Richard J. Coffee papers
Scope and Contents
This collection includes a Purdue football scrapbook 1935-1938, thesis, Phi Kappa fraternity memorabilia, Purdue photographs, student ID, dance cards, membership cards, and printed materials of Purdue alumi, Richard J. Coffee, '39.
Dates
- Creation: 1934 - 1953
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1934 - 1939
Creator
- Coffee, Richard J., 1916-2010 (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection material is in English.
Access Information
Collection is open for research.
Copyright and Use Information
Copyright held by Purdue University. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.
Biographical Information
Richard J. Coffee was born on May 13, 1916 in Decatur, Indiana to Claude M. and Frances (Butler) Coffee. He went by the nickname “Dick.” A graduate of Purdue University in 1939, he received his degree in Civil Engineering. As a student, he was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and the Purdue University Army ROTC. He married his high school sweetheart, Alice Mae Seibold, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They had one daughter, Barbara Jean. Alice died in 2001. Starting in 1939, Coffee worked for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps at the start of WWII. He served in Italy, New Guinea, and the Philippine Islands. Subsequent assignments in the Air Force included Tonopath, Nevada.;Tokyo, Japan; during the Korean conflict; the US Air Force Academy Construction Agency as Chief of Operations; the Pentagon; Oslo, Norway for NATO; Vietnam as Red Horse commander at Bien Hoa; Fairbanks, Alaska; and Colorado Springs for ADC. His military awards include a Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit, and Vietnam Service Medal with three Stars. He retired from the Air Force in 1974. Personal interests included skiing, woodworking, model railroading, gunsmithing and stamp collecting. He was a member of St. Joseph's parish in Salida, CO. As a member of NRA and Trout Unlimited, he pursued his lifelong passion for hunting and fishing. Sources: “Fort Wayne Newspapers”, Obituaries. Dec. 7, 2010. “The Gazette” from Dec. 7 to Dec. 11, 2010.
Extent
2.09 Cubic Feet (One letter-size full-width manuscript box, one artifact box, one cubic foot box, one flat folder, and two flat boxes)
Abstract
Letters, photographs, clippings, and material artifacts documenting the student life of Richard J. Coffee, 1934-1939. Also included are items from his professional life after graduation.
Arrangement
This collection is divided into two series and is arranged in chronological order.
- Papers
- Artifacts
Physical Access Information
Scrapbook found in series 1 of the collection is fragile and should be handled with care.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Barbara J. Coffee on October 28, 2011, and February 22, 2013.
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. 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. Oversized maps, blueprints, diagrams, certificates, and other printed materials, photographs and artifacts have been separated and grouped for preservation purposes.
Subject
- Purdue University. Army ROTC (Organization)
- Purdue University--Students (Organization)
- Purdue University. Students. Social life and customs (Organization)
- Purdue Boilermakers (Men's Basketball team) (Organization)
- Purdue Boilermakers (Football team) (Organization)
- Title
- Richard J. Coffee papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Gene Ann Fausett, Keertana Marella, Kassie Hook, and Sara Pettinger
- Date
- 2024-07-16
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Edition statement
- Third edition. Collection description was first completed 2017-06-08.
Revision Statements
- 2020-04-27: Collection description updated by Keertana Marella.
- 2024-07-16: Collection description updated by Kassie Hook and Sara Pettinger.
Repository Details
Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu