Robert W. Topping papers

The Robert W. Topping papers (1930-1996; 2.75 cubic feet) collection consists of many newspaper clippings, news releases, ten interviews on cassette tapes and miscellaneous printed ephemera that Robert W. Topping collected, while on the staff of the Purdue University Office of Publications for twenty-eight years. Also included are the files used for his published book; “The Hovde Years,” 1980 and the original manuscript for “A Century and Beyond,” 1988, along with manuscripts for “Gentle Force, The Women of Purdue University,” 1993 and “Just Call Me Orville,” 1996, the unpublished biography of Orville Redenbacher, 1996. The papers are organized into two series:

Folder 1. Purdue University, Board of Trustees minutes, September 14-15, 1978 - June 15, 1979 2. Purdue University, Board of Trustees minutes, September 7, 1979 – September 24, 1981 3. Purdue University, Board of Trustees minutes, November 12-13, 1981 – May 11, 1984 4. Purdue University, Board of Trustees minutes, September 14, 1984 – May 15, 1987 Small Box Contains ten cassette tapes, each with individual interviews, William T. Berkshire, Class of ’02, done for Purdue Alumni Association; Buchanan (2 tapes); Jenkins; Karling; Knoy; Koffler; McNelly; Stone Issues Purdue Alumnus, May 1931 ["Bruce Rogers, Sci. 90, Designer of Books”, pp. 5-6; “Muse’ful Mem’oir of a Purdue Man”, by George W. Munro, EE ’97, pp. 7-8] Purdue Alumnus, September 1943, “Old Purdue”, by George W. Munro, ’97, from The Bent of Tau Beta Pi, pp. 9-14 (2 issues) Purdue Alumnus, January, 1987, front cover and feature on R. B. Stewart Purdue Alumnus, February, 1979, “Archives hold Purdue’s treasures”, pp. 5-6 Purdue Alumnus, March 1979, “Centennial! Experiment Station celebrates 100 years of service”, pp. 2-3, 13 Purdue Alumnus, December 1979, front cover – Dr. Herbert C. Brown and feature, pp. 2-5 Purdue Alumnus, April 1982, 25 Years of Grand Prix Purdue Alumnus, Summer 1982, 45th anniversary of flight began at Purdue – Amelia Earhart, a continuing mystery, p. 10; “A Gala Week Album”, 1982, p. 12 Purdue Alumnus, December 1984, issue on research Purdue Alumnus, January 1985 front – “Flight of Discovery”; inside – “Aeronautics, Astronautics Foreseen by George Ade, pp. 8-10 The Purdue Engineer, April, 1933, v. XXVIII, no. 7, “Professor G. W. Munro - Impressions of the Mechanical School” by G.W. Munro, pp. 102, 110-112 The Bent of Tau Beta Pi, v. XXXIV, no. 3, “Old Purdue” by George W. Munro, pp. 87-90 Bulletin of Purdue University, v. XXXI, April 1931, no. 7, catalogue number for the sessions of 1930-1931 with announcements for the Sessions of 1931-1932, gift of George Bostwick, ’35 (?) Purdue University Directory, 1932-1933 appears to be gift of George Bostwick, Ch.E. Purdue University sixty-first annual commencement, Tuesday, June 11, 1935, program Purdue Plan for the Eighties – Purdue University – The $34.2 million Campaign for Advancement in Science and Technology, 1979-1982 [packet of information includes press releases; drafts of letters; campaign update letters; letter to members of the Board of Trustees of Purdue University, in regards to the establishment of the Purdue Foundation, Incorporated, dated, 12 January, 1979; final campaign report; University’s “backyard” Plan for the Eighties campaign in Greater Lafayette and Purdue, led by James C. Shook, general chairman; photographs of James C. Shook, sketches of proposed buildings – new Life Sciences Laboratory, Technology Building and Civil Engineering addition]

Purdue News Clippings Album, July 1 to December 31, 1966 [Album contains a selection of newspaper and magazine clippings; first 12 pages Rose Bowl clippings (just those that represent direct activity of the University News Service – news release, photographs, telephone calls or personal visitations by staff members). The remainder of the album, clippings selected were not limited to those resulting from material released by the University News Service, rather they were chosen to give a quick picture of Purdue University’s “press.”]

Contains ten cassette tapes, each with individual interviews, William T. Berkshire, Class of ’02, done for Purdue Alumni Association; Buchanan (2 tapes); Jenkins; Karling; Knoy; Koffler; McNelly; Stone

Purdue Alumnus, May 1931["Bruce Rogers, Sci. 90, Designer of Books”, pp. 5-6; “Muse’ful Mem’oir of a Purdue Man”, by George W. Munro, EE ’97, pp. 7-8]Purdue Alumnus, September 1943, “Old Purdue”, by George W. Munro, ’97, fromThe Bent of Tau Beta Pi, pp. 9-14 (2 issues)Purdue Alumnus, January, 1987, front cover and feature on R. B. StewartPurdue Alumnus, February, 1979, “Archives hold Purdue’s treasures”, pp. 5-6Purdue Alumnus, March 1979, “Centennial! Experiment Station celebrates 100 years of service”, pp. 2-3, 13Purdue Alumnus, December 1979, front cover –Dr. Herbert C. Brown and feature, pp. 2-5Purdue Alumnus, April 1982, 25 Years of Grand PrixPurdue Alumnus, Summer 1982, 45thanniversary of flight began at Purdue –Amelia Earhart, a continuing mystery, p. 10; “A Gala Week Album”, 1982, p. 12Purdue Alumnus, December 1984, issue on research Purdue Alumnus, January 1985front –“Flight of Discovery”; inside –“Aeronautics, Astronautics Foreseen by George Ade, pp. 8-10The Purdue Engineer, April, 1933, v. XXVIII, no. 7, “Professor G. W. Munro -Impressions of the Mechanical School” by G.W. Munro, pp. 102, 110-112The Bent of Tau Beta Pi, v. XXXIV, no. 3, “Old Purdue” by George W. Munro, pp. 87-90Bulletin of Purdue University, v. XXXI, April 1931, no. 7, catalogue number for the sessions of 1930-1931 with announcements for the Sessions of 1931-1932, gift of George Bostwick, ’35 (?)Purdue University Directory, 1932-1933 appears to be gift of George Bostwick, Ch.E.Purdue University sixty-first annual commencement, Tuesday, June 11, 1935, programPurdue Plan for the Eighties –Purdue University –The $34.2 million Campaign for Advancement in Science and Technology, 1979-1982[packet of information includes press releases; drafts of letters; campaign update letters; letter to members of the Board of Trustees of Purdue University, in regards to the establishment of the Purdue Foundation, Incorporated, dated, 12 January, 1979; final campaign report; University’s “backyard” Plan for the Eighties campaign in Greater Lafayette and Purdue, led by James C. Shook,general chairman; photographs of James C. Shook, sketches of proposedbuildings –new Life Sciences Laboratory, Technology Building and CivilEngineering addition]

Manuscript - "Just Cal Me Orville", 1966 and a letter from James Thurber, 1948 [unpublished biography or Orville Redenbacher and a letter from James Thurber addressed to Mr. Topping, when he was editor of the Rivet, as a student at Purdue University, dated October 30, 1948]

Folder 1 Visit of King and Queen of Afghanistan, September 16, 1963 2. Athletics, 1958-1975 [newspaper clippings and photographs of Hovde playing golf] 3. Legislative, 1963-1967, newspaper clippings 4. Miscellaneous, circa 1960-1970, newspaper clippings 5. Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild and Contest, 1946 [correspondence, issues of Guild News, Plans and Instructions for building a miniature model Napoleonic Coach, 1946 competition] 6. Hold for Questions – Hovde 7. Draft – The Hovde Years – Chapter IX, Some of the People Around Him 8. Unmarked Folder – Early Years (?) 9. Part II, Chapter X – Biographical Data 10. Part 1, Chapter II – University of Minnesota (Undergraduate Years) 11. Part 1, Chapter III – At Oxford 12. Part II, Chapter VI, Coming to Purdue 13. Rose Bowl, newspaper clippings 14. Social and Mrs. Hovde, circa 1950-1970, newspaper clippings 15. Speeches, Messages, etc., 1960-1970, newspapers clippings 16. Part 1, Chapter V, W.W. II 17. Part 1, Chapter IV, General College, University of Rochester 18. Part II, Chapter VI, Appointment as President [letters of congratulations, newspaper clippings, Washington farewell dinner, first speech at Lafayette, October 15, 1945 (homecoming banquet), remodeling changes]