ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
COLLECTION: OGL #54
DATES: 1868-1946 [Bulk dates 1900-1946]
SIZE: 15 linear feet
ACQUISITION: The Elwyn F. Chandler Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection. The acquisition records are unavailable.
ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS:
Alphabetical List and Records of the Former Faculty
Members of the University of North Dakota.
Call number: LD3982.2 .A43 1944.
University of North Dakota, 1883 to 1942: history of each
of the buildings and of the other campus accessories, from the first erection
of each up to 1942.
Call number: LD3984.6 .C48 1942.
University of North Dakota sixty-year history.
Call number: LD3983 .C48 1943.
Elwyn Francis Chandler was born at Yellow Springs, Ohio, on August 29, 1872. His father, Charles Henry Chandler, was a professor of science and mathematics at Antioch College and Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, where Elwyn received his A.B. in 1894. The following year Chandler was retained by the college as an instructor and elected as the City Engineer of Ripon, where he aided in the building of a new sewage system. He then served as acting principal at Christian Endeavor Academy, Wisconsin. He received his A.M. from Ripon College in 1897, then became a teaching fellow at the University of Wisconsin . In a letter of recommendation from 1895, Robert C. Flagg, President of Ripon College, wrote, “Mr. Chandler can be commended, without reservation, as a fine scholar, as a gentleman of honor and high ideals, and as a Christian.”
He married Anna Levina McCumber of Fond du Lac , Wisconsin , on September 7, 1900 , one year after he had come to the University of North Dakota as a mathematics instructor. He became professor of civil engineering in 1914, then Chair of the college of engineering in 1926. The following year he became Dean of the College of Engineering, a post he held until 1932 when was appointed as Dean Emeritus after requesting a transfer of those duties because of failing health. For much of his tenure he also served on the UND Athletic Board of Control. Chandler was much revered as a professor; the engineering building was rededicated as Chandler Hall in April 1935.
Chandler held many appointments outside of the university. In 1904-1905, he was the first State Engineer for North Dakota, appointed specially by Governor Frank White. He was also hydraulic engineer for the Water Resources branch of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1903-1935; secretary of the North Dakota Society of Engineers, 1912-1922; City Engineer for Grand Forks, 1918-1919; State Director for the U.S. Coast and Geodesic Survey, 1933; and Associate Water Consultant for the National Resources Commission, 1936.
In December 1922, Chandler was diagnosed with a slowly degenerative case of Spastic Paraplegia, which impaired him more in his later years. He suffered no mental deterioration, as evidenced by continuing teaching duties. In 1927, Chandler bought an automobile and traveled on various university, government and recreational trips. He visited all but six U.S. states and Canadian provinces, accumulating over 200,000 miles. He retired to part-time teaching at UND in 1939 and transferred his office from the university to his personal residence in the summer of 1942, after which small classes and research sections would meet at his house at 3012 University Avenue.
Chandler also engaged in several historical writings. His father had begun a history of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, which Elwyn completed. He also wrote several histories regarding various aspects of UND life as the university approached its 60 th anniversary in 1943. His Alphabetical List and Records of the Former Faculty Members of the University of North Dakota , which he completed in 1944, is still the most complete inventory of early UND professors.
On January 17, 1946 , Chandler received an honorary degree as Doctor of Science from the University of North Dakota. He died on August 13, 1946.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Elwyn F. Chandler Papers are divided into nine series as follows:
Series I: Personal Material
The first series contains notes, mementos and clippings relating to Chandler's personal life. Included are papers he received from Ripon College, notes of auto trips, estate papers, notes from Mrs. Anna Chandler, Christmas cards and postcards, and autobiographical materials, including a personal account of his Spastic Paraplegia.
Series II: Collected Material
The second series concerns Chandler's work as a civil engineer. It includes notes and material on testimony before the U.S. Supreme Court in the North Dakota vs. Minnesota watershed case of Bois de Sioux, miscellaneous newspaper clippings and collected pamphlets from the United States, the State of North Dakota and UND dating 1914-1917.
Series III: Personal Research
Personal research composes the third series of material. Dating from 1904 to 1946, it includes notes, speech manuscripts, materials published in books and journals, and published monographs.
Series IV: Published Book, New Ipswich
The fourth series includes various versions of the book New Ipswich , a history begun by Charles H. Chandler, and completed by Elwyn. This material includes hand-written manuscripts, typed copies and galley proofs.
Series V: University of North Dakota History
The next series includes the many notes and drafts of Chandler 's history of the University of North Dakota. Histories of the buildings, faculty, maintenance staff, and student activities are compiled.
Series VI: University Work
The sixth series of materials is comprised of works related to Chandler's professorship at UND. Included are an index of his university work, grade books, records of his office material, students' workbooks, and schedules for events sponsored by the North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Series VII: U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and U.S. Geological Survey
The next series is made up of field notebooks, notes, instructions and correspondence relating to Chandler's work with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey, 1903-1935.
Series VIII: Maps
Contour maps, base maps and other maps relating to Chandler's geological work make up the next series. They are filed by area.
Series IX: Correspondence
The final series is comprised of correspondence arranged in chronological order from 1901 to 1946. All of Chandler's collected correspondence is in this series except for some postcards in series #1 and some business letters in series #2.
BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1
Folder
Series I: Personal Material
Box 2
Folder
Series II: Collected Material
Box 3
Folder
Box 4
Folder
1. Miscellaneous U. S. Government publications, 1899-1919
2. Miscellaneous U. S. Government publications, 1920-1922
3. Miscellaneous U. S. Government publications, 1922-1939
4. Miscellaneous UND publications, small, 1913-1942
5. Miscellaneous UND commencement programs, 1926-1944
6. Miscellaneous UND originated publications and pamphlets, large, 1928-1943
7. Miscellaneous commercial originated publications, 1896-1947
Box 5
Folder
Series III: Personal Research
1. Personal research, published matter, and speeches, 1904-1910
2. Personal research, published matter, and speeches, 1911-1919
3. Personal research, published matter, and speeches, 1920-1929
4. Personal research, published matter, and speeches, 1930-1939
5. Personal research, published matter, and speeches, 1939-1946
6. Personal research, published matter, and speeches, undated
7. Notes and clippings of material published in papers, magazines, etc.
8. Monograph copies and notes
9. Commercial Club correspondence and notes
10. Fortnightly Club manuscripts, 1900-1912
Series IV: Published Book, New Ipswich
11. C. H. Chandler papers
12. C. H. Chandler account book, 1868-1875
13. C. H. Chandler account book, 1875-1894
14. C. H. Chandler estate, administration accounts
15. New Ipswich , handwritten manuscript, chapter VI
16. New Ipswich , typed copy of Chapter I
17. Map of New Ipswich area, New Hampshire
Box 6
Folder
1. New Ipswich , typed copy for printers
2. New Ipswich , typed copy of Chapter IX
3. New Ipswich , typed section
4. New Ipswich , duplicate typed copy, pp. 650-875
5. New Ipswich , duplicate typed copy. pp. 876-1025
6. New Ipswich , duplicate typed copy, pp. 1026-Index 104
7. New Ipswich , rough draft, typed
8. New Ipswich , rough draft, typed
9. New Ipswich , galley proof
Box 7
Folder
Series V: University of North Dakota History
1. UND History, rough notes pertaining to
2. UND History, buildings, notes
3. UND History, buildings, carbon copy
4. UND History, buildings, carbon copy
5. UND History, buildings, carbon copy
6. UND History, buildings, facsimile copy
7. UND History, faculty roster, notes
8. UND History, faculty roster, draft with revisions
9. UND History, faculty roster, preliminary draft
10. UND History, faculty roster, preliminary draft
11. UND History, faculty roster
12. UND History, faculty roster
13. UND History, faculty roster
14. UND History, library
Box 8
Folder
1. UND History, summary, compiled, and duplicates
2. UND History, summary, compiled, and duplicates
3. UND History, 3 rd revision
4. UND History, summary, compiled, and duplicates
Series VI: University Work
5. Index of University Work, 1915-1928
6. UND, teaching and office notes
7. UND, teaching and office notes
8. C. A. A. ground school notes, 1939-1942
9. North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference material
10. UND Campus field workbooks for student work
11. UND Campus field workbooks for student work
12. Student grade books
Box 9
Folder
Series VII: U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and U.S. Geological Survey
1. U.S. Geological Survey, miscellaneous notes
2. U.S. Geological Survey, correspondence
3. U.S. Geological Survey, instructions
4. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, lists of publications
5. U.S. Geological Survey, forms
6. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
7. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
8. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
9. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
10. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
11. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
12. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
13. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
14. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, bench mark reports
15. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, field notebooks
16. U.S. Coast and Geological Survey, field notebooks
Box 10
Folder
1. USGS, rating table workbook, 1903-1904
2. USGS, river cross-section workbook, 1903-1904
3. USGS, rating table workbook, 1905-1906
4. USGS, river cross-section workbook, 1905-1906
5. USGS, level party reports, 1934
6. USGS, level party reports, 1934
Series VIII: Maps
7. Mustinka and Bois de Sioux River maps
8. Station rating curves
9. Temperature curve maps and computations
Box 11
Folder
1. Devil's Lake maps and trip, 1905
2. North Dakota contour maps
3. Grand Forks County contour maps
4. Minnesota base and contour maps
5. Montana contour maps
6. Western states and South Dakota base and contour maps
7. Wisconsin contour maps
8. New England contour maps
9. Miscellaneous maps
10. Geodetic grid maps and computations
11. Geodetic computation forms
Box 12
Folder
Series IX: Correspondence
1. Correspondence, incoming, undated
2. Correspondence, incoming, 1901-1909
3. Correspondence, incoming, 1910-1914
4. Correspondence, incoming, 1915-1919
5. Correspondence, incoming, 1920-1924
6. Correspondence, incoming, 1925-1929
7. Correspondence, incoming, 1930-1934
8. Correspondence, incoming, 1935-1937
9. Correspondence, incoming, 1939-1940
10. Correspondence, incoming, 1941-1943
11. Correspondence, incoming, 1944-1946
12. Correspondence, outgoing, 1903-1913
13. Correspondence, outgoing, 1916-1924
14. Correspondence, outgoing, 1925-1934
15. Correspondence, outgoing, 1935-1937
16. Correspondence, outgoing, 1938-1940
17. Correspondence, outgoing, 1941-1942
18. Correspondence, outgoing, 1943-1944
19. Correspondence, outgoing, 1945-1946
SEPARATIONS RECORD
A total of 818 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection. One scrapbook contains photos of geological, architectural and cultural sights from the Midwest and Northwest United States. Another scrapbook has photos of North Dakota river stations with technical descriptions in the margins. The remaining loose photos depict various subjects including, but not limited to, portraits of Chandler, University of North Dakota campus life, geological and geographical scenes from across the United States, and postcards.
| Original Donation | 1st addition: 1940, 1945 |
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