Professor and scientist, Monroe Stanley Wechsler was born in 1923 in New York City. He received a B.S. (1944) from the City University of New York and an A.M. (1950) and Ph.D. (1953) in physics from Columbia University. Wechsler worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and taught at the University of Tennessee before arriving at Iowa State University where he served as Professor (1970-1993) and Chair (1970-1975) of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (formerly the Department of Metallurgy). Wechsler was an expert in the irradiation effects on metals and alloys, phase transformation in solids, and materials for nuclear energy applications. The collection contains biographical material as well as correspondence and publications related to Wechsler's investigations into radiation effects on alloys, shape memory heat engines, and nickel-titanium (nitinol) alloys.

Monroe Stanley Wechsler was born to Harry and Rose (Goldberg) Wechsler on May 1, 1923, in New York City. He received a B.S. (1944) in physics from the City University of New York and an A.M. (1950) and Ph.D. (1953), both in physics, from Columbia University. Prior to coming to Iowa State, Wechsler worked as an Electrical Engineer (1947-1948) at the U.S. Naval Air Magnetics Laboratory, New Jersey; he was Scientist and Head (1954-1969) of the Radiation Metallurgy Section, Solid State Division, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee; and Professor (part-time; 1960-1969) in the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Tennessee.

Wechsler arrived at Iowa State University as a Visiting Professor (1969-1970) in the Department of Metallurgy. He was named Professor and Chair (1970-1975) of the Department and Chief (1970-1975) of the Metallurgy Division at Ames Laboratory. Wechsler remained at Iowa State as a Professor (1975) in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (which was formed in 1975) and the Department of Nuclear Engineering. Wechsler spent summers working as a Visiting Scientist (1982-1989) at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico. Wechsler researched the irradiation effects on metals and alloys, phase transformation in solids, and materials for nuclear energy applications.

Monroe Wechsler married Lorraine Goverman of New York City. Lorraine also was a member of the faculty (1970-1990) of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Iowa State University. They had three children: Nancy, Robert, and Stephen.

The collection (1965-1992) contains biographical material, correspondence, research proposals, and publications. The correspondence includes departmental and research-related letters and memos. Correspondence, project proposals, and reports document his research on radiation effects on alloys at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The publications include some of Wechsler's investigations into shape memory heat engines and nickel-titanium (nitinol) alloys.

The collection is in alphabetical order.