Andrey A. Potter papers, 1893-1986 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By Joanne Mendes

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Collection Overview

Title: Andrey A. Potter papers, 1893-1986

Predominant Dates:1930-1970

Primary Creator: Potter, Andrey A. (1882-1979)

Extent: 38.0 Cubic feet

Arrangement: Original arrangement was maintained.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1980

Subjects: Elliott, Edward C. (Edward Charles), 1874-1960, Factory management, Gilbreth, Frank and Lillian, Home economics, Hovde, Frederick L., 1908-1983, Industrial engineering, Industrial management, Women - Employment, Women engineers

Forms of Material: Artifacts (object genre), Certificates, Clippings (Information artifacts), Correspondence, Diagrams, Ephemera, Lecture notes, Manuscripts (document genre), Pamphlets, Patents, Photographic prints, Scrapbooks, Speeches

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Andrey Potter Papers (1893-1986; 38 cubic ft.) document the career, education, and personal life of nationally renowned engineer and educator Andrey Potter (A.A. Potter). Types of materials in the collection include articles; speeches; surveys; research and lecture notes; certificates, diplomas, and awards; photographs; correspondence; printed material; scrapbooks; medals; ephemera; artifacts; books and manuscripts; obituaries; greeting cards; reports; letterhead; newspaper clippings; and meeting minutes. The collection is comprised of biographical information; articles written by or about Potter; speeches; Potter's research notes and papers on a variety of subjects, including patent laws, fuel, steam generators, national defense, engineering experimental stations, nuclear power, land grant institutions, and engineering education; personal and business correspondence; documentation of Potter's work on the faculty of Kansas State University and Purdue University, and his role as President of Bituminous Coal Research, Inc.; materials relating to Potter's memberships and activities with various engineering societies and organizations, such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Engineering Council, the National Society of Engineers, and the American Society for Engineering Education; materials relating to Potter's work with the President's Highway Safety Conference, consulting for the U.S. government, serving as executive secretary of the National Patent Planning Commission, surveying various universities, and working on the National Science Advisory Board on Railroad Research; and notes and manuscripts for his various books and reports. Potter's positions as Dean of Engineering, Acting President, and Dean Emeritus of Engineering at Purdue University are also documented in the collection.

This collection also contains the papers of Potter's daughter, Helen Potter. She was a professor at Purdue's School of Home Economics.

Biographical Note

Andrey Abraham Potter, a nationally recognized figure in engineering and scientific education, was born in Vilna, Russia, on August 5, 1882 to parents Gregor and Rivza Potter. Potter's early education was in the people's elementary school in Vilna. During these early years, Potter's reading of the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin made a profound impression upon him. His fascination with Franklin led him to the decision that he would one day leave Czarist Russia and make his life in America. In 1897, fifteen-year-old Potter's dream became reality. He left home and sailed to Liverpool, England, then to Quebec on a cattle boat, finally traveling by rail to Boston, Massachusetts. There, he lived with an uncle while he studied and waited until he reached the age of 17 and could apply for entrance to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Potter passed his entrance exams, was admitted, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from MIT in 1903. Following graduation, Potter's early career was devoted to the development of steam turbines for the General Electric Company in Schenectady, New York. Although he was considered one of the company's most promising young turbine engineers, he left GE in 1905 to accept a position as Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Kansas State Agricultural College. Potter was responsible for establishing at Kansas State one of the first curricula in agricultural engineering. In 1906, he became a U.S. citizen. Potter married Eva Burtner that same year, and the couple had two children, Helen and James. In 1913, Potter was named Dean of Engineering and Director of the Engineering Experiment Station at Kansas State. In 1916, he testified in Washington on behalf of the Newlands Bill, which would have provided $15,000 annually to each land-grant institution for the establishment and support of an engineering or a mechanic arts experiment station. Although the Newlands Bill did not pass, the hearings focused attention on the value of engineering research and gave a stimulus to the founding of engineering experiment stations throughout the country. Purdue's own station was founded following Potter's testimony.

In 1920, Potter joined Purdue University as its third Dean of Engineering. Immediately following his appointment, Potter began work on building a student personnel service similar to the one he started in 1905 at Kansas State. The Purdue Placement Service formally opened February 1, 1922. It was the first student personnel service of its kind, and was widely copied by other universities. Potter began an exhaustive study of the state of the engineering profession and of engineering education. In 1929, the Wickenden Report was published, offering crucial insight into the needs and strengths of the engineering profession.

While at Purdue, Potter increased the number of professional engineering courses and added four new schools to those existing at the time of his arrival. He was responsible for three new buildings and introduced the idea of Purdue having its own airport. From 1945 to 1946, Potter served as Director of the Purdue Research Foundation and Purdue's Acting President, in addition to continuing in his position as Dean of Engineering. He was offered the Purdue presidency, but declined, stating that he preferred teaching to administration. Potter was often referred to as "The Dean of Deans" because of the large role he played in the direction of engineering education in the United States during the twentieth century. He was dedicated to both students and engineering, and was widely known as a consultant to schools of engineering, industry, and government. In 1953, Potter was named Dean Emeritus of Engineering at Purdue. During his tenure, Potter built Purdue into the largest and one of the most respected engineering colleges in the country.

Potter was President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1932-1933), the American Society for Engineering Education (1924-1925), the Kansas and Indiana Engineering Societies, and the American Engineering Council (1936-1938). He was appointed to advisory boards and special commissions of the United States Government, and was acquainted with, and served on panels for, most of the United States Presidents during his tenure at Purdue. Potter served as a consultant for the departments of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, National Office of Education, and was one of the early members of the Advisory Board of the National Science Foundation. During the two world wars, he actively formulated programs for training men in war industries, personally directing the training himself and utilizing engineering colleges as sources for industrial preparation. He strove to protect the rights of inventors' ideas, and served as executive secretary of the National Patent Planning Commission from 1942 to 1945. From 1950 to 1960, Potter served as President of Bituminous Coal Research.

Potter was awarded 10 honorary doctoral degrees during his career. In 1940, he was presented the prestigious ASEE Lamme Award for his contributions to engineering education. Three years later, the Western Society of Engineers presented him with the Washington Award for distinguished leadership in engineering education, research, and patriotic service in mobilizing technical knowledge for victory in war and peace. He was also presented the McCormick Medal for his contributions to agricultural engineering. Additional honors include the 75th Anniversary Medal of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the 1950 Americanism Award, the Cyrus Hall McCormick Medal in 1953, and the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award. He was a member of Sigma Tau, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.

Potter was an expert in power generation and the behavior of steam under high pressure, and his work in power plant engineering, thermodynamics and fuels firmly established his reputation among American engineers. His pioneer efforts in personnel work for engineering students and humanizing engineering education have also been recognized. Potter wrote several books on engineering and more than 300 scientific papers and articles. His first book, Farm Motors, was published in 1913. His text, Elements of Steam and Gas Power Engineering, was published four months prior to his move to Purdue. The same year, he co-authored Engineering Thermodynamics.

Even after his formal retirement from Purdue in 1953, he continued to make himself available for consultation. He remained president of the Bituminous Coal Research, an industrial organization, until 1960. The Potter Engineering Center at Purdue was named in his honor, and was dedicated in 1977. A medal struck in his honor commemorating the event contained a quote from Potter which characterized his very essence: "Interest in people first, then in ideas and things." The man known affectionately as "The Dean of the Deans" of engineering universities died in Lafayette, Indiana, on November 5, 1979. He was 97 years old.

Subject/Index Terms

Elliott, Edward C. (Edward Charles), 1874-1960
Factory management
Gilbreth, Frank and Lillian
Home economics
Hovde, Frederick L., 1908-1983
Industrial engineering
Industrial management
Women - Employment
Women engineers

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Physical Access Note: The collection is stored offsite; 24 hours notice is required to access the collection.

Acquisition Source: Helen Potter

Acquisition Method: Gift from family. Records transferred from Potter's office to Special Collections, April 1980.

Separated Materials: Photographs were removed and place in Purdue Photograph File under Faculty, Potter A.A.

Related Materials:

Edward C. Elliott Papers

Frank & Lillian Gilbreth Library of Management

Research and Professional Papers Personal Papers

Frederick L. Hovde Papers

Preferred Citation: The Andrey A. Potter Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries

Other URL: http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/potter.pdf

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Box 18],
[Box 19],
[Box 20],
[Box 21],
[Box 22],
[Box 23],
[Box 24],
[Box 25],
[Box 26],
[Box 27],
[Box 28],
[Box 29],
[Box 30],
[Box 31],
[Box 32: Personal Papers of Dr. Helen C. Potter, ca. 1920's-1986],
[Box 33: Awards and Artifacts, ca. 1928-1959],
[Box 34: Awards and Artifacts, 1971-1972],
[Box 35: Awards and Artifacts, ca. 1900's-1970],
[Box 36: Family Photographs, ca. late 1800's-1980],
[Box 37: Awards and Artifacts, 1912-1974],
[Box 38: Oversized Awards and Artifacts],
[Item 1: Oversized Awards and Artifacts],
[All]

Box 1

Folder 1: Biographical Data, 1970
Folder 2: National Society of Professional Engineers, 1956-1970
Folder 3: Purdue University Summer Session for Mechanical Engineering Teachers Reunion, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Meeting, 1929-1970
Folder 4: Papers on Patents, 1939-1965: includes address by A.A. Potter, 1945
Folder 5: Patent Surveys, ca. 1940-1946
Folder 6: Papers and Articles on Patents by A.A. Potter, ca. 1940-1945
Folder 7: National Patent Planning Commission Minutes and Preliminary Data, 1940-1944: includes copy of letter to A.A. Potter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, September 9, 1942
Folder 8: Centennial of Engineering, 1950-1953
Folder 9: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Miscellaneous, 1945-1970
Folder 10: American Power Conferences, 1936-1974
Folder 11: Copy of Citation for Distinguished Service awarded by The American Power Conference, March 27, 1963
Folder 12: Personnel and Placement, 1920-1972
Folder 13: Blank Letterhead - A.A. Potter, n.d.
Folder 14: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Past Presidents Reunion, 1966-1971
Folder 15: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Special Committee on Review of Procedures for Honors, 1954-1972
Folder 16: Journal of Engineering Education, 1924-1925: Note: some journals contain articles by Potter
Folder 17: "Papers on Education Prior to 1920", 1914-1920: 3- ring binder, contains index
Folder 18: Personal Correspondence, 1966, 1972
Folder 19: Miscellaneous pamphlets, invitations, rosters, etc, 1923-1971
Folder 20: Articles about A. A. Potter, 1946-1975
Folder 21: Articles by A. A. Potter, 1919-1977

Box 2

Folder 1: National Patent Planning Commission, 1944-1945: Third Report
Folder 2: National Patent Planning Commission, 1942-1945: Congressional legislation on patents
Folder 3: Patent Office Advisory Committee, 1934-1955: destruction of patent files by U.S. Patent Office
Folder 4: National Patent Planning Commission, Association of Manufacturers Suggestions, 1942-1943
Folder 5: National Patent Planning Commission, 1943-1946
Folder 6: Stimulating Inventiveness, 1943-1960: correspondence and reports
Folder 7: "Alien Property Custodian", 1943
Folder 8: Texas, 1936
Folder 9: American Engineering Council, 1936-1956
Folder 10: American Engineering Newsletters, 1936-1937
Folder 11: Patents - American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1943
Folder 12: Bituminous Coal Research Bulletin, 1953: article about A.A. Potter
Folder 13: Patents - Miscellaneous, 1913-1964: research and reports
Folder 14: National Patent Planning Committee, 1942-1950: Second Report
Folder 15: Articles by A.A. Potter, 1940-1945
Folder 16: Articles by A.A. Potter, 1937-1945

Box 3

Folder 1: Mann Report, 1918
Folder 2: Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, American Society for Engineering Education Reports, 1908-1968
Folder 3: Purdue University PERFEC Report No. IX, 1966
Folder 4: American Society for Engineering Education miscellaneous, 1956-1973
Folder 5: Talks given by A.A. Potter, 1959-1967
Folder 6: Jackson Survey, 1939-1947
Folder 7: Goals on Engineering Education - Col. Archie Higdon, 1964-1967
Folder 8: Endless Frontier by Vannevar Bush, 1945: report to the President of the United States by the Director of the Office of Scientific Research
Folder 9: U.S.S.R. Education and Science, 1955-1958
Folder 10: Engineering Science Management War Training, 1940
Folder 11: Engineering Science Management War Training Report, 1947
Folder 12: Past Surveys - Goals on Engineering Education, 1952-1968
Folder 13: Miscellaneous, 1928-1957: talks, articles, songs, and poems collected by A.A. Potter
Folder 14: Fuel Problems in the Middle West, 1918
Folder 15: Engineering Profession 1, 1918-1952
Folder 16: Engineering Profession 2 - Papers by A.A. Potter, 1921-1956
Folder 17: Papers by A.A. Potter, 1919-1954
Folder 18: Articles by A.A. Potter, 1914-1920
Folder 19: Papers on Engineering Education by A.A. Potter, 1920-1954

Box 4

Folder 1: Binder on the Inter-American Engineering Educators' Conference, February 1963
Folder 2: Letters - University of Wisconsin - Progress Report, 1970
Folder 3: Northeastern University, 1936-1962: correspondence
Folder 4: Pennsylvania, 1948
Folder 5: Reports by A.A. Potter, 1948
Folder 6: University of Notre Dame, 1956
Folder 7: President's Highway Safety Conference, 1947-1951: correspondence and reports
Folder 8: Consulting, 1948: Department of the U. S. Navy
Folder 9: Texas A and M, 1942
Folder 10: University of Toledo, 1954: progress reports
Folder 11: Survey of Indiana Institutions, 1954-1966: reports commissioned by the state of Indiana regarding the structural qualities of state institutions
Folder 12: International Cooperation Administration, 1957-1962: Brazilian Project
Folder 13: Reports on Indiana Institutions, 1954: reports commissioned by the state of Indiana regarding the structural qualities of state institutions
Folder 14: AeronÃ¡uticia Instituto, San JosÃ©, Brazil, 1956-1959: engineering conference held in Brazil; brochures, agendas, etc.
Folder 15: Air University, 1952-1968: United States Air Force; catalogs and reports
Folder 16: Air University - Board of Visitors, 1956-1968
Folder 17: Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1954
Folder 18: Mechanical Power, n.d.: book by A.A. Potter, handwritten chapters
Folder 19: Letters Regarding Farm Motors, 1st Edition, 1913: correspondence regarding book by A.A. Potter
Folder 20: Letters Regarding Farm Motors, 2nd Edition, 1920: correspondence regarding book by A.A. Potter
Folder 21: Thermodynamics, n.d.: answers to problems in textbook written by A.A. Potter
Folder 22: Book on Power Engineering, 1920: publishing announcement
Folder 23: Book on Thermodynamics, 1920-1921: publishing announcement
Folder 24: "Economics of Steam Engines and Steam Turbines", 1914: report by A.A. Potter
Folder 25: Washington, D.C., 1947-1948: First American Council on Education, Navy Survey
Folder 26: Rose Polytechnic Institute, 1963-1971: letters
Folder 27: Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1965-1966: letters

Box 5

Folder 1: Speech Dedication of the Mechanical Engineering Building, Miscellaneous, 1943-1977
Folder 2: Hanging Plaque - Member of Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., n.d.
Folder 3: Report on Technical and Higher Education in Massachusetts, 1923
Folder 4: "Land Grant Research", 1937: report by A.A. Potter
Folder 5: Land Grant Survey, 1930
Folder 6: Kansas State Agricultural Bulletin, 1921-1970
Folder 7: Michigan State College, 1953-1967: letters and reports
Folder 8: Commencement Addresses given by A.A. Potter, 1942-1959
Folder 9: Essentials for Effective Leadership, 1947-1956
Folder 10: "Industry Supportive Personnel", 1957: editorial by A.A. Potter
Folder 11: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mid Century Convocation, 1949
Folder 12: Lamme Medal, 1940: announcement about medal presentation
Folder 13: Articles by A.A. Potter, 1910-1946
Folder 14: Bituminous Coal Research, Miscellaneous, 1956-1967
Folder 15: Electric Furnace, 1952-1953: magazine
Folder 16: Bituminous Coal Research Meeting, 1950-1956: invitations
Folder 17: Drying Machine, 1954
Folder 18: Bituminous Coal Research Bulletin, 1953-1954
Folder 19: Effective Teaching, 1925-1950
Folder 20: Articles by A.A. Potter, 1925-1950
Folder 21: Air Preheater Corporation, 1963-1968
Folder 22: Norwich University, Inaugural Exercises, 1944
Folder 23: Letters and Reports, 1947-1971

Box 6

Folder 1: Articles, Lectures, and Reports by A.A. Potter, 1931-1967
Folder 2: Miscellaneous Reprints, 1940-1947: reprints of articles by A.A. Potter
Folder 3: Engineering Experiment Station Record, 1947
Folder 4: Whither Land-Grant Institutions, 1930, 1946
Folder 5: Articles by A.A. Potter, 1928-1963
Folder 6: Miscellaneous American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1934, 1939
Folder 7: "Patents," Industrial Research, The Chemist Institute, 1944-1950
Folder 8: "Patents," I.C.C. News, 1946
Folder 9: Article on A.A. Potter in the Purdue Alumnus, 1933
Folder 10: Articles and Papers by A.A. Potter, 1924-1962
Folder 11: Articles, Addresses, and Papers by A.A. Potter, 1914-1922
Folder 12: Bibliography of Publications by A.A. Potter, 1912-1963: includes index of articles by A.A. Potter
Folder 13: Division of Educational Reference Purdue University, 1940
Folder 14: Miscellaneous Photographs, n.d.: photographs, pictures, and clippings gathered by A.A. Potter for engine research
Folder 15: "An Investigation of the Fuel Problem in the Middle West," ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Paper, 1918
Folder 16: ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Paper on Internal Combustion Engines, 1916
Folder 17: MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Mid Century Convocation, 1949: includes programs and a paper by A.A. Potter

Box 7

Folder 1: American Power Conference, 1963: book, includes presentation of special citation to A.A. Potter on page 37
Folder 2: Bituminous Coal Research Bulletins, 1954-1959
Folder 3: Annual Meeting - Bituminous Coal Research and Conference of Bituminous Coal Research, 1953-1956: summary of meetings
Folder 4: Talks on General Subjects by A.A. Potter, 1937-1967
Folder 5: Talks - A.A. Potter on Coal Research, 1951-1959: includes photograph of A.A. Potter
Folder 6: Research Papers by A.A. Potter, 1926-1962
Folder 7: Talks by A.A. Potter, 1909-1934: miscellaneous subjects
Folder 8: Talks Before Students by A.A. Potter, 1921-1957
Folder 9: Papers by A.A. Potter on Technical Institutions, 1937-1966
Folder 10: Miscellaneous Talks on Engineering Education by A.A. Potter, 1913-1949

Box 8

Folder 1: "Rx for a Stronger Purdue," President's Report Purdue University, 1973: picture of A.A. Potter in report
Folder 2: ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), 1925-1969
Folder 3: "Present Status and Trends of Engineering Education in the United States," by Dugald C. Jackson, n.d.: report
Folder 4: World Power Conference, Yugoslavia, 1957: includes programs and correspondence
Folder 5: Research Materials collected by A.A. Potter, 1919-1969: articles and reports
Folder 6: Papers on Power by A.A. Potter, 1922-1960
Folder 7: EES (Engineering Experimental Stations) Legislation, 1915-1940: correspondence, articles, and reports regarding federal legislation for the establishment of EES at land grant colleges and universities
Folder 8: Articles and Lectures by A.A. Potter, 1941-1969
Folder 9: Ad Hoc Committee - Purdue University Power Plant Development, 1954-1955

Box 9

Folder 1: Panoramic photograph of the S.P.E.E. (Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education) Convention, Urbana, IL, 1922: photograph includes A.A. Potter
Folder 2: Photograph of A.A. Potter and two unidentified people, ca. 1960s
Folder 3: Box containing ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) presidential talks, 1932-1933
Folder 4: Indiana Scientists by Stephen Sargent, 1951: book is autographed by author, reference to A.A. Potter on page 137
Folder 5: Bituminous Coal Research Bulletin, 1950-1952
Folder 6: "An Adventure in Sponsored Graduate Education," paper by Stanley Meikle, Vice President Purdue Research Foundation, 1952
Folder 7: Purdue University Engineering, 1955-1964: includes photograph of Purdue Engineering faculty (?) ca. 1960s, faculty reports, correspondence, articles about Purdue Engineering, and a poem by Professor Warren E. Howland, May 1960
Folder 8: Land Grant Colleges, 1953-1961: papers by A. A. Potter
Folder 9: Miscellaneous, 1908-1970: articles and reports on energy collected by A.A. Potter, correspondence regarding Purdue University, birthday card, etc.
Folder 10: Indiana Academy (Indianapolis Museum of Art), 1972-1973: induction of A.A. Potter to active membership in The Indiana Academy
Folder 11: "Future of Nuclear Power", 1969-1976: paper by A.A. Potter and corresponding research
Folder 12: Purdue University Board of Trustees, 1920-1965: papers and reports presented to the Board of Trustees from various parties
Folder 13: Formosa Project, 1953-1958: reports and correspondence about the Formosa - Purdue Engineering Project
Folder 14: President's Council, 1974-1975: invitations, minutes, correspondence, and agenda regarding Purdue University's President's Council Symposium
Folder 15: Acting President, 1945-1946: reports and correspondence regarding A.A. Potter's term as Acting President of Purdue University

Box 10

Folder 1: Personal Address Books, 1950-1966
Folder 2: United States Department of Defense - Special Contract Clearance, 1951: papers from the U.S. Department of Defense granting A.A. Potter clearance to be employed for secret contractual work between the U.S. Department of Defense and Purdue University
Folder 3: Photograph, Annual Banquet of the National Society of Engineers and the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, 1955
Folder 4: Reproduction of the Indenture of Stephen Van Rensselaer, Founder of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institution, presented to A.A. Potter, 1974
Folder 5: Honorary Degrees presented to A.A. Potter, 1936-1964
Folder 6: Citations, Inductions, Testimonials, Invitations, Awards, and Certificates issued to A.A. Potter, 1925-1977
Folder 7: Negatives of A.A. Potter Diplomas, 1903-1948
Folder 8: Miscellaneous, 1903-1974
Folder 9: Who's Who in America, 1944-1945: A.A. Potter, page 1698
Folder 10: Who's Who in Engineering, 1954: A.A. Potter, page 1918

Box 11

Folder 1: Washington Award, 1943-1972: correspondence regarding various recipients of the Washington Award from The Western Society of Engineers, including A.A. Potter's nomination in 1943
Folder 2: Lamme Award, ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education), 1940-1962: brochures about the Lamme Award and other engineering awards, including the announcement of A.A. Potter's receipt of the Lamme Award in 1940
Folder 3: Miscellaneous, 1907-1966
Folder 4: Pamphlets, Publications of A.A. Potter, 1905-1925: album of articles, pamphlets, and papers written by A.A. Potter, includes bibliography in front
Folder 5: Pamphlets, Publications of A.A. Potter, 1925-1931: album of articles, pamphlets, and papers written by A.A. Potter, includes bibliography in front
Folder 6: Pamphlets, Publications of A.A. Potter, 1932-1940: album of articles, pamphlets, and papers written by A.A. Potter, includes bibliography in front
Folder 7: Pamphlets, Publications of A.A. Potter, 1941-1947: album of articles, pamphlets, and papers written by A.A. Potter, includes bibliography in front
Folder 8: Pamphlets, Publications of A.A. Potter, 1947-1960: album of articles, pamphlets, and papers written by A.A. Potter, includes bibliography in front

Box 12

Folder 1: Plaque, "Professional Engineer," mounted on a metal bracket, n.d.
Folder 2: 33º Degree Award, 1917: award in small leather pouch with photograph
Folder 3: Class Pins and Ribbons, 1907-1926
Folder 4: Plaque, Indiana Personnel Association Award of Appreciation, 1931
Folder 5: Award of Merit, The National Council of Acacia Fraternity, 1969
Folder 6: Binder 1, 1950-1960: bound correspondence, personal and business, to A.A. Potter; letters, cards, and telegrams of congratulations and sympathy
Folder 7: Binder 2, 1953-1960: bound correspondence, personal and business, to A.A. Potter; letters, cards, and telegrams of congratulations and sympathy
Folder 8: Binder 3, 1943-1960: bound correspondence, personal and business, to A.A. Potter; letters, cards, and telegrams of congratulations
Folder 9: Binder 4, 1953-1977: bound correspondence, personal and business, to A.A. Potter; letters, cards, and telegrams of congratulations
Folder 10: Binder 5, 1916-1943: bound correspondence, personal and business, to A.A. Potter; letters, cards, and telegrams, includes index in front
Folder 11: Binder 6, 1945: bound correspondence, personal and business, to A.A. Potter; letters of congratulation
Folder 12: Binder 7, 1975-1977: bound correspondence from A.A. Potter; business and personal
Folder 13: Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1964-1972
Folder 14: Correspondence, 1953-1976: correspondence to and from A.A. Potter regarding Purdue University; personal and business
Folder 15: President Hansen and Provost Robinson, 1974: correspondence regarding Purdue University's President's Council
Folder 16: U.S. Navy Cruise, 1947: materials relating to A.A. Potter's cruise on the U.S.S. Oregon City from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Hamilton, Bermuda along with other engineers; includes photograph of A.A. Potter on cruise
Folder 17: Honors Conferred I, 1940-1971: correspondence and announcements
Folder 18: Honors Conferred II, 1945-1957: correspondence and announcements

Box 13

Folder 1: Scrapbook 1, 1910-1931: newspaper clippings and articles about or by A.A. Potter, articles about Purdue University, programs, brochures, photographs, invitations, and commencement addresses
Folder 2: Scrapbook 2, 1932-1935: newspaper clippings and articles about or by A.A. Potter, articles about Purdue University, programs, brochures, photographs, invitations, telegrams, and commencement announcements
Folder 3: Scrapbook 3, 1936-1940: newspaper clippings and articles about or by A.A. Potter, articles about Purdue University, programs, brochures, photographs, invitations, telegrams, and commencement announcements
Folder 4: Scrapbook 4, 1940-1945: newspaper clippings and articles about or by A.A. Potter, articles about Purdue University, programs, brochures, photographs, invitations, telegrams, and commencement announcements
Folder 5: Scrapbook 5, 1945-1947: newspaper clippings and articles about or by A.A. Potter, articles about Purdue University, programs, brochures, photographs, invitations, telegrams, and commencement announcements
Folder 6: Scrapbook 6, 1914-1951: newspaper clippings and articles about or by A.A. Potter, articles about Purdue University, programs, brochures, photographs, invitations, telegrams, and commencement announcements

Box 14

Folder 1: Certificates, 1961-1975
Folder 2: Scrapbook, 1923-1960: newspaper clippings and articles about or by A.A. Potter, articles about Purdue University, programs, brochures, photographs, invitations, and commencement announcements

Box 15

Folder 1: Index file of mechanical engineering notes, ca. 1901-1919: handwritten
Folder 2: Talks and Articles by A.A. Potter, 1914-1975
Folder 3: Letters to A.A. Potter, 1947-1979: business and personal letters
Folder 4: Articles about A.A. Potter, 1961-1976
Folder 5: A.A. Potter Building Dedication, 1977-1982: programs, articles, letters, brochures and addresses
Folder 6: Donors to the A.A. Potter Scholarship Fund, 1979-1981
Folder 7: Scholarships Awarded by the A.A. Potter Scholarship Fund, 1979-1983
Folder 8: Honoring Father, A.A. Potter, 1979-1980: obituaries, letters of condolence, and eulogies
Folder 9: Personal Miscellaneous, 1900-1982: family photographs, personal correspondence of Helen Potter, newspaper articles, and papers
Folder 10: Miscellaneous (not directly related to A.A. Potter), 1912-1977: brochures, articles, programs, poetry, invitations, newsletters, and blank letterhead
Folder 11: Gilbreths, 1933-1972: articles and clippings relating to Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
Folder 12: Mrs. Lillian M. Gilbreth, 1949-1978: correspondence, personal and business; articles about Lillian Gilbreth
Folder 13: Articles about A.A. Potter, 1949-1977

Box 16

Folder 1: "A Partial List of Books Read by A.A. Potter 1927-1944", n.d.
Folder 2: Identification card from the Century of Progress International Exposition, 1934
Folder 3: Certificate in Recognition for Contributions to the Field of Engineering, 1975: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Folder 4: Photo Album, ca. 1900-1970's: family photographs
Folder 5: Journals and Periodicals, 1931-1969: not related to A.A. Potter
Folder 6: Articles, Lectures, and Reports by A.A. Potter, 1918-1969

Box 17

Folder 1: Condolence Cards and Letters, 1979-1980: cards, letters, and obituaries regarding the death of A.A. Potter
Folder 2: Kansas State University, 1914-1982: newspaper clippings and correspondence regarding Kansas State University's A.A. Potter Scholarship Fund
Folder 3: James G. Potter, 1931-1964: newspaper clippings, personal correspondence, photographs, and papers written by James G. Potter
Folder 4: Trustees, Report of Inspection Trip by Potter and Ross, 1914-1926: papers and correspondence concerning the inspection trip of engineering laboratories in industrial and educational institutions
Folder 5: Papers on Inventiveness by A.A. Potter, 1957-1976: business correspondence, reports, papers, and talks written by A.A. Potter
Folder 6: Awards of A.A. Potter, 1974
Folder 7: Kansas State University Memorial to A.A. Potter, 1979-1983: correspondence regarding the Andrey A. Potter Memorial Scholarship
Folder 8: Archives - List of Materials, 1980: a list of the archival material of A.A. Potter and correspondence regarding donations of materials to various universities
Folder 9: Coal, 1973-1979: reports and newsletters about the coal industry
Folder 10: Patents, 1944: letters to Helen Potter from Carroll L. Wilson regarding A.A. Potters' work with National Patent Planning Commission
Folder 11: Miscellaneous, 1917-1978: personal and business correspondence, greeting cards, papers, brochures, blank letterhead, and reports

Box 18

Folder 1: Index file on talks by A.A. Potter, 1943-1960
Folder 2: A.A. Potter, 1915-1979: articles about and by A.A. Potter, papers, brochures, periodicals, blank letterhead, and A.A. Potter obituaries
Folder 3: A.A. Potter, 1903-1976: papers and reports by A.A. Potter, greeting cards, personal and business correspondence
Folder 4: Articles and Speeches of A.A. Potter, 1922-1976: articles and speeches by A.A. Potter, newspaper clippings, personal correspondence, programs, and notes
Folder 5: A.A. Potter, 1931-1964: articles, personal correspondence, and programs
Folder 6: Agricultural Engineering, 1969: business correspondence and talk by A.A. Potter
Folder 7: Engineering, 1933-1963: papers, business correspondence, and articles about engineering
Folder 8: A.A. Potter, 1953-1968: business correspondence, articles about A.A. Potter, and talks
Folder 9: By A.A. Potter, 1951-1973: articles about A.A. Potter, personal and business correspondence, and talks by A.A. Potter
Folder 10: A.A. Potter, 1947-1968: invitations, articles about A.A. Potter, papers, personal and business correspondence, and programs

Box 19

Folder 1: A.A. Potter's Academic Hoods, ca. 1925-1964: 10 pieces

Box 20

Folder 1: Books, pamphlets, commencements, catalogs, bulletins, reports about patents and engineering, 1923-1976
Folder 2: Photograph, Princeton University Bicentennial Conference on Engineering and Human Affairs, ca. 1930's
Folder 3: Addresses and Articles by A.A. Potter, 1921-1951

Box 21

Folder 1: A.A. Potter's Textbooks, 1896-1899
Folder 2: Messages and Congratulations on A.A. Potter's Twenty Five Years as Dean of Engineering at Purdue University, 1945: bound volume of letters collected and presented to A.A. Potter by The Purdue University Club
Folder 3: Messages and Congratulations on A.A. Potter's Retirement from Purdue University, 1953: bound volume of letters
Folder 4: Military - Industrial Conference, 1955: correspondence, papers, and brochure

Box 22

Folder 1: Books and pamphlets (not written by A.A. Potter) on various subjects, including patents and engineering, 1918-1974
Folder 2: Notebook of song lyrics, ca. 1900's
Folder 3: Handbook of English for Engineers, 1913
Folder 4: Bound Articles and Talks by A.A. Potter, 1953-1972
Folder 5: Certificate of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite presented to A.A. Potter, 1972

Box 23

Folder 1: Purdue Engineer, A.A. Potter Retirement Issue, 1953
Folder 2: A.A. Potter, Reprints, Awards, Articles, and Speeches, 1923-1959
Folder 3: Scrapbook, Writings by A.A. Potter and Helen Potter, 1922-1970: magazine articles, newspaper clippings, and poetry
Folder 4: A.A. Potter, 1914-1963: articles and speeches by A.A. Potter, writings and articles by Helen Potter, newspaper clippings, invitations, personal and business correspondence, and pamphlets

Box 24

Folder 1: Personal Correspondence, 1950-1967: personal letters to Helen Potter from A.A. Potter, Mrs. Potter, and James Potter
Folder 2: A.A. Potter and His Friends, 1953-1985: business and personal letters, cards, periodicals, newsletters, programs, notes, and obituaries regarding A.A. Potter and his colleagues gathered by Helen Potter in preparation to write a book titled: Father and His Friends
Folder 3: Patents, 1940-1945: literature, articles, and papers on patents
Folder 4: Talks by A.A. Potter, 1949-1975: index file of speeches
Folder 5: Technical Talks by A.A. Potter, 1927-1960: index file of speeches

Box 25

Folder 1: Greeting cards from A.A. Potter to his wife, periodicals, brochures, and pamphlets
Folder 2: Royal Purple, Kansas State Agricultural College's yearbook, 1915
Folder 3: The Dean, 1976: biography of A.A. Potter, signed by A.A. Potter and the author
Folder 4: Articles about A.A. Potter, 1914-1977

Box 26

Folder 1: A.A. Potter's Yearbooks and Textbooks, 1893-1904
Folder 2: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Annual Catalogue, 1902-1903
Folder 3: History of Kansas State Agricultural College, 1909
Folder 4: Farm Motors, book by A.A. Potter, (signed), 1917

Box 27

Folder 1: Personal Correspondence, 1929-1980: personal letters to and from family and friends, cards, telegrams, and messages of condolence on the death of A.A. Potter
Folder 2: Joint Patent Inquiry, 1931-1940: draft report from The National Association of Manufactures, The Conference Board, and The Engineering Council

Box 28

Folder 1: A.A. Potter, Personal, 1954-1960: cards, letters, and telegrams from A.A. Potter to his wife
Folder 2: A.A. Potter, 1963-1980: A.A. Potter obituaries, condolence cards, personal and business correspondence
Folder 3: Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, Volume XXXIII, 1925: proceedings of the 33rd annual meeting, contains article by A.A. Potter
Folder 4: Play, n.d.: play written by A.A. Potter, no title
Folder 5: Ellen H. Richards, 1969: materials concerning the 60th Anniversary Meeting of the American Home Economics Association, includes speech written by A.A. Potter about Ellen Richards
Folder 6: Purdue Personnel System, ca. 1930-1940: various psychological and aptitude tests, questionnaires, and forms complied by A.A. Potter for use in hiring university personnel
Folder 7: Purdue Alumni Scholarship Foundation, 1960-1972: correspondence and literature regarding foundation
Folder 8: Alumni, Purdue University, 1969-1972: literature, personal and business correspondence regarding the Purdue Alumni Foundation
Folder 9: A.A. Potter, 1914-1980: obituaries and condolence cards regarding the death of A.A. Potter, notes by A.A. Potter on books he's read, and the will of Mrs. Potter's father
Folder 10: Miscellaneous, 1921-1980: brochures, pamphlets, programs, poetry, and reports not directly related to A.A. Potter

Box 29

Folder 1: Trip to Europe, 1954: itinerary and brochures about the cruise ship that the Potters took to Europe
Folder 2: Honors Convocation and Other Talks by A.A. Potter, 1962-1977
Folder 3: Articles about A.A. Potter, 1953-1954
Folder 4: Biographical Record of A.A. Potter, n.d.
Folder 5: A.A. Potter, 1920-1976: biographical data, articles about A.A. Potter, and business correspondence
Folder 6: Kansas State Agricultural College, 1905-1975: personal and business correspondence, articles about Kansas State Agricultural College
Folder 7: Personnel Forms and Letters by A.A. Potter, 1905-1977: blank personnel forms from Kansas State Agricultural College and Purdue University, personal and business correspondence, and articles about A.A. Potter
Folder 8: Charles Kettering, 1954-1970: correspondence to and from A.A. Potter regarding the establishment of the "Charles Franklin Kettering Award" and A.A. Potter's efforts to have Charles Kittering recognized by The Franklin Mint in their Gallery of Great Americans
Folder 9: Personal Matters, A.A. Potter, 1922-1973: business and personal correspondence, articles about A.A. Potter, invitations, biographical data, and blank letterhead
Folder 10: Engineer and Government, 1946-1947: research articles, papers, and talks complied by A.A. Potter
Folder 11: Articles by or about A.A. Potter, 1912-1975

Box 30

Folder 1: A.A. Potter, Article Reprints, 1914-1935
Folder 2: Cross Examination of A.A. Potter before the Public Service Commission, 1947: transcript of hearings regarding Consolidated Edison Corporation of New York
Folder 3: Consolidated Edison Corporation, 1946-1966: business correspondence
Folder 4: National Science Foundation, Miscellaneous, 1916-1953: papers, business correspondence, and articles
Folder 5: American Energy Council, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Engineers Council of Professional Development, Personal Letters, 1932-1939: bound volume of letters congratulating A.A. Potter on his election to the boards of engineering councils, index in front
Folder 6: Personal - A.A. Potter, 1932-1976: business correspondence and articles
Folder 7: Dr. A.A. Potter, 1937-1972: business correspondence, articles by or about A.A. Potter
Folder 8: Lecture Notes, A.A. Potter, 1905: shop lecture notes
Folder 9: The Air Preheater Corporation and Bituminous Coal Research, 1950-1973: business correspondence
Folder 10: Kansas State University, 1962-1970: business correspondence
Folder 11: Miscellaneous, 1946-1976: business and personal correspondence, programs, and brochures
Folder 12: Trip to Europe, 1954: personal correspondence and itinerary
Folder 13: United States Government, 1927-1949: correspondence and reports regarding A.A. Potter's work with the Department of Interior, The President's Highway Safety Conference, and the Scientist Consulting Expert Resource Study with the U.S. Department of the Navy
Folder 14: Papers by A.A. Potter, 1924-1973: articles, papers, and lectures
Folder 15: Talks by A.A. Potter, 1920-1969: talks and articles by A.A. Potter, business correspondence regarding land grant colleges
Folder 16: Market Survey, 1952-1955: Bituminous Coal Research market surveys
Folder 17: Talks by A.A. Potter, 1920-1968
Folder 18: American Power Conference, 1963-1964: reports and correspondence
Folder 19: Talks and Papers by A.A. Potter, 1923-1974: non-engineering talks and articles by A.A. Potter including play and book reviews

Box 31

Folder 1: Papers on Coal Research, 1951-1956: papers, reports, and articles complied by A.A. Potter on the coal industry
Folder 2: Miscellaneous, Purdue University, 1926-1973: Purdue memorandums and reports
Folder 3: Air Preheater Corporation, 1953-1962: minutes from corporation meetings
Folder 4: American Society of Mechanical Engineers World's Fair Meeting, 1933: agenda, schedule, and speech notes
Folder 5: Solar Energy, 1955-1956: research material gathered by A.A. Potter
Folder 6: R.M. Gates Family, 1961-1962: personal correspondence with the Gates family regarding the death of Robert M. Gates, President of the Air Preheater Corporation
Folder 7: Engineering Experiment Stations, 1915-1959: papers and reports
Folder 8: Miscellaneous Talks and Papers by A.A. Potter, 1922-1974
Folder 9: Bituminous Coal Research, 1953-1964: reports, papers, and articles compiled by A.A. Potter on coal research
Folder 10: Federal Power Commission Hearing, 1946: statement given by A.A. Potter on the use of natural gas before the Federal Power Commission
Folder 11: Power Station Tests, 1930: reports and correspondence regarding power station tests in the Great Lakes region

Box 32: Personal Papers of Dr. Helen C. Potter, ca. 1920's-1986

Folder 1: Certificates of Helen Potter, 1976-1979
Folder 2: Dr. Silcox, 1971-1984: papers written by Dr. Lewis K. Silcox and personal correspondence
Folder 3: Personal Correspondence, Helen Potter, 1929-1985: correspondence to and from Helen Potter, family, colleagues, and friends
Folder 4: Greeting Cards, Helen Potter, ca. 1950's-1980's
Folder 5: Miscellaneous, Helen Potter, 1980-1986: personal and business correspondence and papers

Box 33: Awards and Artifacts, ca. 1928-1959

Folder 1: Plaque, "Pioneer Service Engineering Company Fifty Years of Service", n.d.
Folder 2: Wood block photographic negative of A.A. Potter, printed in the Journal of Engineering Education, ca. 1928
Folder 3: Medals, ca. 1955-1959

Box 34: Awards and Artifacts, 1971-1972

Folder 1: "The Dean A.A. Potter Award", 1971
Folder 2: Purdue University bookends, engraved, 1972

Box 35: Awards and Artifacts, ca. 1900's-1970

Folder 1: A.A. Potter's Engineering Compass, n.d.
Folder 2: A.A. Potter's Slide Rule, n.d.
Folder 3: Silhouette of A.A. Potter, n.d.
Folder 4: Plaque, "Eva Burtner Memorial Fund", n.d.
Folder 5: Wood block photographic negatives of A.A. Potter, printed in the Journal of Engineering Education, ca. 1928
Folder 6: Name Tag from the Mexican-American Conference on Industrial research, 1945
Folder 7: A.A. Potter's Travel Diary, (European trip), 1954
Folder 8: Franklin Mint Coin Collection, 1970

Box 36: Family Photographs, ca. late 1800's-1980

Folder 1: Photographs of the Potter Family and Friends, ca. late 1800's-1980
Folder 2: A.A. Potter Personal Photographs, ca. early 1900's - 1970's: photographs of A.A. Potter at various non-Purdue business functions

Box 37: Awards and Artifacts, 1912-1974

Folder 1: Diplomas, 1936-1956
Folder 2: Awards and Certificates, 1912-1975

Box 38: Oversized Awards and Artifacts

Folder 1: Awards and Certificates, 1919-1976
Folder 2: Photograph, n.d.: Large portrait of A.A. Potter

Item 1: Oversized Awards and Artifacts

Folder 1: Diplomas, 1903-1925
Folder 2: Awards and Certificates, 1912-1964