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Robert Daniel Stout Documents, Lehigh University Metallurgical Engineering Professor

 Collection
Identifier: SC MS 0248

Scope and Contents

The collection includes a personal scrapbook containing mainly newspaper articles, three photographs, six form letters, 1944 Founder’s Day Exercises program, War Manpower Commission Certificate. It is apparent that some of the scrapbook pages had been removed before Special Collections received it.

Also in the collection were three books (see Separated Material list), one PhD diploma, one coffee mug from the Metallurgy Department, two family photographs, three awards, one set of doctoral regalia (cap and gown), one box of funeral and memorial service items.

Dates

  • Creation: 1939-2012
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1939-1980

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection housed remotely. Users need to contact 24 hours in advance.

Conditions Governing Use

Collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

Robert Daniel Stout (1915-2012) was the son of Harry H. and Anna (Guldin) Stout of Reading, Pennsylvania. His late wife was Elizabeth V. (Alwein) Stout. They had a daughter, Elizabeth Stout (Hollis Giammatteo). Stout graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1935 with a B.S. in metallurgy. He joined the Lehigh engineering faculty in 1939 after serving as metallurgist at the Carpenter Steel Company in Reading, Pennsylvania. He received his master’s degree in 1941 and doctor of philosophy degree in 1944; both in metallurgy from Lehigh University. His advisor in welding research was Gilbert E. Doan. Stout was chairman of the University Research Committee of the American Society for Metals, chairman of the Technical Papers Committee of the American Welding Society. He was a chairman of the department of metallurgy and materials engineering (1956-1960), served as dean of the graduate school (1960-1980) and professor of metallurgy and materials engineering until retiring in 1980. A distinguished professorship was established at Lehigh University in honor of him. The Robert D. Stout Distinguished Professorship was made possible by an endowment fund created by a group of Stout’s former students and colleagues in appreciation of his service as an educator, research leader and dean. He authored more than 125 research papers which appeared in leading technical journals and co-authored with D.W. Doty the book Weldability of Steels published in 1953 and first revised in 1971 with subsequent editions. Dr. Stout received many professional awards among which the Lincoln Gold Medal (1943) for “conspicuous advancement of the science of welding,” an official American representative to the International Institute of Welding, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, an honorary doctor of science degree from Albright College in 1967, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences from 1964-1968. When he retired from his academic career, he continued collaborating in research projects in the ATLSS (Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems) Center. Dr. Stout created and funded the Elizabeth V. Stout Distinguished dissertation award in honor of his wife.

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania to Harry and Anna Stout

1915-01-02

Graduated from Pennsylvania State University, B.S. in Metallurgy

1935

Joins Lehigh University faculty

1939

Gets master’s degree from Lehigh University

1941

Receives Lincoln Gold Medal from American Welding Society

1943

Earns Doctor of Philosophy degree from Lehigh University

1944

Receives best teaching in metallurgy award - American Society for Metals

1952

National Meritorious Certificate award of American Welding Society

1956

Chairman of the Metallurgy Department

1956-1960

Dean of Graduate School

1960-1980

National Academy of Sciences, materials advisory board

1964-1968

Pipeline Safety Standards Advisory Committee

1968-1971

Receives honorary doctor of science degree from Albright College

1967

Delivered the Houdremont Lecture, the highest award of the International Institute of Welding

1970

Retired as emeritus dean but continued as a research fellow and adjunct professor at ATLSS

1980

Died at Moravian Village, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

2012-12-18

Funeral and burial Nisky Hill Cemetery

2012-12-28

Lehigh University Memorial Service

2013-01-22

Extent

2 Linear Feet (1box + 1 carton ; 1 frame (37 x 55 cm) )

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The material in this collection consists of a scrapbook, photographs, award certificates, publications and memorabilia that were collected from the office of Robert D. Stout, Lehigh professor at Materials Science and Engineering and turned over to Special Collections.

Arrangement

The materials in the collection are diverse but when possible are loosely arranged chronologically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was acquired as a gift January 28, 2013 from the Stout Family through the Development Office representative, Lorraine Wiedorn.

Related Materials

1953. Stout, Robert D. and Doty, W. D’Orville. Weldability of Steels. New York: Welding Research Council. 1978. Stout, Robert D. and Doty, W. D’Orville. Weldability of Steels. Revised ed. New York: Welding Research Council.

Separated Materials

(Lehigh Faculty Publications collection) 1960. Doan, Gilbert E. Satisfactions and Solutions. Borthaugh Farm, July 1960 1987. Stout, Robert D. Weldability of Steels. 4th ed. New York: Welding Research Council. 1992. Yates, W. Ross. Lehigh University a History of Education in Engineering, Business, and the Human Condition. Bethlehem: Lehigh University Press. (this book has a dedication to Robert D. Stout dated October 23, 1992)

[Diploma] PhD. diploma of Robert Daniel Stout. In SC MS 0126 Diplomas & Certificates. Shelved in SC-A

[Frame] 1996 Lehigh University Distinguished Alumni Award: In a matted with Stout’s portrait photograph. Shelved in SC-A

Title
Robert Daniel Stout Documents, Lehigh University Metallurgical Engineering Professor
Status
Completed
Author
Ilhan Citak and Eleanor Nothelfer
Date
2013-01-29
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Lehigh University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18045 USA
610-758-4506
610-758-6091 (Fax)