Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 11/6/52
James W. Nilsson (1924- )
Papers, 1948-1986, n.d.
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Nilsson, James W. (1924- ) |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1948-1986, n.d. |
| extent: | 13.32 linear ft. (5 records center cartons, 4 oversized boxes) |
| collection number: | RS 11/6/52 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | James W. Nilsson Papers, RS 11/6/52, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
James W. Nilsson was born June 8, 1924, in Monroe, Michigan. Nilsson received his B.S. (1948) in electrical engineering from the University of Iowa and his M.S. (1952) and Ph.D. (1958) in electrical engineering from Iowa State College (University). Nilsson served as an Instructor (1948-1952) at Iowa State, and was promoted to Associate Professor (1952-1962) and Professor (1962-1984). In 1984, he was named Distinguished Professor (1984-1987) and served in that capacity until his retirement, when he was named Professor Emeritus in the Department of Electrical Engineering. Initially, Nilsson taught in the Electrical Engineering Department at Iowa State. In the later years of his career, he also worked in the Computer Engineering field. He wrote several textbooks on the subjects of electrical engineering and computer engineering, including numerous editions of Electric Circuits (call no. TK454.N54) and Introduction to Circuits, Instruments, and Electronics (call no. TK454.N599i). Nilsson used computers to create animated models of electrical engineering equations that he used as teaching aids in the courses he taught. Nilsson also did consultation work for Iowa Power and Light Company interpreting the National Electrical safety code in court cases involving electrical injuries and death. Nilsson was a member of Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, and Pi Mu Epsilon. He was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and served as chairman (1965 to 1966). |
Collection description
This collection (1948-1986, n.d.) contains biographical information, consulting materials, writings, talks, course materials, and educational films. The biographical information includes newspaper clippings, personnel forms, and writings by Nilsson. The collection also contains a number of Nilsson's writings and talks, including manuscript and typescript drafts of a number of his published textbooks. The consulting materials include case files related to consultation work Nilsson did for Iowa Power and Light Company interpreting the National Electrical Safety Code in court cases involving electrical injuries and death. The course materials contained in the collection include information about and original footage from movies which Nilsson created to help in teaching various concepts to electrical engineering students at Iowa State University. The collection also contains files on a film project for the Education Development Center on basic electromechanical instrument movements. |
Organization
The collection is organized into four series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Biographical Information |
1955-1970 |
| extent: | 1 folder |
|
| description: | This series contains newspaper clippings, personnel forms, and writings by Nilsson. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Biographical information |
1955-1970 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Consulting |
1948-1981, n.d. |
| extent: | 32 folders |
|
| description: | This series contains case files for the consultation work Nilsson did for Iowa Power and Light Company interpreting the National Electrical Safety Code in court cases involving electrical injuries and death. This series is listed chronologically. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
2 |
2 |
Lane and Waterman |
1948-1977 |
2 |
3 |
United Fire & Casualty Company |
1959-1965 |
1 |
14 |
Court appearance for Hamilton and Schill |
1964 |
1 |
2 |
Gary R. Moore case: correspondence and related material |
1970-1972 |
1 |
19 |
Keith Sampson accident |
1970-1972 |
1 |
16 |
Michael Hubler electrocution: correspondence and related material |
1970-1974 |
2 |
5 |
Lane and Waterman |
1971-1974 |
1 |
11 |
John Rickerson Cromer vs. Dico & Larson Cement Stone |
1971-1976 |
1 |
10 |
Brennan Crouse-Hinds |
1972-1976 |
2 |
4 |
Tom Peterson case |
1973-1974 |
1 |
24 |
Duncan, Jones, Riley, and Finley-Lorraine J. May |
1973-1981 |
1 |
9 |
Donald Wandling: pictures of Wilson scene |
1975 |
1 |
20 |
General consulting information |
1975-1979 |
1 |
6 |
Clabby case: correspondence and related material |
1976 |
1 |
8 |
Clabby case: correspondence and related material |
1976 |
1 |
5 |
Quandahl case: correspondence and related material |
1976 |
1 |
21 |
Electrical safety |
1976-1977 |
1 |
3 |
Lawyer short course |
1976-1977 |
1 |
15 |
Randy Duncan |
1976-1978 |
1 |
18 |
Snodgrass vs. Woodland Farms and Story City |
1976-1978 |
1 |
7 |
Paul Kilburg, Keys & Crawford |
1977 |
1 |
4 |
Wayne Price: correspondence |
1977-1978 |
1 |
28 |
William J. Brennan Jr. |
1977-1979 |
1 |
22 |
Johnson's Holiday Inn |
1978 |
1 |
13 |
McCollough Law Firm |
1978 |
1 |
26 |
William J. Brennan Jr. |
1978 |
1 |
27 |
William J. Brennan Jr. |
1978 |
1 |
12 |
William S. Gibb: correspondence and related material |
1978 |
1 |
23 |
Chris L. Olson Robins Davis and Lyons |
1978-1979 |
2 |
1 |
Lane and Waterman (Charles Miller) |
1978-1979 |
1 |
25 |
Rick Fry Wausau Homes |
1979-1980 |
1 |
17 |
Snodgrass vs. Woodland Farms and Story City |
n.d. |
Description of series
| Series 3 | Writings and Talks |
1953-1987, n.d. |
| extent: | 112 folders |
|
| description: | This series contains draft copies, both handwritten and typescripts for the books authored by Nilsson including Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, Introduction to Circuits, and Electric Circuits. There is also a copy of a talk he gave in 1969 on his observations of the University environment. The series is listed chronologically. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
2 |
22 |
Published works and various symposiums |
1953-1985 |
2 |
25 |
PhD thesis: "Power Loss Surface for a n Circuit with Susceptive Shunt Elements" |
1958 |
2 |
7 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, Chapter 1 manuscript and annotate typescript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
8 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, drawings manuscript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
9 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, Chapter 2 manuscript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
10 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, Chapter 3 manuscript and annotated typescript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
11 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, Chapter 4 manuscript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
12 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, Chapter 5 manuscript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
13 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, Chapter 10 manuscript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
14 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, Appendix A manuscript and typescript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
15 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, annotated typescript |
1960 ca. |
2 |
16 |
Introduction to Linear Systems Analysis, annotated typescript |
1960 ca. |
3 |
21 |
Current correspondence |
1961-1987 |
2 |
24 |
Correspondence and videotapes |
1966-1969 |
2 |
18 |
Program on Modern Control Theory and Practice |
1967-1968 |
2 |
17 |
Program on Modern Control Theory and Practice |
1968 |
2 |
23 |
Solution to Introdution to Circuits, Instruments, and Electronics |
1968 ca. |
3 |
1-20 |
Introduction to Circuits, Instruments, and Electronics, Chapters 1-20 typescript and figures |
1968 ca. |
7 |
|
Introduction to Linear Circuit Analysis: galleys |
n.d. |
2 |
27 |
Talk: "Some Observations about the University Today" |
1969 ca. |
2 |
26 |
Book reviews |
1973-1977 |
2 |
20 |
Camp Smay Triska textbook |
1979-1980 |
2 |
21 |
Camp Smay Triska textbook |
1979-1980 |
4 |
27-29 |
Electric Circuits, final typescript with annotations |
1980 ca. |
4 |
30-49 |
Electric Circuits, Chapters 1-20 manuscript |
1980 ca. |
4 |
50 |
Electric Circuits, manuscript and appendices |
1980 ca. |
2 |
19 |
Anson Marston Distinguished Professor nomination committee materials |
1985 |
4 |
6-25 |
Electric Circuits, 2nd Edition Chapter 1-20, mock up with annotations |
1986 ca. |
4 |
26 |
Electric Circuits, 2nd Edition appendices, and index mock up with annotations |
1986 ca. |
3 |
22 |
Photographs and negatives: linear circuits |
n.d. |
3 |
23-40 |
Linear Circuits, Chapters 1-18 manuscript and annotated typescript |
n.d. |
4 |
1-2 |
Linear Circuits, Chapters 19-20 manuscript and annotated typescript |
n.d. |
4 |
3 |
Linear Circuits, appendices and typescripts |
n.d. |
4 |
4 |
Linear Circuits, index manuscript and annotated typescript |
n.d. |
4 |
5 |
Linear Circuits, drill exercises manuscript |
n.d. |
Description of series
| Series 4 | Course Materials and Educational Films |
1967-1980s, n.d. |
| extent: | 26 folders |
|
| description: | This series contains information about and original footage from movies which Nilsson created to help in teaching various concepts in electrical engineering classes at Iowa State University. This series is listed chronologically. The collection also contains files on a film project for the Education Development Center on basic electromechanical instrument movements. The 16mm and 35mm films have been removed from the collection and added to the film collection. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
5 |
11 |
Film Project #230: Basic Meter Movements |
1967-1969 |
5 |
12 |
Film Project #230: Basic Meter Movements |
1967-1969 |
5 |
13 |
Film Project #230: Basic Meter Movements |
1967-1969 |
5 |
14 |
Film Project #230: Basic Meter Movements |
1967-1969 |
5 |
15 |
Film production records: "An Introduction to the General Purpose of Oscilloscope" |
1969 |
5 |
16 |
Film Project #230: National Committee for Electrical Engineering Films notebook |
1969 |
5 |
17 |
Film Project #230: National Committee for Electrical Engineering Films notebook |
1969 |
5 |
18 |
Film Project #230: National Committee for Electrical Engineering Films notebook |
1969 |
5 |
19 |
Film Project #230: National Committee for Electrical Engineering Films notebook |
1969 |
5 |
20 |
Film Project #230: National Committee for Electrical Engineering Films notebook |
1969 |
8 |
1 |
Computer log book |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
2 |
Notebook regarding movies |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
3 |
Script for movie introduction |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
4 |
Script for movie part II |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
5 |
Script for movie part III |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
6 |
Script for movie part IV |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
7 |
Script for movie part V |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
8 |
Script for movie conclusion |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
9 |
Videotape manuscript |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
10 |
Videotape manuscript |
1970s-1980s |
5 |
1 |
Electrical Engineering computer animations, correspondence, and scripts |
1975 ca. |
6 |
|
Electrical Engineering teaching aids dealing with various transformations |
n.d. |
8 |
|
Electrical Engineering teaching aids dealing with various transformations |
n.d. |
9 |
|
Electrical Engineering teaching aids dealing with various transformations |
n.d. |
7 |
|
Oversized drawings relating to films on electrical engineering function transformation |
n.d. |