Biographical Note Scope and Content Restrictions on Use Restrictions on Access Historical Background Processing Info Bibliography Subject Terms |
circa 1905-1949 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Creator: | Mueller, James I. , collector |
| Title: | James I. Mueller University of Washington College of Mines photograph collection |
| Date Span: | circa 1905-1949 |
| Quantity: | 39 photographic prints (1 box) |
| PH Collection No.: | 94 |
| Location: | K0075 |
| Languages: | Collection materials are in English. |
| Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. |
James I. Mueller was a widely respected University of Washington Professor of Ceramic Engineering. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1917. Mueller earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and his doctorate from the University of Missouri. During World War II he served in the Army Corps of Engineers.
In 1949 Mueller became a Professor of Ceramic Engineering at the University of Washington at what was then the College of Mines. Among his students and friends, he was most well known for his inspirational and encouraging approach to students. Mueller encouraged students to achieve excellence, whatever their goals. Former NASA space shuttle astronaut Bonnie Dunbar remembers being encouraged by Mueller to pursue her dreams to become an engineer and NASA astronaut, despite the fact that at the time NASA only accepted fighter pilots.
From 1964 until his death in 1986, Mueller was the principal investigator on the NASA ceramics research grant to the University of Washington. The primary accomplishment of this long-term program was the development of silicon nitride as a structural material, today used to produce high temperature engine parts. In a parallel effort, Mueller led the team of scientists who helped develop the insulating ceramic tiles used to protect NASA's space shuttle Columbia, which launched in 1981.
Mueller was a past president of the American Ceramics Society, a member of the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers, American Society of Engineering Education, American Defense Preparedness Association, and several ceramic societies. Over the course of his career, he received many awards for his professional contributions, including the NASA Public Service Medal in 1982, and the American Ceramic Society’s Albert B. Bleininger Award for outstanding achievement. Mueller died of cancer on April 2, 1986 at the age of 69. His contributions to the field of ceramic engineering continue to be recognized through the many awards named in his honor, including the James I. Mueller Lecture Award given annually by the Engineering Ceramics Division of the American Ceramic Society.
The collection contains photographs related to the University of Washington College of Mines. Images include students and faculty on field trips, smelters, cement companies, mines and various portraits. Some photographs were taken by Clarence R. Corey, a University of Washington professor and active Mountaineer. Almost all photographs pre-date Mueller's tenure at the University of Washington.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
The collection is open to the public.
The University of Washington College of Mines was established in 1893 as the School of Mines. The mining industry was second only to lumbering in economic importance in Washington State and it was considered important to provide an education for the industry.
The School of Mines’ first permanent home at the University of Washington was the Power House, formerly the express office of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909. The Power House was subsequently renamed Mines Hall. In 1911 the School was renamed the College of Mines. In 1947 the College of Mines became the School of Mineral Engineering, and new Mines Hall, built in 1921, was renamed Roberts Hall in honor of Milnor Roberts, former Dean of the College of Mines. With the continued development of the college and its expanding curriculum, the College of Mines became the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Ceramic Engineering in 1968 and then the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in 1983.
Initially, the School offered several degree programs in mining, as well as a three month Winter Mining Session or “Short Course.” The Winter Mining Session or “Short Course” was offered for 27 years. The shorter course was more technical in nature than the regular academic course offerings and had regular, often repeat attendance. Attendees were often professionals who were faced with various on-the-job challenges.
Throughout the development of the program, including new degrees in ceramic engineering and metallurgy, the curriculum continued to include numerous field trips, including an annual excursion of ten days duration to a mining region. Field trips included visits to mines, smelter companies, cement, and quarries, including Sunset Mine, in Index, Washington, Tacoma Smelter Company, and Washington, Superior, and Olympic Portland Cement Companies.
Processed by Laurel G. Evans and Megan Peacock; processing completed in 2006.
Roberts, Milnor, 1877-1965. History of the College of Mines, University of Washington, written for the diamond jubilee of the University, 1936.
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