Ross W. Hippensteel papers, 1912-1960 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By David Hovde and Mary A. Sego

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Collection Overview

Title: Ross W. Hippensteel papers, 1912-1960

Predominant Dates:1932-1950

Primary Creator: Hippensteel, Ross (1912-1997)

Extent: 13.5 Cubic feet

Date Acquired: 06/07/2007

Subjects: Engineering, Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae, World War, 1939-1945

Forms of Material: Artifacts (object genre), Certificates, Clippings (Information artifacts), Correspondence, Diplomas, Ephemera, Lecture notes, Pencil sketches

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Ross W. Hippensteel papers (1912-1960; 13.5 cubic feet) document the college and military career of Ross W. Hippensteel. The collection contains many artifacts, papers, handbooks, manuals, certificates, class notes, clippings, correspondence, ephemera, a pencil sketch, clothing and other miscellaneous items. Some of the items belonged to his wife, Jean Rankin Hippensteel. The class notes are from many of his Purdue University, mechanical engineering and physics courses from 1929-1934, along with many Purdue University Military Department manuals. There is also a strong emphasis on U.S. army artifacts and manuals from the years proceeding World War II, World War II and the years thereafter.

Biographical Note

Ross W. Hippensteel was born to Benjamin F. and Amelia (Guempelein) Hippensteel, August 22, 1912 in Peru, Indiana. He was a 1930 graduate of Peru High School, and graduated from Purdue University in 1934. Ross Hippensteel married Geneva "Jean" Rankin in Wabash on September 19, 1934.

He retired October 31, 1974 after forty years as an engineer at Continental Steel Corporation. He also retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving twenty-eight years in the Reserves and active duty from 1942-1945, during World War II in the European Theater.

His memberships included First Congregational Church; a forty year member of Kokomo Metropolitan Kiwanis Club and was Lieutenant Governor of the Sycamore Division 1981-1982 and president of the Metropolitan Club 1971-1972; Society of Professional Engineers (A. A. Potter Chapter); Kokomo Elks Lodge No. 190; Kokomo Management Club; appointed 1958-1962 to serve on the Kokomo Center Township School Board and Library Board. He was appointed as a civilian engineer to the Advisory Board to help the new jail in 1968.

He had two sons, Benjamin R. and David L. Hippensteel and two grandchildren. Ross W. Hippensteel died April 7, 1997. He was buried with military honors by the Veterans of Foreign War.

Subject/Index Terms

Engineering
Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae
World War, 1939-1945

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Physical Access Note: All materials have been housed in polyester sleeves, acid-free folders, and acid-free boxes. Some of the manuals have been removed from the collection for preservation purposes and cataloged as part of the Archives' book collection.

Acquisition Method: Donation received from Gary Hippensteel (grandson) on June 7, 2007.

Preferred Citation: MSA 34, Ross W. Hippensteel papers, Karnes Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries

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

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Military Equipment and Artifacts, circa 1918-1950],
[Box 2: Military Clothing and Insignia, 1919-1950],
[Box 3: Military Clothing, 1940-1960],
[Box 4: Military Equipment, Assorted Equestrian Items, U.S. Army, circa 1936-1960],
[Box 5: Military Manuals, Military Correspondence, and Related Materials, 1927-1950],
[Box 6: Purdue University Military and Engineering Student Materials, 1929-1934],
[Box 7: School Papers, Railroad Related Materials, and Miscellaneous Material, 1912-1955],
[Box 8: Diplomas and Bill of Rights Reproduction, 1925-1932],
[Box 9: Adult and Children’s Clothing, circa 1935-1940],
[Box 10: Adult and Children’s Clothing, undated],
[Box 11: Artifact - Oversized, circa 1940],
[Item 1: Artifact - Oversized, circa 1940],
[Item 2: Artifact - Oversized, circa 1940],
[Item 3: Artifact - Oversized, circa 1940],
[All]

Box 6: Purdue University Military and Engineering Student Materials, 1929-1934

Folder 1

Item 1: Purdue University Military Department, Cadet Officers' Manual. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, 1931 [Most of these manuals have been removed from the collection and cataloged for preservation purposes. Those missing covers and back pages are in this folder.]
Item 2: Purdue University Military Department, Corps Regulations. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, 1929
Item 3: Purdue University Military Department, Gunnery. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, undated [cover page and back page missing.]
Item 4: Purdue University Military Department, Material. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, undated [cover page and back page missing.]
Item 5: Purdue University Military Department, Motor Vehicle Assembly. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, undated [cover page and back page missing.]
Item 6: Purdue University Military Department, Policy Manual. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, 1933
Item 7: Purdue University Military Department, Reconnaissance. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, undated
Item 8: Purdue University Military Department, Tactics Manual. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, 1932
Item 9: Purdue University Military Department, Topography Manual. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, 1932
Item 10: Purdue University Military Department, Topography Manual. Lafayette, Indiana: Military Department Purdue University, 1932

Folder 2

Item 1: The Log Duplex Slide Rule: A Self Teaching Manual, 1926 [2 copies]

Folder 3: Purdue University class notebooks, 1932-1933

[Applied Mechanics 1, Applied Mechanics 2, Commercial Air Conditioning, Electrical Engineering 20, Mathematics 4, Mechanical Engineering 62, Mechanical Engineering 91, brown three ring binder with various notes and schedules.]

Folder 4

Purdue University laboratory notes and exercises, 1929 [Laboratory Manual and Study Outline of General Chemistry by L. A. Test and C. B. Pollard]

Folder 5

Purdue University laboratory notes and exercises, 1931 [Mechanical Engineering/ Physics, File No. 21-J experiment booklets, one is missing a cover, thirteen items.]

Folder 6

Purdue University laboratory notes and exercises, 1932 [Mechanical Engineering/ Physics, File No. K-7 experiment booklets, eleven items; Mechanical Engineering/ Physics, File No. 22-K-7 experiment booklets, two items.]

Folder 7: Purdue University laboratory notes and exercises, 1933

[Two ring binder entitled Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Notes, Mechanical Laboratory (172, 173), (then in handwriting) Experiment No.36 Test Nov 15, 1933, Junior and Senior Engineering Students at Purdue University by L.V. Ludy, Lafayette, Indiana, September 1932]

Folder 8

Purdue University laboratory notes and exercises, undated [two items: Battle off Jutland, and Mathematics]

Folder 9: Purdue University Military Department exercises and related documents, 1932-1934

Single page typed document detailing arm signals and whistle signals used in the postmarked dated December 17, 1932; Small typewritten card titled Range Scale for 37mm Gun on the reverse side is a handwritten bank ledger; Four typewritten documents: Map Problems - Battery of Field Artillery in the Attack; Solution of Map Problem: Battery of Field Artillery in the Attack; A Solution: Battery "C" in Forward Displacement; Organization of a Battalion - Infantry Regiment.

Folder 10

Purdue University class schedules, registration forms, and fee cards, 1930-1933

Folder 11

Letter from James M. Hippensteel, uncle, December 7, 1932

Folder 12

Purdue University Mechanical Engineering exams and answers, 1932-1934

Folder 13

Colored drawing, undated [colored pencil drawing of house and evergreen trees in winter, signed R. Hippensteel.]