Inventory of the Otto Meier, Jr., Records and Papers, 1931 - 1979
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleOtto
Meier, Jr., Records and Papers,
1931 - 1979.
Creator
Meier, Otto,
1908-1979.
Extent
20.5 Linear Feet,
20000 Items
Repository
20000 Items
University Archives, Duke
University
Abstract
Otto
Meier, Jr., (1908-1979), professor emeritus of electrical
engineering, taught at Duke University from 1934 to 1975.
Meier's specialties were electrical machinery and control,
illumination, explosives, nucleonics, and experimental
nuclear physics. Meier was active in the Southeastern
Electric Exchange; the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers (ca. 1933-1963); Delta Epsilon Sigma (ca.
1931-1946); the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (ca. 1963-1971); the campus chapter of Tau Beta
Pi (ca. 1948-1975); and the Engineers Club (Durham, N.C.).
Meier was a consultant engineer with the Triangle
Universities Nuclear Lab and helped to plan the facility.
The collection contains correspondence, lecture and course
notes, photographs, reports, minutes, newsletters, slides,
lantern slides, black-and-white negatives, and other
materials pertaining to professional organizations,
regional utilities, faculty and university affairs,
curriculum, and other subjects related to the College of
Engineering, engineering student organizations, and the
domestic use of nuclear power.
Language
English.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsPatrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
For a period of twenty-five years from the
origin of the material, permission in writing from the
office of origin and the University Archivist is required
for use. After twenty-five years, records that have been
processed may be consulted with the permission of the
University Archivist.
In accordance with the Family Education Rights
and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits
students to inspect their education records and limits the
disclosure of personally identifiable information from
education records.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is
required for use.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is
held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by
the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants,
as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Otto Meier, Jr.,
Records and Papers, 1931-1979, University Archives, Duke
University.
Provenance
The Otto Meier, Jr., Records and Papers,
1931-1979 was received by the University Archives as a
transfer in 1980 (A80-223), 1981 (A81-19), 1984, and 1985
(A85-123).
Processing Information
Processed by Linda Daniel
Completed February, 2004
Encoded by Linda Daniel, February 2004
Materials with metal binders will need to be
processed before use. Please consult University Archives
staff.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical Note
Born Nov. 7, 1908, in Philadelphia, Pa., Otto Meier, Jr., was educated at the University of Pennsylvania (B.S., 1929; E.E., 1937; Ph.D, 1957) and at the University of Michigan (M.S., 1938). Meier was a technical observer with the Geophysical Research Corporation in N.Y. (1929-1930), and then worked as a private consultant with C.D. Fawcett, E.E., in Philadelphia (1930-1934).
Meier came to Duke University in 1934 as an instructor (1934-1938) in electrical engineering and taught as an assistant professor (1938-1945), associate professor (1945-1957), and professor (1957-1975). Meier's specialties were electrical machinery and control, illumination, explosives, nucleonics, and experimental nuclear physics.
In addition to teaching, Meier filled many administrative posts at Duke University. He was Chairman of the Schedule and Registration Committee of the College of Engineering (1947-1948), President of the Duke Faculty Club (1948-1949), Acting Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Dept. (1950), Director of Undergraduate Studies in Electrical Engineering (1961-1966; 1968-1970), Director of Graduate Studies in Electrical Engineering (1966-1968), Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in Electrical Engineering (1970-1971), Assistant Dean of Engineering (1971-1974), and University Marshal (1971-1974). Meier was also a representative for Duke University's Admissions Office at various high schools in the region.
As a consultant and researcher, Meier worked with the Engineering Corps of the U.S. Army (1941), the Explosives Division of the U.S. Naval Ordnance Lab (1949), and the Oak Ridge National Lab (1950). Beginning in 1950, Meier was an engineering consultant and researcher with the Nuclear Structure Lab at Duke, and consultant engineer with the Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab. Meier played an active role in the planning of the facility during its construction.
Meier belonged to numerous professional engineering and scientific organizations. He was active in the N.C. section of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the Durham Engineers Club, and the Duke chapters of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.
Otto Meier was married in 1935 and had three sons.
[top]Collection Overview
The Otto Meier, Jr., Records and Papers is divided
into eight major series:
Personal and Biographical
Files;
General Subject Files;
Duke University;
School of Engineering;
Organizations;
Papers and Articles;
Photos and Slides; and the
records of the
Tau Beta Pi.
The
Personal and Biographical
Files Series contains Meier's Ph.D. thesis; texts of
his lectures and addresses; materials documenting
conferences he attended; and materials used on his trips as
a Duke University Admissions Office representative to
regional high schools. Also, in this series are very
extensive files on the courses Meier taught at Duke. These
files include detailed notes, projects, tests, solutions to
test questions, and course evaluations.
The
General Subject Files mainly
contain correspondence, memoranda, and reports that
document Meier's committee work at Duke. There is
considerable material on the Faculty Club and on ROTC, and
a minor amount on early computers at Duke. There are
documents (agendas, papers, and programs) that deal with
the activities of the Southeastern Electric Exchange, a
regional utilities group, whose meetings Meier frequently
attended.
The
Duke University Series
consists mainly of minutes and memoranda of the University
Council/Academic Council (1953-1973); the Graduate Faculty
and its executive committee; the University Faculty
(1953-1973); and the University Faculty
Council/Undergraduate Faculty Council of Arts and Sciences
(1967-1972). One binder contains minutes, correspondence,
reports, and budgets of the Duke University Church and its
Board (1953-1956). There are several folders of University
memoranda on a variety of topics (1935-1942).
The
School of Engineering Series
contains the minutes and related papers of the School of
Engineering, known as the College of Engineering until
1966. It includes materials from the Engineering
Administrative Council (1968-1974), Engineering Faculty
(1953-1974), and the Engineering Faculty Council
(1947-1974). In some cases the accounts and comments are
more detailed than those in the published minutes. This
series also has general information on topics such as
administrators; articles and papers by Duke University
faculty and students; the Board of Visitors; the
engineering building, former faculty, and research and
development.
The Dept. of Electrical Engineering is an
important subseries within the School of Engineering
Series. It contains files on curriculum (1953-1954),
minutes of the graduate faculty (1963-1964), and "status
reports" from the years 1957, 1962, and 1967. This includes
compilations of staff rosters, course descriptions, vitae,
and available facilities. There is a sizeable collection of
folders entitled
"Staff,"
(1953-1954),
that contain minutes of the electrical engineering faculty
meetings, memoranda, reports, and other papers on general
policies.
The
Organizations Series
contains correspondence, newsletters, minutes of regional
conferences for twenty different organizations. The largest
collections concern the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers (ca. 1933-1963); Delta Epsilon Sigma (ca
1931-1946); the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (ca. 1963-1971); and the campus chapter of Tau
Beta Pi (ca. 1948-1975). There are also extensive materials
from the Durham, N.C., Engineers Club (ca. 1944-1974), in
which Meier was an active member. Some organizations are
represented by only a few items retained by Meier. There
are two folders on Phi Beta Kappa at Duke (1962) and Sigma
Xi (ca. 1939-1974).
The
Papers and Articles Series
includes addresses and papers given by others at various
engineering conferences in the 1950-1960s. Of note are the
papers from the Southeastern Electric Exchange on
technical, electrical, and electronics subjects. Included
are speeches by officials of utility companies on nuclear
power in its early days.
The
Photographs and Slides
Series illustrates the life of engineering students in the
1930s; the engineering building (Southgate) and laboratory
on East Campus; West Campus; and the construction of the
Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory. There are lantern
slides that contain diagrams of nuclear particle processes,
schematics for a Van de Graaff accelerator, and photographs
of the installation of the 4MeV Van de Graaff in the
nuclear facility of the Physics Dept. There are also 3 and
1/2 inch x 5 inch slides for a presentation on
"Electric Power Utilities -
Trends and Nuclear Outlook."
The slides are fragile. Please consult University
Archives staff before use.
The
Tau Beta Pi Series contains
material from the North Carolina Gamma Chapter of Tau Beta
Pi, national engineering honorary, established at Duke
University on Jan. 10, 1948. The material contains banquet
initiation programs (1949-1970), correspondence, bulletins,
and printed material on the history, purpose, constitution,
and other aspects of Tau Beta Pi. It includes two large
bound volumes,
"Book of the Chairman of the
Advisory Board,"
(1948-1950, 1950-1958). There is
also a large amount of material on the National Convention
of 1960. Access to Boxes 17-18 is RESTRICTED: Student
Records.
[top]
Subject Headings
These and related materials may be accessed under
the following subject headings in the Duke University
Libraries online catalog.
- American Institute of Electrical Engineers.
- Delta Epsilon Sigma (Honor society). Duke University.
- Duke University.
- Duke University. Dept. of Electrical Engineering.
- Duke University--Faculty.
- Duke University. School of Engineering.
- Duke University. School of Engineering--History.
- Electric engineering.
- Engineering--Societies, etc.
- Engineering--Study and teaching--North Carolina--Durham.
- Engineering--Study and teaching (Graduate)--United States.
- Engineers Club (Durham, N.C.)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
- Meier, Otto, 1908-1979.
- Nuclear engineering.
- Nuclear physics.
- Southeastern Electric Exchange.
- Tau Beta Pi.
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory.
- Black-and-white negatives.
- Lantern slides.
- Photographs.
- Slides.
Related Material
Department of Electrical Engineering
Photo File.
University Archives, Duke
University.
Department of Electrical Engineering
Records.
University Archives, Duke
University.
News Service Biographical
Files.
University Archives, Duke
University.
School of Engineering
Records.
University Archives, Duke
University.
Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab
Records.
University Archives, Duke
University.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Box 1Personal and Biographical Files, ca. 1930-ca. 1970
This series contains Meier's Ph.D. thesis;
texts of his lectures and addresses; materials documenting
conferences he attended; and materials used on his trips as
a Duke University Admissions Office representative to
regional high schools. Also in this series are very
extensive files on the courses Meier taught at Duke. These
files include detailed notes, projects, tests, solutions to
test questions, and course evaluations.
Biographical Material
Conferences
Course Materials
Box 2
Course Materials
Box 3
Course Materials
High School Guidance-Admissions
Trips
General Subject Files, ca. 1930-ca. 1970
Mainly contains correspondence, memoranda, and
reports that document Meier's committee work at Duke. There
is considerable material on the Faculty Club and on ROTC,
and a minor amount on early computers at Duke. There are
documents (agendas, papers, and programs) that deal with
the activities of the Southeastern Electric Exchange, a
regional utilities group, whose meetings Meier frequently
attended.
A--Faculty Club
Box 4
Fawcett--Southeastern Electric
Exchange
Box 5
Southeastern Electric
Exchange--Wright Machinery Co.
Duke University, 1935-1972
Consists mainly of minutes and memoranda of
the University Council/Academic Council (1953-1973); the
Graduate Faculty and its executive committee; the
University Faculty (1953-1973); and the University Faculty
Council/Undergraduate Faculty Council of Arts and Sciences
(1967-1972). One binder contains minutes, correspondence,
reports, and budgets of the Duke University Church and its
Board (1953-1956). There are several folders of University
memoranda on a variety of topics (1935-1942).
Academic Council/University Council,
1953-1973
Duke University Church,
1953-1956
Graduate Faculty,
1956-1970
University Faculty,
1953-1973
Box 6
General University Memoranda,
1935-1942
University Faculty
Council/Undergraduate Faculty Council of Arts and Sciences,
1967-1972
School of Engineering, 1937-1974
Contains the minutes and related papers of the
Engineering Administrative Council (1968-1974), Engineering
Faculty (1953-1974), and the Engineering Faculty Council
(1947-1974). In some cases the accounts and comments are
more detailed than those in the published minutes. This
series also has general information on topics such as
administrators; articles and papers by Duke University
faculty and students; the Board of Visitors; the
engineering building, former faculty, and research and
development. The subseries on the Dept. of Electrical
Engineering is an important part of this series. It
contains files on curriculum (1953-1954), minutes of the
graduate faculty (1963-1964), and "status reports" from the
years 1957, 1962, and 1967. The School of Engineering was
known as the College of Engineering until 1966.
Administrative Council,
1968-1974
Articles and Papers by Faculty and
Students,
1955-1967
Faculty: Minutes and Other Papers, 1953-1975
1953-1965
Box 7
1965-1974
Faculty Council: Minutes and Other Papers 1947-1974
1947-1968
Box 8
1969-1974
Minutes: Drafts
1967-1968
General Files, 1937-1972
Appointments Office--Long-Range
Plans
Box 9
Miscellaneous--Woman's College
Dept. of Electrical Engineering, 1953-1974
Contains files on curriculum (1953-1954),
minutes of the graduate faculty (1963-1964), and "status
reports" from the years 1957, 1962, and 1967. This includes
compilations of staff rosters, course descriptions, vitae,
and available facilities. There is a sizeable collection of
folders entitled
"Staff,"
(1953-1954), that contains minutes of the electrical
engineering faculty meetings, memoranda, reports, and other
papers on general policies.
Curriculum,
1953-1954
Graduate Faculty,
1963-1964
Faculty-Staff: Minutes and Other Papers, 1953-1974
1953-1964
Box 10
1964-1974
"Status Reports "
1957
1962
1967
Organizations, 1931-1974
Contains correspondence, newsletters, minutes
of regional conferences for twenty different organizations.
The largest collections concern the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers (ca. 1933-1963); Delta Epsilon Sigma
(ca. 1931-1946); the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (ca. 1963-1971); and the campus
chapter of Tau Beta Pi (ca. 1948-1975). There are also
extensive materials from the Durham, N.C., Engineers Club
(ca. 1944-1974), in which Meier was an active member. Some
organizations are represented by only a few items retained
by Meier. There are two folders on Phi Beta Kappa at Duke
(1962) and Sigma Xi (ca. 1939-1974).
Engineering Organizations, 1931-1974
American Institute of Electrical Engineers, [ca. 1933]-1963
[ca.
1933]-1942
Box 11
1942-1963
American Society for Engineering
Education,
[ca.
1943]-1970
Camera Club,
1938
Chi Episilon,
1964
Delta Epsilon Sigma,
[ca.
1931]-1946
Box 12
Durham Engineers Club,
1944-1974
Engineering Societies Library,
1957
Engineers Council for Professional
Development,
[ca.
1959]-1961
Engineers Joint Council,
1956-1961
Engineers Student Government,
1967-1974
Eta Kappa Nu,
[ca.
1953]-1955
Illuminating Engineers Society,
[ca.
1937]-1969
Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers,
[ca.
1963]-1971
Box 13
Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers,
[ca.
1963]-1971
Junior Engineering Technical
Society,
1960-1962
National Society of Professional
Engineers,
[ca.
1961]-1965
North Carolina Society of
Engineers,
[ca.
1948]-1975
Tau Beta Pi,
[ca.
1948]-1975
Other Organizations, [ca. 1939]-1974
Phi Beta Kappa,
1962
Sigma Xi,
[ca.
1939]-1974
Box 14
Papers and Articles, ca. 1950-ca. 1970
Includes addresses and papers given by others
at various engineering conferences in the 1950-1960s. Of
note are the papers from the Southeastern Electric Exchange
on technical, electrical, and electronics subjects.
Included are speeches by officials of utility companies on
nuclear power in its early days.
Box 15-16
Photos and Slides, ca. 1930-ca. 1970
Includes negatives, photos, and slides that
illustrate the life of engineering students in the 1930s;
the engineering building (Southgate) and laboratory on East
Campus; West Campus; and the construction of the Triangle
Universities Nuclear Laboratory. There are lantern slides
that contain diagrams of nuclear particle processes,
schematics for a Van de Graaff accelerator, and photographs
of the installation of the 4MeV Van de Graaff in the
nuclear facility of the Physics Dept. There are also 3 and
1/2 inch x 5 inch slides for a presentation on
"Electric Power Utilities -
Trends and Nuclear Outlook."
The slides are fragile. Please consult
University Archives staff before use.
Box 17-18
Tau Beta Pi, 1948-1970
The
Tau Beta Pi Series
contains material from the North Carolina Gamma Chapter of
Tau Beta Pi, national engineering honorary, established at
Duke University on Jan. 10, 1948. The material contains
banquet initiation programs (1949-1970), correspondence,
bulletins, and printed material on the history, purpose,
constitution, and other aspects of Tau Beta Pi. It includes
two large bound volumes,
"Book of the Chairman of
the Advisory Board,"
(1948-1950; 1950-1958). There
is also a large amount of material on the National
Convention of 1960.
The Tau Beta Pi Records were transferred
from Meier's office and were re-incorporated into the Otto
Meier, Jr., Records and Papers on 28 April 1994.
Access to Boxes 17-18 is RESTRICTED: Student
Records.
