Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 11/10/14
George W. Bissell (1866-1947)
Papers, 1882-1938, n.d.


Descriptive summary

creator:

Bissell, George W. (1866-1947)
title:

Papers
dates:

1882-1938, n.d.
extent:

1.26 linear ft. (3 document boxes)
collection number:

RS 11/10/14
repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

George W. Bissell Papers, RS 11/10/14, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

George Welton Bissell was born on July 14, 1866, in Poughkeepsie, New York. He graduated from Cornell University with an M.E. degree (1888). For the next three years, he taught experimental engineering at Cornell. Bissell was then hired by the Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State University) as Assistant Professor (1891-1892) of mechanical engineering. The following fall he was promoted to Professor and Head (1892-1907) of the department. He was named Vice Dean of Engineering (1904-1907) at Iowa State. He resigned from his position at Iowa State to become Dean (1907-1930) of the School of Engineering at Michigan Agricultural College (Michigan State University) in East Lansing, Michigan. Upon his retirement, he received an Honorary D.E. (1930) from Michigan State.

Bissell was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Sigma Xi, and the Iowa Engineering Society. He also acted as a consulting engineer for various Iowa engineering enterprises.

 

Collection description

This collection (1882-1938, n.d.) includes manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and biographical information. In addition, the collection contains letters between Bissell and the Dean of Engineering Anson Marston, Iowa State University Secretary Edgar Stanton, President William Beardshear, President Albert Storms, and the Board of Trustees. The majority of the correspondence is related to consulting work, the development of mechanical engineering at Iowa State, and the administration of the College during his term as chairman of the mechanical engineering department. There is also information regarding Bissell's lobbying efforts in support of an engineering experiment station bill in 1904.

A list of correspondents can be found in the appendix. Subsequent correspondence between Bissell and his successor Warren H. Meeker is included in the Warren H. Meeker Papers, RS 11/10/15.

 

Organization

This collection is listed alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical material and newspaper clippings

1892-1938, n.d.

3

1

Board of Audit

1899-1907, n.d.

1

16

Business correspondence, A-L

1893-1907

1

17

Business correspondence, M-Z

1900-1907

3

2

Catalog Committee

1896-1905

2

13

Correspondence with Board of Trustees

1892-1901, n.d.

2

14

Correspondence with Board of Trustees

1902-1907

2

15

Correspondence with Board of Trustees

1893-1906

2

1

Correspondence with Dean Anson Marston

1896-1907, n.d.

2

10

Correspondence with President Albert Storms

1905, n.d.

2

11

Correspondence with President Albert Storms

1906

2

12

Correspondence with President Albert Storms

1907

2

7

Correspondence with President William Beardshear

1891-1896, n.d.

2

9

Correspondence with President William Beardshear

1900-1902

2

8

Correspondence with President William Beardshear; correspondence of August 19, 1897 is in regards to football problems

1897-1899

2

2

Correspondence with Secretary Edgar Stanton

1882-1900

2

4

Correspondence with Secretary Edgar Stanton

1903

2

5

Correspondence with Secretary Edgar Stanton

1904

2

3

Correspondence with Secretary Edgar Stanton (Stanton was acting as President from 1901-1903)

1901-1902

2

6

Correspondence with Secretary Edgar Stanton; significant correspondence in regards to Mitchell Vance Company

1905-1907

3

3

Courses of Study Committee

1897-1906, n.d.

3

9

Engineering Experiment Station correspondence

1904

3

4

Examination and Standings Committee

n.d.

1

2

Manuscript – "Department of Mechanical Engineering"

n.d.

1

3

Manuscript – "Directions for Testing Materials of Construction and Lubricants"

1890

1

4

Manuscript – "Education and National Life"

n.d.

1

5

Manuscript – "Engineering at Iowa State College"

1907 ca.

1

6

Manuscript – "Experiences with Deep-Well Pump Rods"

1899 ca.

1

7

Manuscript – "Manufacturing and Technical Education in Iowa"

1904 ca.

1

8

Manuscript – "Notes on Steam Generation with Iowa Coal"

1904

1

9

Manuscript – "Technical Schools of America"

1893

1

10

Professional correspondence, A-C

1893-1907, n.d.

1

11

Professional correspondence, D-J

1892-1907

1

12

Professional correspondence, K-N

1893-1907, n.d.

1

13

Professional correspondence, O-R

1898-1907

1

14

Professional correspondence, S-U

1891-1907, n.d.

1

15

Professional correspondence, V-Z

1901-1906

3

5

Purchasing Committee

1903-1906

3

7

Sifting Committee – restricted

1900-1907

3

6

Sifting Committee – unrestricted

1904-1907

3

8

Special faculty committee on library funds

1890s

 

Appendix – Alphabetical List of Correspondents

Name

Dates

Box

Folder

Allen, C. R., City Engineer, Ottumwa, related correspondence in W. R. Warren and J. F. Springfield

1904

1

3

American Institute of Electrical Engineers

1898-1899

1

3

American Iron and Wire Works

1901

1

9

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

n.d.

1

3

American Steam Gauge Co.

1901-1902

1

9

Anderson, C. N.

1893

1

3

Arnold, Bion J.

1904

1

3

Batchelder, Geo. L.

1903

1

3

Beardshear, President William M.

1891-1902, n.d.

2

7-9

Bishop, W. C.

1905

1

3

Borsheim, H. T.

1906

1

3

Bowen, H. S.

1907

1

3

Burdess, W. J.

1905

1

3

Byl, F. M.

1905-1906

1

3

Caldwell, F. C.

1904-1905

1

3

Cammack, A.

1905-1906

1

3

Catlin, W. R.

1903

1

3

Central Laboratory Supply Co.

1906

1

9

Christie, E. J.

1907

1

3

Cleghorn, M. P.

1902

1

3

Clifton, Elias, Supt. Jefferson Light, Heat, Power, and Water Co., Albia Electric Light & Power Co.

1896-1900

1

3

Cottam, G. G.

1904

1

3

Craig, L. B.

1893-1904

1

3

Crellin & Lovell

1896-1897

1

9

Dana, Geo. G.

1897-1905

1

4

Doolittle, C. P., Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds, Oberlin College

1903

1

4

Dow, C. A.

1902

1

4

Dunbar, C. M.

1892, 1896

1

4

Dyer, R. M.

1892

1

4

Electrical Engineering

1893-1894

1

9

Elicker, F. F.

1903

1

4

Elwell, F. D.

1905

1

4

Engelhard, Charles

1907

1

9

Engineering Magazine Co.

1899-1900

1

4

Evans, Almirall

1901-1902, n.d.

1

9

Gasser, E. C.

1906

1

4

General Electric Co.

1907

1

9

Gingerich, W. F., Supt. Electric Light Dept., Rock Rapids

1904

1

4

Greene, W. J.

1905

1

4

Hadley, F. L.

1903

1

4

Harper – Helf Co. (St. John's Episcopal)

1899

1

9

Heold, Glen D.

1905

1

4

Hobein, Chas. A.

1904, 1906

1

4

Hort, C. E.

1905

1

4

Howe, Charles S.

1907

1

4

Hull, J. A. T.

1906

1

4

Hull, M. R.

1898

1

4

Edwin Hunt's Sons

1895

1

9

Hyde, A. E.

1893

1

4

Iowa Geological Survey

1904-1905

1

4

Iowa State Fair

1907

1

4

Jones, W. Clyde

1892-1903

1

4

Judd, Rev. Allen

1899, 1902

1

4

Keith, R. R.

1907

1

5

Kelly, W. T.

1902

1

5

Keolroyd, Georg W.

1894

1

5

Knapp, Herman

1892-1907

1

5

Lake, Jas. H.

1903

1

5

Lee, E. E.

1905

1

5

Lewis, M.

1905

1

5

Linn, Scott W.

1906

1

5

Lockwood, B. A. Grain Co.

1900, 1904

1

9

Lowton, J. H.

1903-1904

1

5

Mace, Robt. P.

1901

1

5

MacLean, George E.

1904

1

5

Marston, Dean Anson

1896-1907, n.d.

2

1

Maxwell, A. B.

1904

1

5

McElroy, W. O.

1893-1902

1

5

McGee, J. F.

1903

1

5

McGrew, E. S.

1902

1

5

Miggett, W. L.

1901

1

5

Milburn, W. P.

1905

1

5

Miller, Erle W.

1903

1

5

Mitchell Vance Company

1903-1907

1

10

Moldev, R. D.

1904

1

5

Moody, L. F.

n.d.

1

5

Moore, L. H.

1901-1904

1

5

Morrow, W. W.

1907

1

5

Parker, L. M.

1901-1902

1

6

Peck, Walter

1899-1904

1

6

Pendray, E. E.

1907

1

6

Peshak, R. E.

1901-1904

1

6

Pickworth, F. H.

1901, 1904

1

6

Pompton Fuel and Developing Company

1904

1

10

Porter, R. H.

1906

1

6

Price, H. C.

1901-1903

1

6

Rhinehart, Chas.

1898

1

6

Robertson, J. G.

1902

1

10

Robertson, James L. & Sons

1902

1

10

Rosen, D. N.

1904

1

6

Saylor, Ione

n.d.

1

7

Schott, W. H.

1903-1904

1

7

Science and Industry

1902

1

7

Scott, Chas. E.

1904

1

7

Secor Brothers & Co.

1902-1905

1

10

Semet-Solvay Company

1907

1

10

Sheldon, J. H.

1900-1901

1

7

Show, A. B.

1894-1898

1

7

Simpson, J. C.

1907

1

7

Sipp, Growt.

1895

1

7

Smeeth, E.

1896

1

7

Snider-Hughes Company

1904

1

10

Speidel, J. S.

1892

1

7

Springfield, J. F.

1904

1

7

Standard Electric Mfg. Co.

1904

1

10

Stanley Electric Manufacturing Co.

1902-1905

1

10

Stanton, Edgar

1882-1907, n.d.

2

2-6

States, L. A.

1900

1

7

Steele, Walter D.

1891-1894

1

7

Stone, W. E.

1903

1

7

Storms, President Albert B.

1905-1907, n.d.

2

10-12

Tate, J. M.

1906

1

7

Thomas, M. F.

1903

1

7

U.S. Geological Survey

1906

1

7

Wallace, J. H.

1903

1

8

Waltmire & Connell

1900-1901, n.d.

1

10

Warren, W. R.

1904

1

8

White & Co., J. G.

1905

1

8

Wilkinson, L. J.

1906

1

8

Winfield, Grant

1902

1

8

Woodruff, C. E.

1901

1

8

Zanke, G. J.

1905

1

8