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George H. Atherton Papers, 1937-1979

By Finding aid prepared by Philip Vue

Collection Overview

Title: George H. Atherton Papers, 1937-1979

Predominant Dates: 1970-1979

ID: MSS Atherton

Primary Creator: Atherton, George H. (George Harry) (1920-1987)

Extent: 1.8 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The George H. Atherton Papers are arranged in 2 series: I. Student Reports, 1970-1979 and II. Reference Materials, 1937-1976.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The George H. Atherton Papers consist of materials created or assembled by Atherton in his work as a forest products researcher and teacher. Atherton was a research engineer with the Oregon Forest Products Laboratory from 1950 to 1961, when he became a Forest Products professor at Oregon State University.

Scope and Content Notes

The George H. Atherton Papers consist of materials created or assembled by Atherton in his work as a forest products researcher and teacher. These include student projects and reference files.

The student projects are papers written by students in Atherton's mechanical properties course (Forest Products 422) during the 1970s. A subject index and list of the papers is included with the collection. The papers represent substantive research projects and address the mechanical properties of solid wood, veneer, wood composites, laminates, and other wood products; interactions and effects between wood products and various fasteners, such as nails, staples, and screws; paper manufacture, include the effect of recycle pulp; and the effects of moisture, drying temperature, and chemical treatments on the mechanical properties of wood products.

The reference files pertain to Atherton's research on heat transfer and timber mechanics and include reports, reprints, and publications; correspondence; research data; testing equipment manuals; and related documentation.

Biographical / Historical Notes

George H. Atherton was a faculty member in Forest Products at Oregon State University from 1961 until his retirement in 1982; he was honored by the forestry students as an outstanding teacher with the Aufderheide Award. Atherton earned his BS (1950) and MS (1966) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State. From 1950 until 1961, Atherton was a research engineer with the Oregon Forest Products Laboratory; he was in charge of milling and engineering for the laboratory in 1954-1961. His research specialties included heat transfer and timber mechanics.

As a Professor of Forest Products he taught upper-level courses, including Forest Products 321 and 422 on the mechanical properties of wood and wood products; supervised graduate students; participated in various short courses and seminars concerning veneer and lumber drying, as well as timber construction; and conducted research projects.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 16 photos; 2 boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The papers were transferred by the Forest Products Department to the Archives in 1999.

Related Materials: A biographical file for Atherton is available in the College of Forestry Records (RG 139). The Forest Products Department Records (RG 003) include extensive documentation of forest products research and teaching at Oregon State. The Special Collections and Archives Resarch Center's collections also include the papers of several other forest products faculty, including the Stanley E. Corder Papers (MSS Corder), Leif D. Espenas Papers (MSS Espensas), Douglas W. Glennie Papers (MSS Glennie), Robert. D. Graham Papers (MSS GrahamRD), and James W. Johnson Papers (JohnsonJW). The August Rauch Collection (MSS Rauch) documents Rauch's wood products research.

Preferred Citation: George H. Atherton Papers (MSS Atherton), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Processing Information: Evaluations and grades of student papers have been redacted.

Creators

Atherton, George H. (George Harry) (1920-1987)
Oregon Forest Products Laboratory
Oregon State University. Department of Forest Products
Oregon State University. Forest Research Laboratory

People, Places, and Topics

Atherton, George H. (George Harry), 1920-1987
Forest products--Oregon.
Forestry laboratories--Oregon--Corvallis.
Forestry schools and education--Curricula--Oregon--Corvallis.
Lumber--Drying.
Natural Resources
University History
Veneers and veneering.
Wood--Mechanical properties.
Wood--Testing.
Wood--Thermal properties.


Box and Folder Listing