Animal Physiology |
| 1984 | Published Scaling: Why Is Animal Size So Important? |
| 2007 Jan. 25 | Died in Durham, North Carolina |
Collection Overview
The Knut Schmidt-Nielsen Papers span the years 1939-1994, documenting
the life and work of this prominent animal physiologist and educator. Formats
include correspondence, research notes, field data, published material,
lectures, memos, reports, grant applications, and other materials.
Schmidt-Nielsen spent most of his career at Duke University where he served on
faculty from 1952 to 1995, studying comparative animal physiology and
environmental conditions in the desert, particularly in the Sahara and North
Africa, with a particular interest in the camel. In addition, Schmidt-Nielsen
was active as a lecturer and as a member of various biological organizations,
including the International Union of Physiological Sciences and the Interunion
Commission on Comparative Physiology, as well as being heavily involved with
the publication of News in Physiological Sciences.
Also documented is Schmidt-Nielsen's active role as teacher and advisor, and
his involvement in the Duke University Nixon Library Committee. The collection
is divided into the following series: Animal Physiology Research,
Correspondence, Engagements, Graduate Student, International Union of
Physiological Sciences, News in Physiological
Sciences, Publications, and Subject Files.
The Animal Physiology Research Notes Series
contains materials from Schmidt-Nielsen's research trip to the Sahara in 1953
and 1954, including correspondence, data, and journal entries. The
Correspondence Series is by far the largest in the
collection, and contains both official professional correspondence as well as
scientific discussions and other related material. Much of the early
correspondence is in Norwegian. The Engagements
Series documents lectures given by Schmidt-Nielsen from throughout his
career, including lecture notes, slides, and diagrams. Schmidt-Nielsen's
teaching work is documented in the Graduate Student
Series, chiefly his interactions with graduate student advisees. The
International Union of Physiological Sciences Series
houses materials from Schmidt-Nielsen's involvement with this organization, of
which he was president from 1980 to 1986. The series includes minutes, memos,
reports, correspondence, and other related materials. The News in Physiological Sciences
Series consists of material related to the publication of this journal.
In the Publications Series, there are copies of
nearly every article Schmidt-Nielsen published. The
Subject Files Series contains miscellaneous material
grouped by subject regarding organizations, grant applications, and topics in
animal research. Another small series, the Translations Series houses 33 published translations of a selection of Schmidt-Nielsen's textbooks. Finally, the Audiovisual Series houses three sound recordings of conference talks given by Schmidt-Nielsen during the 1960s. Original recordings are closed to use; please contact Research Services staff concerning access.
Unprocessed addition (2006-0026) (11,468 items, 18 lin. ft.; dated
1902-2003) comprises personal and professional correspondence, subject and
genealogy files, lecture notes, calendars, clippings, and photographs. The
addition is not represented in the finding aid, but a preliminary inventory is available on request. For research access, please contact the Research Services staff.
[top]
Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a
search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will
bring up other related research materials.
- Animal mechanics.
- Camels.
- Duke University--Faculty.
- Duke University. Nixon Library Committee.
- Duke University. Zoology Dept.
- International Union of Physiological Sciences.
- Interunion Commission on Comparative Physiology.
- News in Physiological Sciences.
- Northern Africa--Environmental conditions.
- Sahara--Environmental conditions.
- Physiologists--United States.
- Physiology--Study and teaching (Higher).
- Physiology, Comparative.
- Schmidt-Nielsen, Knut, 1915-
- Zoologists--Correspondence.
- Sound recordings.
Detailed Description of Collection
Animal Physiology Research Series, 1952-1956
(1 box)
Contains folders of correspondence, data, and other supporting
documents related to Schmidt-Nielsen's research on desert animals in the Sahara
between August 1953 and July 1954. The folders are divided into two groups,
general information and data, and are arranged alphabetically within the
groups. His personal correspondence and journal entries are available in a
bound format within the series. The data folders contain experiment results and
research notes on camels, donkeys, rodents, and plants.
Box 1
Animal studies--general,
1952-1954
(15 folders)
Animal studies--data,
1953-1956
(16 folders)
Awards and Diplomas Series, 1947-1990
(1 folder)
Oversize Folder 1,
OC:II:2
Diplomas, awards, and honors
Correspondence Series, 1939-1985 and undated
(16 boxes)
Includes scientific inquiries and invitations; professional
correspondence with colleagues, researchers, publishers, and graduate students;
and letters of recommendation. Interspersed in the series are vitae and
statements of plans, grant application materials, copyright releases, requests
for plant and animal samples, occasional newpaper clippings, photographs, and
postcards. The 1948-1952 correspondence with the Office of Naval Research
contains grant application files. Correspondence from Schmidt-Nielsen's stay in
Algeria in 1953-1954 documents logistics and field work during the trip. Duke
University correspondence includes records of departmental procedures, graduate
students documentation, and requests for lab equipment. An extensive portion of
the early correspondence is in Norwegian; occasional documents are in French,
German, or Spanish. The folders are labelled and arranged alphabetically by
last name or subject. Additional professional correspondence can be found in
other series, particularly the International Union of Physiological Sciences
and the News in Physiological Sciences Series.
Box 2
1939, 1946-1947
1946-1947
(9 folders)
1948-1952
A-O
(39 folders)
Box 3
1948-1952
O-Z
(22 folders)
1952-1953
(50 folders)
Box 4
1953-1954
A-T
(36 folders)
Trip to Algeria
(12 folders)
T-Z
(7 folders)
1955-1960
A
(1 folder)
Box 5
1955-1960
A-D
(5 folders)
Duke University
(4 folders)
E-R
(27 folders)
Box 6
1955-1960
R-Z
(15 folders)
1960-1964
A-D
(22 folders)
Duke University
(3 folders)
E-G
(5 folders)
Box 7
1960-1964
H-Z
(37 folders)
Box 8
1964-1968
A-D
(27 folders)
Duke University
(14 folders)
E-G
(7 folders)
Box 9
1964-1968
H-S
(34 folders)
Box 10
1964-1968
S
(7 folders)
South Africa
(5 folders)
S-Z
(13 folders)
1968-1973
A-C
(11 folders)
Box 11
1968-1973
D
(6 folders)
Duke University
(12 folders)
D-L
(36 folders)
Box 12
1968-1973
M-Z
(48 folders)
Box 13
1974-1979
A-H
(35 folders)
Box 14
1974-1979
H-S
(37 folders)
Box 15
1974-1979
S-Z
(19 folders)
1979-1985
A-D
(21 fodlers)
Duke University
(9 folders)
D-E
(3 folders)
Box 16
1979-1985
F-N
(40 folders)
National Academy of Sciences
(5 folders)
O-S
(14 folders)
Box 17
1979-1985
S-Z
(15 folders)
Engagements Series, 1948-1994
(3 boxes)
Contains records of Schmidt-Nielsen's participation in scientific
meetings and conferences, as well as individual lectures and presentations. A
large part of the series is comprised of Schmidt-Nielsen's lecture notes,
diagrams, and slides; complete drafts of presentations are less common.
Subjects of the lectures include: physiology and adaptations of desert animals;
breathing and locomotion; and scaling and size in biology. Also included are
conference-related materials, such as correspondence, brochures, and posters.
Extensive material is available for the conference on Scaling in Biology held
at Duke University in 1973. Interspersed through the series are records from
the annual International Conference on Comparative Physiology. A few documents
are in French, German, Japanese, and Norwegian. Folders are labelled by date of
event and topic, and are arranged chronologically by month of the year. A
separate folder at the end of the series contains a complete chronological list
of lectures given by Schmidt-Nielsen.
Box 17
1948-1963
(43 folders)
Box 18
1963-1973
(48 folders)
Box 19
1973-1980
(61 folders)
Box 20
1980-1989
(56 folders)
Box 21
1989-1994
(30 folders)
Graduate Student Series, 1953-1986 and undated
(3 boxes)
Documents Schmidt-Nielsen's role as an instructor and mentor to
graduate students. The series contains personal and official correspondence,
application files, and letters of recommendation. The student files often
include research proposals, proposals for programs of graduate, tutorials,
exams, and other written work submitted by students, with comments from
Schmidt-Nielsen. Interspersed are funding files and financial documents.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by last name of student. Note: materials
are open for use, but are covered by privacy and confidentiality agreement
which must be signed by researchers.
Box 21
A-B
(7 folders)
Box 22
C-P
(24 folders)
Box 23
P-R
(13 folders)
International Union of Physiological Sciences Series, 1953-1986, bulk 1980-1986, and undated
(7 boxes)
Consists of materials and correspondence pertaining to the
administrative organization and activities of the International Union of
Physiological Sciences (IUPS), divided into three subseries: General
Information, Meeting Notes, and Correspondence. The General Information
Subseries pertains to the period during which Schmidt-Nielsen served as
President of IUPS, from 1980 to 1986, and includes meeting minutes, membership
lists, memos, reports, and speeches, arranged alphabetically by topic and
chronologically within topics. The Meeting Notes Subseries detail the planning
and arrangements for international congresses and include programs, lists of
participants, and presentation titles; the subseries is arranged by year of
event. The Correspondence Subseries includes individual correspondence and
memos related to different activities of IUPS and is arranged alphabetically.
This series also contains some material in German, French, and Japanese.
Box 23
General Information Subseries, 1953-1986, bulk 1975-1985, and undated
Commissions,
1980,
1983-1985
Congress notes,
1977-1986
(7 folders)
Constitution,
1980,
1985
Committee on Space Research,
1982,
1984
Council notes,
1953-1983, bulk
1980-1983
(4 folders)
Box 24
Council notes,
1980-1986
(10 folders)
Educational programs,
1980,
1984
Executive Committee meetings,
1980-1985
(8 folders)
Expenses and finances,
1980-1985
(5 folders)
Interunion Commission,
1975-1985
(19 folders)
International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS),
1976-1981
(2 folders)
International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics
(IUPAB),
1978-1980
IUPS Council members,
1974-1982
(2 folders)
Box 25
IUPS Council members,
1976-1981
(13 folders)
Newsletter,
1978 May
News in Physiological
Sciences Proposal,
1983-1984
Nominating Committee,
1981-1982
US National Committee for IUPS,
1975
Meeting Notes Subseries, 1961-1986, bulk 1972-1983, and undated
Assorted meeting notes,
1961,
1964-1971,
1977
1972, Italy
(4 folders)
1974,
Switzerland
(12 folders)
1976, Switzerland -
1976
(6 folders)
Box 26
1978,
Switzerland
(15 folders)
1980, Denmark
1983, Sidney
(30 folders)
1986,
Vancouver
Correspondence Subseries, 1977-1990, and undated
A
(3 folders)
Box 27
A-K
(33 folders)
Box 28
K-S
(21 folders)
Box 29
S-Z
(19 folders)
News in Physiological Sciences Series, 1979-1990 and undated
(3 boxes)
Contains materials related to Schmidt-Nielsen's work with
News in Physiological Sciences, including
correspondence between Schmidt-Nielsen and editors, authors, and publishers;
administrative documents; notes, manuscripts, corrected drafts, and occasional
published articles. Folders arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Box 29
Advertisments,
1986, and
undated
Agreement,
1983-1985
Articles, suggestions,
1986
APS archives,
1986-1990
Authors,
1985-1986
Budget,
1985-1986
Cambridge University Press,
1983
Complimentary copies,
1985
Box 30
Correspondence,
1980-1990
(42 folders)
Box 31
Editorial work,
1982-1988
(11 folders)
Final report,
1988
Guidelines for authors,
1986
IUPS commission chairmen,
1984
Launching committee correspondence,
1984
Letters,
1986-1988
(3 folders)
Lists of board members and editors,
1986-1987
Managing board,
1986
(2 folders)
Manuscript for Nobel - The Award
of the Prize,
1987
Meeting notes,
1984, 1986
(2 folders)
Memos,
1986, 1988
(2 folders)
Name, cover page, contents, undated
Photocopies,
1986, 1988
Preliminary discussion notes,
1983
Publication,
1979-1981
Publications Series, 1936-1986
(2 boxes)
Consists of articles published by Schmidt-Nielsen throughout his
career, and includes a full publication list at the beginning of the series.
Each article is presented in its final published form, either as a reprint or a
full journal, with no notes, manuscripts, proofs, or revisions. Some articles
are in German and Danish. Folders are labeled and arranged chronologically by
year.
Box 31
1936-1959
(4 folders)
Box 32
1960-1986
(6 folders)
Subject Files Series, 1952-1991 and undated
(5 boxes)
Contains miscellaneous materials on a variety of individual
subjects related to Schmidt-Nielsen. The bulk of material consists of funding
inquiries, grant applications, and reports pertaining to different
organizations. The series also contains material about scholarly societies and
their activities, interspersed with correspondence. A small section includes
documents on animal experiments. Folders are labeled by subject and arranged
alphabetically within subjects.
Box 32
American Physiological Society (APS),
1956, 1962-1987
(13 folders)
American Society of Zoologists (ASZ),
1961-1991
(folder 1 of 6)
Box 33
American Society of Zoologists (ASZ),
1961-1991
(folders 2-6 of 6)
Animal experimentation,
1980-1987
(7 folders)
Antarctica,
1972-1974
(4 folders)
Australia camel research,
1979-1983
(5 folders)
Grant applications,
1969-1987
(folders 1-10 of 24)
Box 34
Grant applications,
1969-1987
(folders 11-24 of 24)
International communication,
1980-1987
(10 folders)
James Jones NIH grant,
1977-1978, 1985
(3 folders)
National Geographic Society,
1969-1971,
1976-1980
(10 folders)
NIH grants,
1962-1970
(8 folders)
Box 35
NIH grants,
1952-1987, and
undated
(8 folders)
NSF grant,
1958-1966,
1977-1981
(6 folders)
Nixon Library,
1980-1981
(10 folders)
Box 36
Old grants,
1953-1969
(16 folders)
Other grants,
1961-1984
(7 folders)
Travel,
1960-1962
(2 folders)
Translations Series, 1970-1977
(3 boxes, 1-3)
Addition 2001-0075 houses 33 published translations of Schmidt-Nielsen’s textbooks. Titles include
Animal
Physiology;
Scaling: Why Is Animal Size So Important; and
How Animals Work.
Languages include Japanese, Polish, Russian, German, Greek, Spanish,
French, German, Italian, Hindi, Malay, Norwegian, Hebrew, Swedish, and Portuguese.
Audiovisual Materials Series, 1967-1969
(1 box)
Houses three sound recordings on 7" reel-to-reel tape, of Schmidt-Nielsen giving lectures at two conferences: the Symposium on Comparative Animal Physiology, Washington, January 1967 (title is "The Unusual Animal, or to Expect the Unexpected"); and the Kleiber Symposium held in Davis, California in August 1969 (two reels). Other individuals named on the containers are A. C. Black and Dr. Shannon.
[Originals closed to use. Technical Services staff must arrange
to have use copies made. Please contact Research Services staff before coming to
use the collection.]
Box 37
OR1.
1967 Jan., Symposium on Comparative Pharmacology
OR2.
1969 Aug., Kleiber Symposium, reel one
OR3.
1969 Aug., Kleiber Symposium, reel two
