These papers have been indexed in the
Paul Earnest Klopsteg was born in Henderson, Minnesota, the son of the reverend Julius and Magdalen (Kuesthardt) Klopsteg, on May 30, 1889. He obtained his B.S. (1911), M.A. (1913), and Ph.D. (1916) from the University of Minnesota. In recognition of his scientific accomplishments he was awarded honorary Sc.D. degrees by Northwestern University (1942) and Wesleyan University (1948).
Klopsteg taught physics at the University of Minnesota from 1911 to 1917. During 1917 and 1918 he worked for the U.S. Army Ordinance Department. From 1918 to 1921 he was in charge of technical advertising at Leeds & Northrup Co. in Philadelphia. He moved to Chicago to assume a position at the Central Scientific Company in development and manufacturing, which he held from 1921-1930, before serving as the company's president, from 1930-1944.
In 1943 Klopsteg was a member of the Kettering Committee which advised Northwestern University on the development of its newly established Technological Institute. The following year he was appointed professor of applied science and director of research at the Technological Institute. Klopsteg became professor emeritus in 1954. From 1961 to 1963 Klopsteg served as special consultant for science to J. Roscoe Miller, Northwestern's president.
During World War II and for several years thereafter Klopsteg was involved in several military-related projects. He served as chief of the Division of Physics and Special Devices in the National Defense Research Committee. He was also a member of the Committee's "anonymous division" involved in developing methods and devices for use behind enemy lines. Klopsteg then became deputy chief, Office of Field Service, Office of Scientific Research and Development. In this capacity he worked for a period in the Pacific region and in 1948 was awarded the Presidential Medal for Merit.
During the years following the War, Klopsteg served as chair of the National Academy of Science's Committee on Artificial Limbs. In 1950 he became a member of the panel for security measures in the Atomic Energy Commission. He also served as a member of the commission's personnel security review board. The following year he spent six weeks in Lahore, Pakistan, as a consultant to Pakistan's Education Commission. Additionally, Klopsteg was the associate director for research with the National Science Foundation from 1951 to 1958.
From 1958 to 1960 Klopsteg chaired the National Academy of Science's Committee on Meteorology which he renamed the Committee on Atmospheric Sciences. During this period he played a major role in the establishment of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, later known as the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Active in numerous professional organizations, Klopsteg was president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1959) and a founder and president of the American Association of Physics Teachers. He was also an active member of the American Institute of Physics.
In 1929, stimulated by his daughter Marie, Klopsteg became interested in archery both as a sport and as a source of research problems in physics. This interest remained with him for the rest of his life, leading to productive research and the writing of many articles and two books:
On June 11, 1914, Klopsteg married Amanda Marie Toedt. The couple had three daughters: Marie (Mrs. Joseph M. Graffis); Irma Louise; and Ruth Helen (Mrs. Henry L. Drake).
As a researcher who held over 50 patents, a scientist and a writer, Klopsteg made substantial contributions in several fields. He died on April 28, 1991, in Laguna Hills, California, a month before his 102nd birthday. His wife, Amanda, had died on October 31, 1990, at 98.
The Paul E. Klopsteg Papers fill ten boxes (including one half-size and one dropfront box) and span the period 1905 through 1991. They are organized in ten categories: biographical materials, education files, correspondence, archery files, governmental organizations files, professional organizations files, publications files, religion files, speech manuscript files, and material relating to World Wars I and II. Material in each category is arranged alphabetically according to folder title unless stated otherwise.
The biographical materials include a large number of certificates (Box 9, Folder 1; Box 10), calendars and diaries, many clippings on various aspects of Klopsteg's life, and a long interview (Box 2, Folder 7) dealing in detail with his activities in the American Association of Physics Teachers. A 19-page autobiographical typescript was written for the Cosmos Club (Box 4, Folder 8).
The education files contain materials documenting Klopsteg's work towards his B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. The files include laboratory data and reports, seminar papers written by Klopsteg, and copies of his master's and doctoral theses. A copy of Klopsteg's high school commencement program, and a general file on his social and academic activities at the University of Minnesota are included. This category is arranged by academic degree, in the order they were received by Klopsteg. Within each degree section, the files are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
The correspondence is separated into general files, arranged chronologically by date, and subject files, arranged alphabetically by folder title. The subject correspondence deals with Klopsteg's business, consulting, academic, and family interests. Of particular interest is a substantial folder of correspondence with Erle Stanley Gardner dealing at some length with Gardner's procedures as an author.
The archery files include correspondence and related materials, published articles, and speech manuscripts. A substantial folder of correspondence with Erle Stanley Gardner concerns their mutual interest in archery. Also of interest are four folders of correspondence with A.J. Costner, a pioneer in the resurgence of archery who also worked with the Pima Indians. Clippings also are included here. Several pertain to "Little Joe," the secret bow-pistol Klopsteg designed during World War II (Box 6, Folder 3; Box 9, Folder 3).
The files relating to the various governmental organizations in which Klopsteg was involved unfortunately are very thin. However, they help document Klopsteg's notable achievements in areas such as artificial limb research. Correspondence, notes, clippings, commission reports, progress reports, meeting agendas, membership rosters, conference programs, and typescripts of papers and remarks are scattered throughout. The World War II files document Klopsteg's involvement in the Office of Scientific Research and Development.
The professional organizations files include correspondence, programs, and event announcements. They document Klopsteg's close involvement and leadership roles in the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Physical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The publications files include a few drafts of articles and a large collection of reprints. The reprints are filed chronologically by date of publication. The archery section also includes published articles.
The religion files include a small amount of clippings, correspondence, an article published by Klopsteg on how a physicist views God, and typescripts of religious talks given by Klopsteg. The bulk of this section refers to a series of talks Klopsteg gave to the ecumenical Wednesday Breakfast Group, 1963 through 1976.
The speech files contain drafts of papers Klopsteg presented on government's role in research, recollections of Northwestern physicist, Henry Crew (Box 8, Folder 12), and several events related to the University of Minnesota such as its centennial celebration in 1958 and Klopsteg's 50th class reunion in 1961. The sections on archery, religion, and World Wars I and II also include speech-related materials.
The World War I files relate to Klopsteg's work on the chronograph which he developed in 1917-18 for studying projectile velocities. His research is documented by correspondence, research statistics, lists of expenses and notes. The World War II files document Klopsteg's association with the Office of Scientific Research and Development in the South Pacific. They are comprised of correspondence, a diary, and government identification cards. Other files in this section relate to speeches made by Klopsteg, and some of his research on the penetrometer. Klopsteg's Medal of Merit Citation for World War II is filed here.
The oversize box contains over 80 certificates Klopsteg received from a variety of organizations and activities.
The additions to this series include a first interim report and a two-volume final report of the Advisory Committee on Weather Control as well as the text of Klopsteg's speech entitled "Science in Government, and Government in Science." The Advisory Committee on Weather Control was established by act of Congress in 1953; Klopsteg was the chairman of the Advisory Committee's Panel on Effect of Atomic Weapons on Weather. The additions have been placed at the end of Box 9 of this series.
A small amount of correspondence, article reprints, clippings, and biographical materials have been added to pre-existing folders within the main body of this collection.
No restrictions.
No restrictions.
The first accession (#91-147) was a gift of Marie K. Graffis on
The additional accession (#96-18) was also a gift of Marie K. Graffis on
The first accession of this collection was processed by
The additional accession of this collection was processed by
In the first accession, a collection of glass slides, several audio tapes and reels of film, and many photographs were transferred to the Archives’ audiovisual and photograph collections. Small amounts of duplicate and extraneous material were returned to Ms. Graffis. In the additional accession, ten black-and-white photographic prints and one color photographic print have been added to the University Archives' photographic collection under the main heading: Klopsteg, Paul E. Twelve black-and-white nitrate photographic negatives have been added to the University Archives' collection of nitrate negatives under the same heading. Three linear inches of correspondence, clippings, speech texts, and article reprints duplicating materials in the main body of this series were returned to Marie Graffis on February 20, 1996.