Louis Begeman Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of historical reminiscences, essays, and what seems to be the typescript for a textbook on atomic science. A portion of the collection requires conservation work, because many pieces had been rolled tightly for many years. But the collection is available to researchers.
Dates
- c. 1899-1957
Creator
- Begeman, Louis (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials entirely in English.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions. Materials are open for research.
General Use, Reproduction, and Copyright Policies
Many items housed in the Rod Library Special Collections & University Archives, including unpublished images and manuscripts, may be protected by copyright, publication rights, trademarks, or model release rights which the library does not own and for which the library cannot grant permission or licensing. Materials currently under copyright are usually still available for research and limited reproduction under Fair Use laws. However, it is the sole responsibility of the patron to determine whether or not their use of a given material falls within Fair Use guidelines and to obtain permission for said use from the rightful copyright owner.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy or similar laws, and the Iowa Open Records Law (see Iowa Code ยง 22.7). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of Northern Iowa assumes no responsibility.
Biographical / Historical
Louis Begemen was born March 1, 1865, in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated from Evansville High School in 1882 and then taught in rural schools from 1883-1886. Begemen earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Michigan in 1889 and 1897 respectively. He later received his Ph.D. in 1910 from the University of Chicago. His doctoral dissertation, "Experimental Determination of the Charge of an Electron," was a highly significant study. He then served as superintendent of schools in Corydon, Iowa, from 1889 to 1895 before working as a professor of chemistry and physics at Parsons College from 1895-1899. In 1899, Begeman was hired at Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) as a physics professor. He was head of the Physics Department from 1908-1912 and head of the Physics and Chemistry Department from 1912 to 1935. He received emeritus status in 1935 and continued to serve in that capacity until the end of the 1956-1957 academic year. Begeman was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Science, serving as its president from 1911-1912; a member of the Central Association of Science and Mathematics Teachers; and a member of the Iowa State Teachers Association. He is listed in Who's Who in America as well as American Men of Science. Additionally, he was the author of Principles of Physics (1922) and Everyday Physical Science (1923) and contributed numerous scientific articles to various journals. Begeman passed away on May 18, 1958.
Extent
2.52 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Processing Information
Collection processed by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, July 2015; updated, March 31, 2016 (GP); updated by Library Associate Dave Hoing, January 2018 and April 2018. Linear Feet updated September 17, 2017.
- Title
- Louis Begeman Papers
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script