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

RS 11/12/51
John W. Patterson (1936- )
Papers, 1947-[ongoing]

Descriptive summary

creator:	Patterson, John W. (1936- )
title:	Papers
dates:	1947-[ongoing]
extent:	6.88 linear feet (14 document boxes and 2 oversize boxes)
collection number:	RS 11/12/51
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	John W. Patterson Papers, RS 11/12/51, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

John W. (Jack) Patterson Jr. was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 14, 1936. After graduation from high school, he attended Baldwin-Wallace College until he was drafted into military service in 1955. He served in Alaska with the 2nd Infantry Division until 1957. Dr. Patterson received a combined Bachelors and Masters degree (1962) in mining engineering and a Ph.D. (1966) in metallurgical engineering from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Patterson joined the faculty at Iowa State University as Assistant Professor (1966-1971) of materials science and engineering. He was promoted to Associate Professor (1971-1976) and Professor (1976-1995). Dr. Patterson was a visiting scientist (1978) at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. He retired from Iowa State University in 1995. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Iowa State.

Dr. Patterson's early research interests were in electrical transport properties of solid electrolytes at elevated temperatures. During the second half of his career his research focus shifted towards the application of statistics to industrial manufacturing and processing.

Dr. Patterson is perhaps most widely known for his criticism of creationism and supernatural phenomena. His debate with Dr. David A. Weltha (Ph.D. (1969) Iowa State University), then an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Environment at Iowa State University, received wide local coverage and even generated some national headlines. Dr. Weltha promoted and gave lectures on a variety of topics such as astrology, hypnosis, life after death, and other unexplained phenomena, but it was the seminar that he taught at ISU on reincarnation that elicited the most vocal criticism from Dr. Patterson.

John Patterson married Shirley Ann Finkel on February 13, 1960. They have two sons, John and Daniel. The Pattersons reside in Arizona.

Collection description

This collection (1947-[ongoing]) contains biographical information on Dr. Patterson and clippings and correspondence accumulated by Dr. Patterson in his efforts to dispute supernatural phenomena, creationism, religion, and even claims of perpetual motion. Included in the papers are correspondence and news clippings related to the controversy between himself and Dr. David A. Weltha, a member of the Iowa State faculty who taught a seminar on reincarnation and other supernatural phenomena on the Iowa State campus. This led Dr. Patterson to teach a seminar on critical thinking which in turn led to a dispute with Dr. David Boylan, Dean of the College of Engineering.

Dr. Patterson's papers also include regular correspondence with several friends and colleagues. His correspondences with Henry P. Zuidema and Frank Trumpy document his efforts in opposition to creationism. He became a regular correspondent with Erica Heftmann, author of Dark Side of the Moonies, about religious cults and even contemplated co-authoring a book together. Also included in the collection are letters between Dr. Patterson and William "Bill" Brouwers, a pastor from Indiana. Brouwers and Patterson developed a friendship despite their opposing views and co-taught a class for the Iowa State University College for Seniors on "The Conflicting Worldviews of Theism and Atheism." Correspondence and course materials for this class can also be found in the collection.

Organization

The collection is listed in alphabetical order.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
14	4	Article – "An Engineer Looks at the Creationist Movement" by Patterson, includes related correspondence	1982-1990
9		Audiotape – "Creation Science Seminar Question and Answer" presentation by Henry M. Morris at Campus Baptist Church in Ames, Iowa	ca. 1979
9		Audiotape – "Patterson 'Live' at the Maintenance Shop"	1983
9		Audiotape – "The Existance of God is Provable" debate between John Patterson and Pastor Ken Chumbley (4 audiotapes)	1988
9		Audiotape – "The Troubled Waters of Evolution" presentation by Henry M. Morris	n.d.
9		Audiotape – Bill Stevens interview with Les Hinchman	1983
10		Audiotape – David Weltha on astrology, March 14, Iowa State University YWCA	1978
10		Audiotape – David Weltha on ghosts	1984
10		Audiotape – Debate between A. E. Wilder-Smith and Frank Arduini, Grace Missionary Church, Zion, Illinois	1984
10		Audiotape – Debate between Hugh Ross and Duane Gish	ca. 1992
10		Audiotape – Debate between John Patterson and Al Sippert on radio show "People Are Talking," KCRG News Radio 1600, Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1995
9		Audiotape – Debate between John Patterson and David A. Weltha, March 14, WOI TV, Ames, Iowa (2 copies)	1979
9		Audiotape – Debate between John Patterson and Guillermo Gonzalez on the WHO Radio call-in show "Mickelson in the Morning" (2 copies)	2005
9		Audiotape – Debate between John Patterson and Henry M. Morris regarding whether God creates evil	1979
10		Audiotape – Debate between John Patterson and John Koster on the WHO Radio call-in show "Mickelson in the Morning"	1989
9		Audiotape – Geocentricity presentation by Professor James Hanson of Cleveland State University	n.d.
9		Audiotape – John Patterson interview on KPGY radio, Ames	1980
9		Audiotape – John Patterson interview on KUSR radio program "Iowa State Speaks"	1985
9		Audiotape – John Patterson interview with Daily Iowan	1984
9		Audiotape – John Patterson interview with ISU journalism class	1983
9		Audiotape – John Patterson interview with Jim Wishner regarding Iowa skeptics	1986
9		Audiotape – Phi Beta Kappa panel discussion on teaching creationism at Iowa State University featuring Dean David Boylan and Dr. Weinberg (2 audiotapes)	n.d.
9		Audiotape – Presentation by Dr. David A. Weltha	n.d.
9		Audiotape – Presentation by H. Bert Wagoner	1984
10		Audiotape – Presentation by Randy Agadon, "Teaching Science in the Christian School"	1983
10		Audiotape – Presentation by Sheldon Matlow at Iowa State University	1987
9		Audiotape – Program regarding anti evolution campaign	1980
9		Audiotape – Program regarding creationism	1980
10		Audiotape – Radio discussion between Guillermo Gonzalez and Art Bell	2004
10		Audiotape – Radio interview of John D. Morris, October 20-23, KDMI-FM Radio, Des Moines	1987
10		Audiotape – Radio interviews of John Patterson and David Weltha, October 27, KEZT 104.1 FM, Ames, Iowa	1985
10		Audiotape – Randi on KASI Radio	1987
10		Audiotape – Reverend Carl Baugh, October 14-16, KDMI-FM Radio, Des Moines	1987
1	1	Biographical information (1 2.5x3 color photograph)	1971-2006
8	6-7	College for Seniors class, "The Conflicting Worldviews of Theism and Atheism" co-taught by Patterson and Bill Brouwers, includes course materials and correspondence	1998-2001
1	7	Controversy – articles and correspondence regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1975-1978
1	8	Controversy – articles and correspondence regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1978-1979
1	9	Controversy – articles and correspondence regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1979
1	10	Controversy – articles and correspondence regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1980-1997
1	11	Controversy – correspondence regarding article in TIME magazine about the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1978
14	10	Controversy – correspondence regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1977
2	6	Controversy – correspondence with Joseph R. Myers, P.E., on reincarnation and regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1980
15	2	Controversy – Dr. David A. Weltha audio recordings transferred from cassette (1 CD)	1978-1985
2	4	Controversy – Dr. David A. Weltha's presentation to Ames High sociology class: audiotape and transcript	1978
1	12	Controversy – index of collected materials regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	ca. 1980
1	13-17	Controversy – indexed articles regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1968-1978
2	2	Controversy – news clippings and correspondence not on index listing regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1978-1980
2	1	Controversy – news clippings regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1978-1981
2	3	Controversy – notes by Patterson regarding the dispute with Dr. David A. Weltha	1977-1978
15	15	Controversy – nomination of J. Richard Lucas for Director of U.S. Bureau of Mines, includes remarks by Patterson	1970, 2010
2	5	Controversy – University Studies 313E: Critical Judgment for the Age of Aquarius	1978
12	8	Correspondence – Arduini, Frank	1984-1987
11	6	Correspondence – Avalos, Hector	2007
12	10	Correspondence – Bartz, Paul	1981-1987
13	1	Correspondence – Bennetta, William (includes printed materials)	1985-1990
11	14-15	Correspondence – Bergman, Jerry (includes printed materials)	1979-2004
11	10	Correspondence – Berra, Tim	1982-1983
2	12	Correspondence – Bouw, Gerardus	1985-2006
6	7-8	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	1995-1996
7	1-6	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	1997-2001
8	1-5	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2002-2006
8	19	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2007
14	1	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2008
15	8	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2008-2009
15	10	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2009
15	12	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2010
16	2	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2010
16	3	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2011
16	4	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2012
17	1	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2013
17	2	Correspondence – Brouwers, Bill	2014
2	11	Correspondence – Carter, Larry: regarding Atheists in Foxholes	2005
12	11	Correspondence – Dalrymple, Brent	1983-1985
16	5	Correspondence – Deming, Edward	1986
15	6	Correspondence – Fukatsu, Norihiko	1982
16	4	Correspondence – Gardner, Martin	1978-2010
8	12	Correspondence – general	1978-2007
12	1	Correspondence – general	1980-1985
11	4	Correspondence – general	1981-1999
14	2	Correspondence – general	2008
15	9	Correspondence – general	2009
8	8	Correspondence – Gish, Duane of the Institute for Creation Research	1982, n.d.
15	13	Correspondence – Green, James and Debra; includes a copy of their publication "Clowning Around!"	2009-2010
14	3	Correspondence – Hamersky, Hilja	1998
11	7	Correspondence – Hauptman, John	2007
8	9	Correspondence – Heftmann, Erica	1995
6	1-4	Correspondence – Heftmann, Erica: regarding religious cults	1979-1988
11	12	Correspondence – Hoebens, Piet Hein	1979, n.d.
11	11	Correspondence – Horner, Paul G.	1987-1988
4	3	Correspondence – Hyman, Ray: regarding guest lecture in Patterson's Critical Judgment class (3 2x3 B&W photographs)	1978
8	13	Correspondence – Johnson, Charles K. of the International Flat Earth Research Society	1979, 2001
11	9	Correspondence – Kenney, Robert	1985
11	8	Correspondence – Lemke, Gerhold (includes writings and articles by Lemke)	1995-2008
6	5	Correspondence – Menadue-Wilson, Margaret: regarding critical judgment seminar	1978-1981
15	11	Correspondence – Oliver, Revilo P.	1983-2009
16	6	Correspondence – Otten, Herman	2009-2011
8	14	Correspondence – Pieart, Richard	2001-2002
4	4	Correspondence – Rogge, Tom	n.d.
4	6	Correspondence – Schaefer, Joe: regarding article in ISI (Institute for Scientific Information) press	1982-2006
12	7	Correspondence – Strahler, Arthur	1985-2003
8	11	Correspondence – Truzzi, Marcello, editor of The Zetetic Scholar	1978
15	14	Correspondence – Verhoeven, John	2010
12	9	Correspondence – Wagoner, Bert	2003
1	2	Correspondence – Walsh, Ken	1997
12	3	Correspondence – Weinberg, Stanley L.	1979-1997, n.d.
8	15	Correspondence – Weinberg, Stanley L: regarding creationism/ evolution debate	1987-1996
16	7	Correspondence – Yates, Stan	1981-1986
11	1	Correspondence – Zimmerman, Michael	1987-1997
15	1	Correspondence – Zindler, Frank	2008
4	10	Correspondence – Zuidema, Henry: background information (2 4x5 color photographs)	1947-1978, n.d.
4	11-13	Correspondence – Zuidema, Henry: regarding creationism controversy	1977-1979
5	1-7	Correspondence – Zuidema, Henry: regarding creationism controversy	1978-1985
11	2	Correspondence – Zuidema, Henry: regarding creationism controversy	1982-1984
13	4-5	Creationism controversy – articles and papers by Brent Dalrymple	1982-1983
3	3-5	Creationism controversy – correspondence and background materials collected by Frank Trumpy	1979-1986
15	3	Creationism controversy – correspondence and background materials on Dr. A. E. Wilder-Smith	1980-1987
14	7	Creationism controversy – correspondence and clippings on Vincent Sarich and AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) creation symposium	1982-1983
1	3	Creationism controversy – correspondence and clippings regarding dispute with Dean Boylan	1979-1984
11	3	Creationism controversy – correspondence and critiques of Dean Boylan's thermodynamics paper published in Creation Research Society Quarterly (includes commentary by Patterson)	1978-2007
6	6	Creationism controversy – correspondence between Sheldon Matlow and Duane Gish	1974, n.d.
14	11	Creationism controversy – correspondence regarding WHO Radio debate between John Koster and Patterson (related audiotape housed in box 10)	1974-2008
14	6	Creationism controversy – correspondence, editorials, and clippings on debate between Russ Doolittle and Duane Gish, includes commentary	1980-2008
8	10	Creationism controversy – Iowa Academy of Science creation/evolution symposium in Cedar Rapids	1981-1982
1	4	Creationism controversy – news clippings	1980-1987
16	8	Creationism controversy – reviews and comments on thermodynamics chapter in Scienrtists Confront Creationism	1985-1986
3	1	Creationism/Evolution debates – Gish-Patterson debate audio recording (3 audiotapes)	1985
4	1	Creationism/Evolution debates – Gish-Patterson debate correspondence and background information	1979-1980
3	2	Creationism/Evolution debates – Gish-Patterson debate correspondence file	1980-1984
2	15	Creationism/Evolution debates – slides used during debates at Ankeny and Lamoni (13 color slides)	ca. 1982
14	8	Creationism/Evolution debates – Walter T. Brown and Patterson debate materials, includes commentary	1980-2008
3	6-7	Creationsim controversy – clippings and articles collected by Frank Trumpy	1978-1983
8	16	Documents surrounding Dr. Patterson's excommunication from American Atheists	1983-1990
1	5	Excerpts from Dark Side of the Moonies by Erica Heftmann	1982
4	7	Future of Ames – article and correspondence	1986, 2006
4	5	Gambling – correspondence (including with Bill Brouwers), letters to the editor, and news articles	1984-2001
2	13	Intelligent Design controversy	2005
11	5	ISU President W. Robert Parks' convocation address and related editorials	1979, n.d.
2	10	Letters to the Editor	2005-2006
2	7	Literature received by Patterson in support of opposing viewpoints	1969-1992
8	17	Manuscript – "Sir William Chandler Roberts-Austen – His Role in the Development of Binary Diagrams and Modern Physical Metallurgy"	1998
15	16	News clippings regarding former Ohio State University classmate, Robert Murray, and Crandall Canyon mine collapse in Utah	2007
8	18	Notes on audiotape recordings	2006, n.d.
2	14	Opinions regarding various controversies dealing with science, creationism, and evolution	1979-2005
2	8	Pastor Alber, Campus Baptist Church – sermon recording (1 audiotape)	1987
1	6	Pastor Alber, Campus Baptist Church – sermon transcript and editorial by Patterson	1987-2004
4	2	Perpetual motion claim by Les Hinchman – slides (11 color slides)	1983
4	8	Perpetual motion: testing Hinchman device	1982-1983
15	5	Perpetual motion: printout of 1980 patent granted to Hinchman for a hydraulic pump and commentary	2008
4	9	Perpetual motion: testing Hinchman device (37 color 5x7 photographs)	1982-1983
8	20	Poem by Eileen Mericle about Patterson	2006
12	5	Printed materials about Hugh Ross	1993-1999
13	2	Printed materials and clippings about Patterson collected by Bill Kunerth	1978-1992
12	4	Printed materials and correspondence about Bass Van Gilst, State Senator and Iowa Regent	1978-1984
14	5	Printed materials by and correspondence with Robert Steiner (2- 8x10" b/w photographs)	1978-1988
13	3	Printed materials by Donald Simanek	1979-1997, n.d.
12	2	Printed materials by Frank Zindler	1984-1998
12	6	Printed materials by Richard Aulie	1968-1984
2	9	Religious cults – news clippings and publications	1979-1988
14	12	Report – "Assessment of the Roof Corrosion Problems Incurred at the Rathbun Fish Hatchery" includes related correspondence	1984
15	4	Research and correspondence regarding Nitinol memory wire	1974-1994
15	7	Shroud of Turin – Correspondence, editorials, and printed materials	1981-1989
14	9	Transcendental meditation and Maharishi International University – correspondence and news clippings	1979-1992
11	13	Transcendental meditation and Maharishi International University – correspondence and news clippings	1984-1992
16	1	Videotape – excerpts of seven-day cruise with James Randi and friends	2009