Allen Sheeley Janssen Papers

Allen Sheeley Janssen Papers, 1926-1980

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Allen Sheeley Janssen
Title: Allen Sheeley Janssen Papers
Dates: 1926-1980 (inclusive)
19261980
Quantity: 11 cubic feet
Collection Number: MG149 (collection)
Summary: State engineering exams, outlines and exams for courses; material related to a military construction battalion; records of Janssen's involvement in Pacific Consultants, Bonneville Power Administration, Moscow Chamber of Commerce, and Civil Defense.
Repository: University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Allen Sheeley Janssen was born in Boise, Idaho, September 12, 1908, the son of Alfred E. and Edma M. (Sheeley) Janssen. He was graduated from Boise High School, and attended the University of Idaho, earning a B(Arch) in 1930, a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1933, and his M.S. in Civil Engineering in 1937.

Following his graduation in 1930 he worked for the Idaho Department of Highways. In 1931 he returned to the university as an instructor in the Civil Engineering Department. He continued teaching at the university for over forty years, becoming dean of the College of Engineering in 1946. He resigned as dean in 1967, but continued to teach half-time until his retirement in 1972. While at the university he served on the Academic Council, Research Council, Research Foundation, Patent Committee, and Water Resources Committee; he was also faculty advisor to the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity from 1936-1956.

While teaching he also acted as consultant and designer on many civil engineering projects, with emphasis on highway work, materials of construction, and construction and analysis research. He also worked as a field draftsman for the Idaho Department of Highways from 1930-1946. After his semi-retirement from the university he worked part-time as an office engineer for Pacific Consultants.

He interrupted his teaching during World War II (1942-1946) when, as part of the 55th Naval Construction Battalion, Civil Engineering Corps, he spent 2 1/2 years in the Seabees constructing overseas bases in the South Pacific, and 1 1/2 years in research and development work with the Bureau of Yards & Docks in Washington, D.C.

He was the author of a dozen published works and a member of numerous professional organizations and fraternities, holding regional offices in many of them. His honors and awards include a Distinguished Service Certificate from the National Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners (1957), Engineer of the Year award given by the Idaho Society of Professional Engineers (1959), Engineer of Merit commendation from the Spokane Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (1965), and Outstanding Service to the Community award given by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. In 1972 the new engineering building at the University of Idaho was named after him.

In 1947 he was elected to the Idaho State Board of Engineering Examiners to fill the unexpired term of Jesse Buchanan, who resigned upon assuming the Presidency of the University of Idaho. Janssen continued on this board until his resignation in May 1968.

He was also active in community affairs, serving as chairman of the Transportation Committee of the Chamber of Commerce (1969-1972), on the Board of Trustees of the Moscow School District (1948-1953), as a member of the Board of Directors for the Highway District, and on the Technical Advisor Committee for the Regional Airport (1969-January 1972). He was active in the Republican Party and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He married Ada Jones on July 14, 1930, in Logan, Utah; they had two children, a son Alfred and a daughter Sheila. Janssen suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and died at the Good Samaritan Village in Moscow on December 26, 1983.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The papers of Allen Janssen span the years 1926 to 1980, with the bulk of the material covering the year 1940 to 1972. included are examinations given to professional engineers seeking registration in Idaho, outlines and exams for courses he taught at the university and other material concerning the engineering college, materials relating to his work in a military construction battalion, and papers and newspaper clippings dealing with organizations he was involved with such as Pacific Consultants, which includes reports done for the Public Land Law Review Commission; Bonneville Power Administration; Moscow Chamber of Commerce, especially the Transportation Committee; and the Civil Defense Executive Reserve.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The papers of Allen Janssen were in file folders, but not in any discernible order when received. Therefore, although folder headings were retained, the series arrangement is completely artificial. The first material relating to Janssen's major involvements was separated out and arranged by subject. The examinations given by the State Board of Engineering Examiners are arranged chronologically, as is the board correspondence. The National Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners consists of two parts--the Western Zone to which Idaho belonged, and material from the national office. The university material is divided into material concerning the university in general and the engineering college in particular. For ease of organization the folders in these groups are arranged alphabetically, with material in the folders being arranged chronologically. The folders relating to professional organizations Janssen belonged to are arranged alphabetically, as is the military material. Material from the Pacific Consultants is arranged by project. The final series contains material concerning other interests and involvements of Janssen and is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Several boxes of material were badly water damaged before being received by the library and were discarded during processing. Duplicate copies of examinations and publications were also discarded. By this means the original bulk was reduced by 8 cubic feet.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Allen Janssen, Dean of Engineering at the University of Idaho from 1946 to 1967, were donated to the University of Idaho Library by his family in August 1984.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Idaho State Board of Engineering Examiners , 1926-1971Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1-4	Examinations 73 items	1926-1940
1/5-10	Examinations 104 items	April 1941-April 1947
1/10-15	Examinations 93 items	March 1949-March 1954
1/16-21	Examinations 102 items	March 1955-March 1960
1/22-30	Examinations 115 items	December 1960-December 1964
1/31-37	Examinations 97 items	December 1965-December 1968
2/38-43	Correspondence 357 items	1939-1949
2/44-50	Correspondence 693 items	1950-1959
2/51-55	Correspondence 366 items	1960-1964
2/56-58	Correspondence 236 items	1965-1971
2/59	John E. Hayes Case 20 items	1957-1958
2/60	Warren - Higgins Case 18 items	1947-1949
2/61	Applications 9 items	1968-1972
2/62	Attorney General's & Board Council's Opinions 58 items	1939-1956
2/63-65	Minutes 83 items	1947-1968
2/66	Publications and Forms 9 items	1953-1967
2/67	Review Document for Professional Engineer's Registration in Idaho, Prepared by Douglas C. Dowell 1 item	April 1960

Series II. National Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners , 1938-1977Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
2	Western Zone	1946-1976
Box/Folder
3/68	Minutes of Annual Meetings 14 items	1951-1974
3/69	Correspondence 15 items	1946-1976
3/69	National Office	1938-1977
3/70	Annual Meetings 12 items	1939-1977
3/71	Correspondence 120 items	1948-1977
3/72	Publications 17 items	1938-1975
3/73	The Registration Bulletin 16 items	1948-1976
3/74	Reports 13 items	1948-1966

Series III. The University of Idaho and College of Engineering , 1934-1977Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	A. University	1946-1977
Box/Folder
3/75	Asphalt Institute 11 items	1955-1972
3/76	Consulting Services Policy 6 items	1946-1969
3/77	Honors Program, Spring 1977 100 items	1976-1977
3/78	Honors Program 58 items	Fall 1977
3/79-80	Memos 71 items	1963-1974
3/81	Project THEMIS 7 items	1967
3/82	Short Term Applied Research (STAR) Reports 13 items	1967-1973
	B. College of Engineering	1934-1977
Box
3	Meetings and Minutes
Box/Folder
3/83	Advisory Council 12 items	1967-1972
3/84	Committee on Assignments and Others 19 items	1966-1972
3/85	Curriculum Committee 39 items	1967-1971
3/86	Department Heads 46 items	1953-1954
3/87	Executive Committee 89 items	1961-1967
3/88	Executive Council 41 items	1968-1974
3/89	Faculty 50 items	1966-1974
3/90	Civil Engineering Faculty 109 items	1966-1976
3/91	Mechanical Engineering Department 4 items	1965-1966
4/92	Advising of Students 82 items	1949-1977
4/93-96	Budget Requests 180 items	1938-1971
4/97-98	Buildings 23 items	1947-1966
4/99	Civil Engineering Department 77 items	1967-1975
4/100-101	Correspondence 213 items	1934-1975
4/102	Decimal Point Location Reports 6 items	1959-1960
4/103	Directories 12 items	1966-1974
4/104	Engineering Education 10 items	1956-1964
4/105	Engineering Science Program 33 items	1958-1962
4/106	ECPD Accreditation Visits 12 items	1963-1971
4/107	Enrollments and Estimates of Graduates 63 items	1954-1967
4/108	Faculty Applications 150 items	1957-1966
4/109	Faculty Inventory 65 items	1962
4/110	Faculty Travel Reports 37 items	1938-1967
4/111	Faculty Vitae 6 items	1960s
4/112	Fellowship Appointments 8 items	1956
4/113	Gifts 19 items	1961-1966
4/114	Grades 21 items	1968-1971
4/115	Janssen's Personnel Records 35 items	1936-1972
4/116	Letters to Prospective Students 26 items	1961
4/117-122	Memos 339 items	1938-1977
4/123	Miscellaneous 7 items	undated
4/124-125	Newsletters 152 items	1967-1975
4/126	Photographs 3 items	undated
4/127	Publications 21 items	1941-1970
5/128	Nuclear Reactor Program 29 items	1955-1956
5/129	Ten Year Plan 25 items	1956-1959
5/130	Student Reports 3 items	April 1940
5/131-133	Senior Field Trip Reports 20 items	1952-1957
5/134-136	Student Reports for Contracts and Specifications 17 items	1952-1954
Box
5	Allen Janssen's Course Outlines & Lecture Notes
Box/Folder
5/137-148	Civil Engineering 5 371 items	1946/1947-1957/1958
5/149-155	Engineering 5 306 items	1958/1959-1964/1965
5/156	Civil Engineering 131 34 items	1956/1957
5/157	Civil Engineering 152 (Readings) 11 items	1934-1938
5/158-160	Civil Engineering 153 109 items	1957/1958-1968/1969
5/161-162	Civil Engineering 154 60 items	1967/1968-1968/1969
5/163	Civil Engineering 360 3 items	1969/1970
5/164-166	Civil Engineering 382 22 items	1969/1970-1971/1972
Box
5	Civil Engineering 484 40 items	1970/1971
Box/Folder
5/168	Philosophy 204 52 items	1976/1977
5/169-170	Engineering Experiment Station 37 items	1955-1974
5/171-172	Materials Testing Laboratory 4 items	1967-1968

Series IV. Professional Organizations and Seminars , 1952-1977Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
6/173	American Concrete Institute 2 items	1966
6/174	American Institute of Chemical Engineers 7 items	1961-1965
6/175	American Institute of Electrical Engineers 14 items	1958
6/176	American Society of Agricultural Engineers 4 items	1961
6/177	American Society of Civil Engineers 50 items	1963-1976
6/178-179	American Society for Engineering Education 32 items	1959-1975
6/180	Commission on Engineering Education 3 items	1964
6/181	Engineers' Council for Professional Development 35 items	1961-1972
6/182	Engineers Joint Council 13 items	1952-1966
Box
6	Idaho Society of Professional Engineers
Box/Folder
6/183	General 45 items	1956-1977
6/184	Ethical Practices Committee 26 items	1970-1972
6/185	Presentation of Certificates Ceremony 13 items	1970-1972
6/186	Student Professional Committee 14 items	1967-1968
6/187	Junior Engineering and Technical Society (JETS) 10 items	1964-1966
6/188	National Association of State Universities and Land Grand Colleges, Div. of Engineering 33 items	1962-1966
Box
6	National Society of Professional Engineers
Box/Folder
6/189-190	General 69 items	1963-1976
6/191-198	Meetings 8 items	1963-1966
6/199	Water Policy Committee 31 items	1964-1966
7/200	Honor Societies 4 items	1963-1976
7/201	Institute for Engineering Deans 3 items	1965-1968
7/202	Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Seminar 21 items	1960
7/203	Standard Oil Seminars 22 items	1955-1967

Series V. Military Service and Related Papers , 1941-1976Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
7/204	Construction Designs 18 items	1943-1946
7/205	Construction Manuals 10 items	1943-1945
7/206-212	Manual TM-235 "Control of Soils in Military Construction", drafts 27 items	1945-1946
Box
7	Construction
Box/Folder
7/213	Progress Reports 22 items	1943-1945
7/214	Airfields 11 items	1943-1946
7/215	Roads 2 items	1945
7/216	Warehouses 9 items	1943
Box
7	Soil Testing
Box/Folder
7/217	Technical Bulletin: Soil Testing Set No. 1 1 item	1945
7/218	Forms and list of equipment 30 items	undated
7/219	"Soils Engineering for Seabees", draft 1 item	undated
7/220	North Dakota Cone Bearing Indes 6 items	1945
7/221	"Control of Soils in Military Construction", draft 2 items	1945
7/222	Reports, Manuals, etc. 6 items	1941-1944
7/223-224	55th Construction Battalion, correspondence, newsletters, 63 items	1943-1976
7/225	Photographs 5 items	undated
7/226	Navy League 15 items	1970-1974
7/227	Civil Engineers Corps 18 items	1957-1974
7/228	Naval Air Training Command, Pensacola, Florida 42 items	1948
7/229	Red Cross Campaign 10 items	1946
7/230	Miscellaneous 12 items	1943-1948

Series VI. Pacific Consultants , 1968-1969Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
8/231	General 33 items	1968-1969
8/232	Dalton Water Association 15 items	1969
8/233	Idaho Comprehensive Law Enforcement Plan 1 item	1969
8/234	Law Building, University of Idaho 11 items	1969
8/235	Lewiston Hill: Rerouting U.S. 95 44 items	1968-1969
8/236	Preliminary Comparative Study of Airport Needs for the Palouse Empire 1 item	1968
8/237	Walla Walla County Sewer and Water Plan 1 item	1968
8/238	Weyerhaeuser Water Pollution Problem 2 items	1969
Box
8	Public Land Law Review Commission Projects
Box/Folder
8/239	Forage Study Reports for the University of Idaho 49 items	1958-1969
8/240	Mining, Surface Hard Rock Area: Nevada 24 items	1968-1969
8/241	Mining, Hard Rock Areas: Grand Junction, Moab, Monticello 31 items	1968-1969
8/242	Oil and/or Gas Area: Farmington, New Mexico 17 items	1968
8/243	Phosphates Area: Pocatello 17 items	1968
8/244	Supporting Material 18 items	1968-1969
8/245	Draft of Report: "Impact of Mining Operations on Use of Public Lands for Grazing" 5 items	1969
8/246	Wooden Toy Business for Nez Perce Indian Tribe 2 items	1968
8/247	Janssen's Time Sheets 98 items	1968-1969

Series VII. Personal Interests and Involvements , 1946-1970Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
8/248	Agriculture 2 items	1964
8/249	Airfields, Design and Construction 8 items	1946-1947
8/250	Airports, Regional: Quad Cities 234 items	1966-1974
8/251	Atmosphere Chart 1 item	1958
8/252-253	Atomic Energy Commission, Correspondence and Press Releases 63 items	1952-1966
8/254	Bearing Tests 4 items	undated
8/255-258	Bonneville Power Administration, Minutes, Reports, Correspondence 68 items	1950-1975
9/259-260	Bridges, Janssen's Article and General Articles 8 items	1933-1972
9/261	Cement 1 item	1956
9/262	Certificates and Photographs 12 items	1948-1960
Box
9	Chamber of Commerce, City of Moscow
Box/Folder
9/263	Annual & Financial Reports 13 items	1969-1976
9/264	General 70 items	1968-1976
9/265	Industrial Development Workshop 1 item	1969
9/266	Newsletters 141 items	1970-1976
9/267	Selection Committee 12 items	1971
9/268-271	Transportation Committee, Minutes and Reports 266 items	1968-1976
Box
9	City of Moscow
Box/Folder
9/272	Kiwanis Club, Public Affairs Committee 20 items	1957
9/273	School District. Clippings 50 items	1977-1978
9/274	School District. Plat Maps 2 items	1951
9/275-276	School District. School Facilities Study 79 items	1977
9/277	School District. School Facilities Planning Guides 2 items	1972-1976
9/278	Traffic Counts 46 items	1968
9/279	Water Supply 20 items	1969-1971
9/280	Latah County Energy Committee 48 items	1977
Box
9	Civil Defense
Box/Folder
9/281	Associated General Contractors of America. Plan Bulldozer--Disaster Relief 3 items	1965
9/282	Idaho Department of Highways 3 items	1968-1971
9/283	U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Bureau of Public Roads. Emergency Planning and Operations Manual 1 item	1966
9/284	U.S. Department of Defense 1 item	undated
9/285-294	U.S. Dept. of Transportation. National Defense, Executive Reserve Conferences 134 items	1967-1971
10/295-296	U.S. Dept. of Transportation. National Defense, Executive Reserve Conferences 15 items	1972-1974
10/297	Newsletters 20 items	1968-1975
10/298	Publications 11 items	1964-1974
10/299-301	Correspondence, Personal 412 items	1946-1980
10/302	Correspondence, Charles William Lang, Jr. 51 items	1958-1971
10/303	Crossley vs. Grow 61 items	1952
10/304-307	Dams 33 items	1949-1977
10/308	Earthquakes 2 items	1959-1966
10/309	East Side Grade School, Moscow, Blueprints 3 items	1951
10/310	Engineering Education, Articles 24 items	1955-1965
10/311	Engineering Pamphlets 9 items	1946-1957
10/312	Engineering: Outline for course C.E. 154, taught by George R. Russell 1 item	1965
10/313	Engineering, C.E. 109. Janssen's papers for a course taught by J.E. Buchanan 9 items	1931/1932
10/314	Engineering Profession, Articles 27 items	1948-1955
10/315	Engineers, Registration 3 items	1949-1954
10/316	Engineers, Shortage of 22 items	1951-1956
10/317	English Writing and Speaking 9 items	1948-1952
Box
10	Highways
Box/Folder
10/318	Correspondence 8 items	1936-1974
10/319	Paving 8 items	1946-1957
10/320	Publications 8 items	1949-1966
Box
10	Highways, Idaho
Box/Folder
10/321	Clippings 2 items	1972-1973
10/322	Idaho Association of Highway Districts 7 items	1953
10/323	Idaho Dept. of Highways, Newsletters 4 items	1964-1972
10/324	Lewiston Hill Study 2 items	1970-1972
10/325-326	Location Studies and Hearings 5 items	1964-1970
10/327	Miscellaneous Reports and Studies -6 items	1957-1967
11/328	Paving 2 items	1948-1965
11/329	Princeton-Harvard Highway District Consolidation 15 items	1968-1969
11/330	Publications 1 item	1967
11/331	Surveys 3 items	1967
11/332	Highways, Washington. Specifications for Highway Structures 1 item	1931
11/333	Land Sale, Payette Lakes 14 items	1968-1969
11/334	Land Surveying 5 items	1957-1964
11/335	Legislature, Idaho. Clippings 25 items	1965-1969
11/336	Legislation, Federal 4 items	1963-1965
11/337	North Idaho Chamber of Commerce Meeting 13 items	November 14-16, 1968
11/338-339	Personal Clippings 56 items	1955-1977
11/340	Pollution 16 items	1959-1969
11/341	Richland Power Plant Dedication 8 items	Sept. 26, 1963
11/342	Safety 6 items	1941-1953
11/343	Salmon School Inspection 12 items	1960-1962
11/344	Scenic Rivers 20 items	1968-1969
11/345	Shell Desk Calendar 1 item	1967
11/346-348	Soil Mechanics 37 items	1935-1947
11/349	Sons of the American Revolution 73 items	1967-1978
11/350	Transportation Poster 1 item	undated
11/351	University: Class of 1930 60 items	1955-1980
11/352	University: Vandal Boosters 7 items	1980
11/353	Washington State University. College of Engineering 4 items	1967
11/354-356	Water 49 items	1951-1976

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Civil defense -- Idaho -- History -- Sources
Civil engineering -- Study and teaching -- Idaho -- Moscow -- History -- Sources
Military bases -- United States -- Design and construction

Corporate Names

Moscow Chamber of Commerce (Idaho) -- History -- Sources
Pacific Consultants -- History -- Sources
United States. Bonneville Power Administration -- History -- Sources
University of Idaho -- Faculty

Occupations

Dean of Engineering, University of Idaho, 1946-1967.

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Janssen, Allen S.--Archives.

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents