Donald E. Bloodgood papers
Collection — Box: 6 Boxes, 1 Large Folder
Identifier: MSF 41
Scope and Contents
The Donald E. Bloodgood papers (1926-1995; 2.1 cubic feet) documents the professional career of Purdue Professor of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Donald E. Bloodgood. The collection includes approximately 50 years of Bloodgood’s publications and independent consulting work on local and regional sanitation and industrial waste. The collection also documents Bloodgood’s professional awards and activities. This collection would be useful to researchers interested in water and sewage treatment and studies, especially as they relate to public health. Types of materials include: articles, manuscripts, clippings, reports, photos, letters, correspondence, clutches, and appointment books.
Dates
- 1926 - 1995
- Majority of material found within 1926 - 1979
Creator
Access Information
Collection is open for research.
Copyright and Use Information
Copyrights held by Purdue University or original creator (eg. newspapers, journals, etc.). Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.
Biographical Information
Donald E. Bloodgood, civil engineer, professor, author, editor, and administrator, was born on February 1, 1903 in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to Erwin and Anna Bloodgood. The family owned and operated Peck's Station country store and a small adjoining farm. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering in 1926 and a CE degree in 1935 from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. After graduating in 1926 Bloodgood started his career as a research chemist with the Milwaukee Sewage Commission, where he worked until 1929. His work included routine laboratory testing in the monitoring of the sewage treatment operation, water surveys of Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee Harbor, and public relations. Bloodgood then worked as a research chemist and civil engineer for the Indianapolis Sanitary District. By 1936 he was the superintendent of the Indianapolis Sanitary District and remained in that position until 1943. After his arrival in Indianapolis he became a prolific author of technical papers.
In 1943, Bloodgood was invited to join the Purdue University faculty by Professor R. B. Wiley as an associate professor. He was given the task of developing a sanitary engineering program that would make Purdue a world leader in that field. Bloodgood was promoted to full professor in 1947 for his efforts. As part of his Extension work he published the Sanitary Engineering Newsletter (later renamed the Environmental Engineering News) from 1943 until his retirement from Purdue in 1971, and he was the first editor of the serial Industrial Wastes which began in 1955. Bloodgood started the Purdue Industrial Waste Conference 1944. Known as the Industrial Waste Utilization Conference in its first year, Bloodgood's intention was to bring together academia, industry, government, and the engineering profession to study issues surrounding industrial waste management. Bloodgood edited the Proceedings of the conference during this lifetime. The conference ceased in 1997.
Active in professional societies, Bloodgood served as president of the Central States Sewage Works Association, was founder and first president of the Indiana Water Pollution Control Association (later known as the Indiana Water Environment Association), and served as a direct-at-large for the Water Pollution Control Federation (since 1991 the Water Environment Federation). He also served as president of the Indiana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers and was on the advisory committee of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission.
In 1945, he was appointed to the Indiana State Board of Health and continued in that position until 1979. In this capacity he helped institute and implement regulations concerned with pollution control, as well as nutrition, nursing homes, and sanitary engineering. Bloodgood was also active in the community through his involvements with the Kiwanis International, Boy Scouts, and as a hospital volunteer. For his public service he was twice named a Sagamore-of-the-Wabash by Indiana governors.
The Purdue University School of Civil Engineering established the annual Donald E. Bloodgood Memorial Award in 1987 to recognize an outstanding senior and an outstanding graduate student majoring in environmental engineering.
In 1943, Bloodgood was invited to join the Purdue University faculty by Professor R. B. Wiley as an associate professor. He was given the task of developing a sanitary engineering program that would make Purdue a world leader in that field. Bloodgood was promoted to full professor in 1947 for his efforts. As part of his Extension work he published the Sanitary Engineering Newsletter (later renamed the Environmental Engineering News) from 1943 until his retirement from Purdue in 1971, and he was the first editor of the serial Industrial Wastes which began in 1955. Bloodgood started the Purdue Industrial Waste Conference 1944. Known as the Industrial Waste Utilization Conference in its first year, Bloodgood's intention was to bring together academia, industry, government, and the engineering profession to study issues surrounding industrial waste management. Bloodgood edited the Proceedings of the conference during this lifetime. The conference ceased in 1997.
Active in professional societies, Bloodgood served as president of the Central States Sewage Works Association, was founder and first president of the Indiana Water Pollution Control Association (later known as the Indiana Water Environment Association), and served as a direct-at-large for the Water Pollution Control Federation (since 1991 the Water Environment Federation). He also served as president of the Indiana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers and was on the advisory committee of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission.
In 1945, he was appointed to the Indiana State Board of Health and continued in that position until 1979. In this capacity he helped institute and implement regulations concerned with pollution control, as well as nutrition, nursing homes, and sanitary engineering. Bloodgood was also active in the community through his involvements with the Kiwanis International, Boy Scouts, and as a hospital volunteer. For his public service he was twice named a Sagamore-of-the-Wabash by Indiana governors.
The Purdue University School of Civil Engineering established the annual Donald E. Bloodgood Memorial Award in 1987 to recognize an outstanding senior and an outstanding graduate student majoring in environmental engineering.
Extent
2.10 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
Publications, reports, correspondence, clippings, photos, and daily planners documenting the professional career of Purdue Professor of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Donald E. Bloodgood.
Arrangement
The papers are organized into 4 series:
1. Publications, 1926-1995 (.8 cubic feet).
This series includes manuscripts and printings of 141 publications by Donald E. Bloodgood spanning the years 1926-1973. Topics include: industrial waste, wastewater treatment, sewer system studies, and safety and public health. Most of these pieces were published in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering journals, though the series includes several articles in more public magazines. Series includes both of Bloodgood’s Theses from the University of Wisconsin, one for his B.S. degree in 1926 and one for his C.E. degree in 1935. Materials in the series are arranged chronologically.
*see Appendix I at the end of this finding aid for a complete list of publications
2. Consulting Reports, 1929-1979 (.4 cubic feet)
This series documents Bloodgood’s independent consulting work conducted on behalf independent corporations (Monsanto, Illinois Toolworks, Whirlpool, Eli Lilly, and Anheuser Busch, among others) and various legal firms throughout the Midwest. These documents include study reports and correspondence with contracted clients. Materials in the series are arranged chronologically.
3. Professional Records, 1943-1985 (.4 cubic feet)
This series includes a variety of materials that document Bloodgood’s professional activities and awards. Materials include curricula vitae, travel budgets and itineraries, awards certificates and clippings, letters regarding his appointment to the Indiana Board of Public Health, and several portraits and photos relating to these events and practices. Materials in the series are arranged chronologically and by material type, based on the donor’s original organization.
4. Artifacts, 1946-1983 (.5 cubic feet)
This series includes Bloodgood’s leather satchel, one charcoal drawing, and a collection of pocket-sized appointment books ranging from 1946-1983. These appointment books are restricted due to sensitive personal information, and are arranged chronologically.
Processing Information
Whenever possible, original order of the materials has been retained. All materials have been housed in polyester sleeves, acid-free folders, and acid-free boxes. All newsprint has been photocopied and in most cases original newspaper clippings have been discarded. Some clippings containing images of people or color graphics, or front pages of newspapers, have been preserved for display purposes, with photocopies made available for research. Artifacts containing personal information have been separated and identified as “Restricted.”
- Title
- Donald E. Bloodgood papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Stephen Horrocks and Amanda Rumba
- Date
- 2020-04-08
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Edition statement
- Second edition. Collection description first completed 2018-08-01 by Stephen Horrocks.
Revision Statements
- 2020-04-08: Collection description updated by Amanda Rumba to more fully meet standards.
- 2020-11-05: Restriction was removed from one box of pocket-sized appointment books and diaries. Books were restricted as Donald E. Bloodgood's social security number was present. This information is no longer sensitive as Bloodgood is deceased.
Repository Details
Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository
Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu