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Martin Stob papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 507

Scope and Contents

The Martin Stob Papers (1932-2014; 0.8 cubic ft.) documents the professional and personal life of Purdue alumnus and professor, Martin Stob. The papers cover his time as a faculty member of the Animal Sciences Department, as well his time as a student at Purdue. The collection also includes items that reflect his personal life and interests. Types of materials include written publications and research papers; awards and certificates; correspondence; career photographs; and some newspaper articles. The papers are organized into 4 series.

Dates

  • 1932 - 2014

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Access Information

This collection is open for research

Copyright and Use Information

Copyright held by Purdue University.

Biographical Information

Purdue alumnus Martin Stob is best known for the various contributions he has made to the field of agriculture through his teaching career in the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University. He was born on February 20, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, to Cornelius Stob and Theodora Sluis. He graduated from Downers Grove, IL High School and enrolled as a freshman in the Department of Animal Husbandry at Purdue in 1943. He completed two semesters at Purdue before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1944 during World War II. In 1946 he returned to Purdue to complete seven years of under-graduate and graduate education before embarking on a career in teaching and research in the Department of Animal Sciences. He received his BS, MS and PhD degrees from Purdue University in the years 1949, 1951 and 1953, respectively.

Stob launched his teaching career in 1952 in the Animal Sciences Department at Purdue. For 40 years, he taught the course “Animal Reproductive Physiology” at Purdue, teaching approximately 4,000 students. Stob was popular among his students and his classes were in high demand. Stob was named “Outstanding Teacher in the School of Agriculture” in 1964, 1966, 1969 and 1970, and “Outstanding Counselor in the School of Agriculture” in 1977. Selection limitations of these awards prevented additional recognition. He was one of twenty-four Purdue Teaching Faculty named to the “Iron Key” over a 60-year period. Furthermore, he was one of the 13 faculty members of Purdue whose names appeared in the 1975 edition of Outstanding Educators of America, a national awards volume. Those selected were being honored “for their exceptional academic accomplishments and contributions”.

In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, Stob was also actively involved in many student organizations at Purdue. He served as a student advisor for the Rodeo Club, the Reamer Club, Student Senate, Block and Bridle and the Farmhouse Fraternity. He was also one of the faculty members of the distinguished Purdue chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, and he was presented the “Best Counselor Award” in 1977 by the society, in recognition of his efforts taken to go above and beyond the regular duties of a counselor to help students in their academic concerns. Pertinent to his individual academic endeavors, Stob was resolute in coming up with significant findings in his research work. He participated in research that measured the effects of both natural and administered hormones on carcass quality, growth, embryonic mortality and breeding efficiency of sheep, cattle, and swine. He has authored or co-authored close to fifty research papers and publications. Two significant contributions, both in the year 1965, include the patenting of their invention of an anabolic and estrogenic compound and a combined venture with Commercial Solvents Corp. to produce a new class of compounds claimed to be useful for a broad range of medical purposes.

Stob retired in 1992 after a long career in academia. His name was included under the list of names in the Book of Great Teachers in Purdue to celebrate his numerous contributions to the school. He passed on in 2014 and a memorial service was held at the St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Extent

0.80 Cubic Feet (Two manuscript boxes )

Arrangement

Collection is arranged into four series.

Series

1. Education Records, 1932-1953
The Education Records series includes report cards from elementary and high school. It also includes his Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees at Purdue, his Master thesis paper, as well as his School of Agriculture class photo. All materials in within each folder of the series are arranged chronologically.
2. U.S Navy Documents, 1944-1946
The U.S. Navy Documents series documents the involvement of Dr. Stob in the U.S Navy, prior to the start of his education and career development at Purdue. This series contains the following: official letters, 1946; legal documents, 1946; certificates, 1945-1946. Significant official letters includes the ones from President Harry Truman and Army General Omar N. Bradley, to Stob, in which they express appreciation for Stob’s service during the World War II. The legal documents refer to paperwork that document the end of Stob’s service with the Armed Forces. The certificates in this series are the unofficial certificate received in the Line-Crossing ceremony, as well a Service Recognition certificate in recognition of Stob’s dutiful service to the Armed Forces. All materials within each folder of the series are arranged chronologically.
3. Purdue and career records, 1952-1992
The Purdue and career records series provides the bulk of the information about Stob and his contributions to the agricultural industry during his teaching years. It has Purdue records, 1953-1992 as well as records from organizations outside of Purdue, 1954-1967. The Purdue records in this subseries reflect Stob’s involvement in his research work and the lives of his students – it consists of his experimental findings, analyses and correspondence; written publications and research papers; program booklets for official events held by the Purdue School of Agriculture; certificates, plaques and newspaper articles celebrating his achievements as a researcher and a mentor to students. Albeit he played an integral role in the betterment of the Department of Agriculture at Purdue, he was also involved in external scientific organizations. The records from these organizations includes certificates and letters to Stob. These materials show recognition of Stob’s contributions to the agriculture industry, by organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Society for the Study of Reproduction. The materials in each of the folders in this series have been arranged in a chronological manner.
4. Personal materials, 1936-2014
The Personal materials series offers a very small perspective into Stob’s life out of Purdue. In addition to his interest in music, evident through program booklets and newspaper articles, most of the materials in this series show his deep involvement in the Church – confirmation into the communion of the Church and his funeral documents, consisting of the Church service and obituary. All materials within each folder of the series have been arranged chronologically.

Acquisition Information

Donation received from Carolyn S. Holder, Lafayette, Indiana, December 3, 2014.

Processing Information

Materials have been housed in acid-free folders and boxes.
Title
Martin Stob papers
Status
Under Review
Author
Amanda Rumba and Aarthi Devarajan
Date
2020-04-22
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 2017-09-15 by Aarthi Devarajan.

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
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