Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 11/10/51
Leo Charles Peters (1931-2014)
Papers, 1949-2002, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Peters, Leo Charles (1931-2014) |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1949-2002, undated |
| extent: | 5.17 linear feet (2 record center cartons, 1 document box, 1 artifact box, 1 oversize box) |
| collection number: | RS 11/10/51 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
| language: | English |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Leo Charles Peters Papers, RS 11/10/51, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Abstract
Leo Charles Peters was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering (1961-1996) at Iowa State University. He received his B.S. (1953) in Agricultural Engineering from Kansas State University and both his M.S. (1963) in Mechanical Engineering and his Ph.D. (1967) in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics from Iowa State University. Peters worked at John Deere Waterloo Tractor Works for much of the 1950s. At Iowa State University, Peters advised and helped found a student branch of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He also served as a consultant to industry specializing in design analysis, inspections, investigations, and failure analysis and was an expert in product safety and product liability issues. This collection contains artifacts, biographical and family information, certificates, course materials, correspondence, conference presentation records, diaries, writings, undergraduate coursework, and substantial records documenting Peter's involvement with the Society of Automotive Engineers. |
Biographical note
Leo Charles Peters was born on September 21, 1931, in Smith County, Kansas. He received his B.S. (1953) in Agricultural Engineering from Kansas State University and both his M.S. (1963) in Mechanical Engineering and his Ph.D. (1967) in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics from Iowa State University (ISU). Peters served as an officer (1954-1956) in the 839th engineering battalion of the Special Category Army with Air Force (SCARWAF) during the Korean War and worked as an engineer (1953-1954, 1956-1961) in the John Deere Waterloo Tractor Works. While completing his Master's degree, Peters was hired as an Instructor (1961-1964) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at ISU. He became an Assistant Professor (1964-1968) while completing his doctorate. He earned tenure shortly thereafter and was promoted to Associate Professor (1968-1978) and Professor (1978-1996). He retired from the University in 1996. Peters founded and advised a student branch of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in the 1968-1969 academic year. The branch was formally chartered by SAE March 18, 1969. Peters was also interested in continuing education for practicing engineers and devised an innovative products liability moot court program that he taught for several years at engineering conventions. He was an expert on product safety and product liability and worked as an independent consultant and expert witness specializing in patent infringement, products liability, and failure analysis. Peters was recognized for his work in the SAE through receipt of the Ralph R. Teetor Award (1983) and the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (1970). In addition to the SAE, Peters was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, and the American Society for Engineering Education. He was registered as a Professional Engineer in Iowa and Illinois for the bulk of his career. Peters married Suzanne Gordon (1935-2013), an ISU alumna (M.A.), in 1957. They raised nine children. |
Collection description
This collection (1949-2002) documents Peter's academic, professional, and personal activities. It contains artifacts, biographical and family information, certificates, notes on classroom lectures and course design, correspondence, conference presentation records, diaries, writings, undergraduate coursework, and substantial records documenting Peter's involvement with the Society of Automotive Engineering (national, Mississippi Valley Section, and ISU student branch). The papers illustrate the development of Peters' academic career from his time as an agricultural engineering undergraduate through his retirement as a full Professor in engineering. Materials pertaining to the College of Engineering and Mechanical Engineering coursework are present along with the first few decades of the Iowa State University Student Branch of the SAE. The papers provide some documentation of his consulting work and his activities within the engineering community nationally and regionally. A small amount of family and biographical information is included which documents his daily activities during the 1960s and his activities within the Ames Cursillo Movement. |
Related materials
Related collections in the Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library include:
|
Organization
This collection is organized into three series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Academic Career at Iowa State University | 1960-1998 |
| extent: | 1.7 linear feet | |
| description: | This series documents Leo C. Peters' academic life as a faculty member at ISU within the College of Engineering. Peters was the first faculty advisor for the Iowa State student branch of the Society of Automotive Engineers and this series also provides documentation of the formation and development of the branch. Included are photographs, correspondence, and flyers pertaining to speakers invited to campus by the student branch. Among them are Phil Myers (former president of the Society of Automotive Engineers), Andy Granatelli (Chief Executive Officer of STP), and Jacques Passino (Director of Ford Motor Company's Special Products Division). This series also includes Peters' lecture notes and teaching files. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Agricultural engineering: safety in the design of agricultural machinery (AM 474) - teaching files of W.F. Buchele |
1975 |
1 |
2-3 |
Awards and certificates: correspondence and documentation (1 b/w photograph) |
1967-1996 |
1 |
4 |
Campus report: "Salaries, Retirement, and Enrollment at Iowa State University in the 1980s: Issues and Options" |
1980 |
1 |
5-10 |
Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS): industry partnerships |
1987-1990 |
1 |
11 |
College of Engineering: professional development program |
1973-1974 |
1 |
12 |
Committees |
1973-1974 |
1 |
13 |
Conference presentations |
1961-1982 |
1 |
14 |
Curriculum vitae and personnel sheet |
1960-1998 |
1 |
15 |
Design projects: Mechanical Engineering 415, Mechanical Engineering 423, SAE student branch (11 b/w photographs) |
1968-1983 |
1 |
16-17 |
Digital computers: ISU (Cyclone) |
1961-1963 |
1 |
18 |
Digital computers: others |
1960-1984 |
1 |
19 |
Engineering seminars: "Designing to Avoid Products Liability Suits" |
1988 |
1 |
20 |
Engineering extension service programs: Peters' seminars |
1987 |
1 |
21 |
Foreign student advising |
1970-1981 |
1 |
22-24 |
Mechanical engineering class: introduction to mechanical engineering (ME 253) |
1974-1989 |
1 |
25 |
Mechanical engineering class: machine design II (ME 312) |
1978-1979 |
1 |
26-28 |
Mechanical engineering class: machine design II (ME 317) |
1970, undated |
1 |
29 |
Mechanical engineering class: senior technical elective (ME 412) |
1988-1994 |
1 |
30 |
Mechanical engineering class: environmental considerations in design (ME 413) |
1979-1988 |
1 |
31 |
Mechanical engineering class: design elective |
1983 |
1 |
32 |
Mechanical engineering class: machine design I (ME 416) - Lecture notes of Charles Mischke |
1993 |
1 |
33 |
Mechanical engineering class: machine design I (ME 420) |
1975, undated |
1 |
34 |
Mechanical engineering class: design (ME 423) |
1966 |
1 |
35 |
Mechanical engineering class: operating environmental considerations in design (ME 513) |
1982, 1985 |
1 |
36 |
Mechanical engineering class: heat treatment and selection of steel - Peters' notes as a student |
1960 |
1 |
37 |
Mechanical Engineering, Department of: correspondence, memorandums, and reports |
1961-1998, undated |
1 |
38-43 |
Publications by Peters: design defects, design standard, engineering education, expert investigators, hazardous waste, product liability |
1972-1984, undated |
1 |
44-46 |
Society of Automotive Engineers student branch: correspondence |
1968-1971 |
1 |
47-51 |
Society of Automotive Engineers student branch: events (E-Week, Firecat, Mini Baja, VEISHEA) (142 color photographs) |
1981-1988 |
1 |
52-55 |
Society of Automotive Engineers student branch: general files (activity reports, brochures, minutes, speaker invitations) |
1968-1977 |
2 |
1 |
Society of Automotive Engineers student branch: governance documents |
1974-1976, undated |
2 |
2 |
Society of Automotive Engineers student branch: Mississippi Valley Section memorandums |
1982-1983 |
2 |
3 |
Society of Automotive Engineers student branch: student branch scrapbook (16 b/w photographs) |
1968-1969 |
2 |
4-9 |
Society of Automotive Engineers student branch: speakers Jim DeLong, F.B. Esty, Phil Myers, Jacques Passino, Barlane Eichenbaum, William Dredge, and Andy Granatelli (32 b/w photographs) |
1968-1970 |
2 |
10 |
Society of Automotive Engineers student branch: membership rosters |
1968-1977 |
2 |
11 |
Tenure and promotion |
1967-1978 |
2 |
12 |
University activity reports |
1970-1990 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Professional activities | 1960-1993 |
| extent: | 39 folders | |
| description: | This series documents Leo C. Peters' work as a practicing engineer, an engineering consultant, and his roles within the SAE at both regional and national levels. A sampling of Peters' consulting case files are included. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
2 |
13-22 |
Consulting: case lists and individual case files |
1968-1993 |
2 |
23 |
Consulting: product liability laws and legal issues |
1980-1982, undated |
2 |
24 |
Consulting: qualifications and expertise |
1967-1968, undated |
2 |
25 |
John Deere: correspondence (1 b/w photograph) |
1960-1985 |
2 |
26-31 |
Moot court: correspondence, conference programs, and planning documents (17 color slides) |
1979-1990, undated |
2 |
32-34 |
Notes for talks (original title) |
1973-1992 |
2 |
35-38 |
Professional activities: conference, conventions, and continuing education (1 b/w photograph) |
1968-1993 |
2 |
42 |
Society of Automotive Engineers: Committee on Engineering Education |
1983-1984 |
2 |
43 |
Society of Automotive Engineers: journal feature on Leo C. Peters |
1970-1973 |
2 |
44-51 |
Society of Automotive Engineers: Student Activities Committee |
1970-1985 |
2 |
39 |
Society of Automotive Engineers, Mississippi Valley Section: correspondence |
1962-1987 |
2 |
40 |
Society of Automotive Engineers, Mississippi Valley Section: governing board |
1969-1973 |
2 |
41 |
Society of Automotive Engineers, Mississippi Valley Section: newsletters |
1968-1977 |
Description of series
| Series 3 | Personal and family life | 1949-2002 |
| extent: | 25 folders | |
| description: | This series documents Leo C. Peters' roles within his family, his church, the awards and certificates he earned, and his work as a student. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
4 |
1-2 |
Awards and certificates |
1949-1993 |
2 |
52-53 |
Church: Ames Cursillo Center and leaders workshop (2 b/w photographs) |
1969-1971 |
2 |
54-55 |
Diaries and planners |
1958-1959 |
3 |
1-8 |
Diaries and planners |
1962-1969 |
3 |
9 |
Dissertation: "Pressure Distribution on a Fixed Surface Parallel to a Rotating Disk" |
1967 |
3 |
10 |
Family documents and photographs (2 b/w photographs) |
1962-2002, undated |
Artifact Collection
|
ISU pennant (2014-221.002) |
undated |
|
Artifact Collection
|
ISU snap brim hat (2014-221.001) |
undated |
|
3 |
11-17 |
Undergraduate work: agricultural engineering, applied engineering, and electrical engineering |
1950-1952 |
3 |
18 |
Undergraduate work: "Test of Tracks for Wheel Tractors" |
1952 |