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John C. Ringle Papers, 1960-2012

By Finding aid prepared by Trevor Sandgathe

Collection Overview

Title: John C. Ringle Papers, 1960-2012

Predominant Dates: 1966-1985

ID: MSS Ringle

Primary Creator: Ringle, John C. (John Clayton)

Extent: 5.4 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The John C. Ringle Papers are arranged in four series: Series 1: Correspondence, 1965-2001; Series 2: Research & Publications, 1960-2012; Series 3: Professional & Civic Activities, 1969-2007; Series 4: OSU Department of Nuclear Engineering Records, 1963-2008.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The John C. Ringle Papers are comprised of materials generated and assembled by John C. Ringle a professor of Nuclear Engineering at Oregon State University. The collection, which contains material spanning 1960 to 2012, includes correspondence, publications by Ringle, research and instruction materials, documentation from the American Nuclear Society and other professional organizations, and records from the OSU Department of Nuclear Engineering and the OSU Radiation Center. The Ringle Papers document John Ringle's career, the history of OSU's nuclear engineering program, and the controversial issue of nuclear power in the United States during the 20th century.

Access to unredacted copies of the TaiPower student psychological and health evaluations in Series 4, Subseries 2 is restricted due to the presence of confidential information. For more information about access to restricted materials, please see our Guide to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

Series 4 includes a floppy disk that requires migration to digital format and is not immediately available for patron use. Please see SCARC's Accessing Audio-Visual Content for more information.

Scope and Content Notes

The John C. Ringle Papers are comprised of professional correspondence; meeting minutes, administrative records, and correspondence from the American Nuclear Society and its Oregon and OSU Student chapters; informational materials related to Oregon nuclear power legislation and newsclippings documenting nuclear power in the Pacific Northwest; meeting notes, curricular development materials, schedules, Radiation Center records, promotional materials, and other administrative documents from the OSU Department of Nuclear Engineering. The collection also includes extensive lecture materials and course readings from Ringle's Low Level Waste, High Level Waste, and Nuclear Reactor Shielding courses and documentation from several OSU training programs for employees of TaiPower (Taiwan's state-owned electric power utility) and other international students. The collection also includes records related to Ringle's employment with OSU including instruction and research records, curriculum vitae, department memoranda, and his reactor operator licenses.

The collection contains nearly all materials published by Ringle including technical reports, theses, journal articles, speeches, and newspaper articles. Some materials, including a report regarding the Tory II-A reactor, predate Ringle's association with OSU. However, much of the material is contemporary to Ringle's position as Assistant Reactor Administrator at OSU and relates to reactor safety and work with the TRIGA reactor. Included in the publication files are correspondence, research materials, and other supporting documentation. In Series 2, Research and Publications, the contents of Box-folders 2.4 and 2.6 have been digitized and are available upon request.

Series 4 includes a floppy disk that requires migration to digital format and is not immediately available for patron use. Please see SCARC's Accessing Audio-Visual Content for more information.

Biographical / Historical Notes

John C. Ringle was born in Kokomo, Indiana in 1935. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the electrical engineering program at the Case Institute of Technology where he earned his BS in 1957 and his MS in 1959. Ringle then began work in the nuclear engineering doctoral program at the University of California, Berkeley. While attending the University of California, Ringle designed instrumentation for Project Pluto, a missile-based nuclear reactor. He also worked as a physicist at the Air Force Cambridge Research Labs where he created instrumentation for use in satellites. Ringle earned his doctorate in 1964.

In 1966, Ringle accepted a position as Associate Professor in the Oregon State University Department of Nuclear Engineering. There, he taught courses in nuclear reactor engineering, nuclear safety, kinetics, reactor analysis, and reactor operation. Notably, he also served as the Assistant Reactor Administrator from 1966 to 1980. He oversaw the final construction of OSU’s TRIGA reactor, operated and maintained both the TRIGA and AGN-201 reactors, supervised upgrades to the TRIGA reactor and the decommissioning and dismantlement of the AGN-201 reactor, and provided training and supervision to student and civil service reactor operators. Ringle also maintained a vigorous research agenda and produced numerous papers and presentations on nuclear reactor safety, the environmental impact of nuclear power, nuclear waste storage, and the operation of research reactors. In July 1980, Ringle was appointed Assistant Dean of the OSU Graduate School and, in 1981, became Associate Dean of the Graduate School. His duties included oversight of graduate programs, monitoring progress of graduate students, assisting in the development of programs within the school, and acting as an administrative liaison for students and faculty members.

John Ringle is now a Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Engineering & Radiation Health Physics at Oregon State University.



Author: Trevor Sandgathe

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 17 boxes, including 1 3.5" floppy disk (346 kB) and 42 photographs

Statement on Access: Access to unredacted copies of the TaiPower student psychological and health evaluations in Series 4, Subseries 2 is restricted due to the presence of confidential information. All other materials in the collection are open for research. For more information about access to restricted materials, please see our Guide to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

Acquisition Note: The John C. Ringle Papers were donated to the OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center by John Ringle in August 2013.

Related Materials: Other materials pertaining to nuclear energy research and technology at OSU and beyond include the Barton C. Hacker Papers (MSS HackerB), Barton C. and Sally L. Hacker Nuclear Affairs Collection, Charter Heslep Papers (MSS Heslep), Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers (MSS Pauling), E. Dale Trout Papers (MSS Trout), Radiation Center Records (RG 202), "How OSU Grew Nuclear Science" Oral Histories (OH 016), and the History of Atomic Energy Rare Book Collection (RB Energy).

Preferred Citation: John C. Ringle Papers (MSS Ringle), Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Ringle, John C. (John Clayton)

People, Places, and Topics

American Nuclear Society
History of Science
Nuclear energy--Environmental aspects--United States.
Nuclear energy--Law and legislation--United States.
Nuclear engineering--Oregon.
Nuclear engineering--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
Nuclear physics--Research--Oregon.
Nuclear reactor kinetics.
Nuclear reactors--Oregon--Corvallis.
Nuclear reactors--Shielding (Radiation)
Nuclear reactors--United States--Safety measures.
Oregon State University. Department of Nuclear Engineering
Oregon State University. Radiation Center
Radioactive waste disposal.
Ringle, John C. (John Clayton)
Taiwan dian li gong si
University History

Forms of Material

Born digital.
Floppy disks.
Photographic prints.
Slides (photographs).


Box and Folder Listing