Engineering C51, Syllabi, 1957 – 1951

The George G. Lamb Papers fill thirteen boxes and one oversize folder and span the years from 1935 to 1977. The Papers are arranged into nine categories: biographical materials, general and family correspondence, teaching files, research files, professional societies, papers presented at professional meetings, publications, administrative materials, and miscellaneous.

The biographical materials include curricula vitae, faculty report forms, biographical data for various publications, lists of publications, news releases, clippings, and travel and related materials.

The general correspondence consists primarily of letters dealing with Lamb's writings, research, attendance at meetings, and other educational and business matters. Several letters are of special interest: one from Lamb to Carl G. Olson (September 17, 1974) contains much biographical information; one from Mrs. Lamb (December 13, 1964) written the day after she arrived in London from the Sudan, in which she describes in detail riots in Khartoum; one from Lamb to John Logan (December 17, 1969) describes the events leading up to Lamb's decision in 1962 to take partial retirement from Northwestern University in 1965 and embark upon a ten-year program of study and work toward the application of engineering methods to societal problems. A large portion of the post-1962 correspondence deals with this theoretical and abstruse subject. Lamb often wrote one or two drafts of a letter before composing a final copy; in many cases these drafts exist and are filed with the final copies.

Family correspondence consists mostly of letters from Esther to George written during the months following World War II and pertaining to housing, George's plans, and the Lamb children. A few folders of topical correspondence and recommendations are arranged at the end of the subseries.

The teaching files subseries include Lamb's notes, syllabi, assignment problems, grades, and student evaluations, mainly from courses taught at Northwestern University. Grade books and materials relating to graduate students also are included. Of interest is one folder of material concerning Northwestern's Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Science and Technology. Lamb promoted the interdisciplinary concept and supported the Center's work. Of his three teaching stints abroad, only his work in the Sudan is substantially documented.

The research files consist of a small amount of funding proposals and related notes.

The professional societies materials consist primarily of correspondence and notes pertaining to organizational meetings in which Lamb participated in an informal manner or performed some minor duties.

A typical folder in the subseries of papers presented at professional meetings contains pertinent correspondence, notes, draft(s) of the paper, and a final copy if printed. The papers dating prior to 1960 deal with technical or educational matters. Most of those dating after 1960 concern Lamb's studies on the application of engineering concepts and techniques to the problems of society.

The publications subseries primarily includes drafts of articles and reports, as well as copies of book reviews. Most of the publications are of a technical nature.

The administrative materials contain small amounts of notes, correspondence, and related items pertaining to Lamb's work on various Northwestern University committees.

The miscellaneous category includes a small number of notes on courses Lamb took or audited at Northwestern in pursuit of his program to apply engineering concepts to the problems of society.

Addition 1:

Fifty-two letters, dating from 1945 through 1947, written by George Lamb and members of his family have been added to this series. The letters have been interfiled within the general and family correspondence.

Most of the letters were written by Lamb to his wife and deal, in large part, with Lamb's service in the U.S. Navy. Stationed in Tokyo during much of this period, Lamb interrogated Japanese military personnel and civilians regarding petroleum and oil production. There are several letters between Lamb's mother and wife and between Lamb and his children.

Addition 2:

This addition includes biographical material, correspondence, and miscellaneous research notes.

The correspondence consists primarily of notes and letters exchanged between Lamb and Charles M. Thatcher concerning a panel discussion at a meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 1975.

Addition 3:

The addition is comprised of biographical materials, materials relating to Lamb's military service, and general correspondence.

The biographical materials include Lamb's alien's visa for his travel in Finland (1954-1955), Esther B. Lamb's International Driving Permit (1962), several clippings, and related items.

The material pertaining to Lamb's military service documents his research on aviation fuels and his work with the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey. This work entailed a visit to Japan and the interrogation of several Japanese to obtain information concerning the effectiveness of strategic bombing on that country. Lamb's flight logs (1927-1945) from his service at Floyd Bennet Field in Brooklyn and Glenview Naval Air Base also are found here.

General correspondence relates primarily to Lamb's industrial and academic work including his travels, speeches, and writings as well as various personal matters. The correspondence is arranged in chronological order. A folder of correspondence from Lamb to Esther Bolito, later his wife, completes the addition.