The Florida Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) Records document activities at the University of Miami in the Rare Books Project, a statewide effort initiated by the W.P.A. in 1940 to provide every library in the state with copies of rare books pertaining to Florida.
The Florida W.P.A. Records contain correspondence and transcribed copies of 13 monographs prepared by W.P.A. personnel. Most of the typewritten manuscripts bear the name of the W.P.A. worker that transcribed the monograph, along with information on the source library or sponsor. Some books that are represented in this collection may have been given to the University of Miami Library by the source library in exchange for books the University made available to the Rare Books Project. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, bibliographies, reports, transcripts, and public records.
Dr. Charles A. Bicking was an award-winning mechanical engineer active in the fields of Industrial Engineering, Industrial Statistics, Engineering Statistics, Operations Research, and Quality Control. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Techology, Bicking has held numerous posts as an engineer, consultant, and lecturer in a number of countries. Bicking also published and presented dozens papers in the above fields. Bicking was an official U.S.A. delegate for the 1953 session of the International Statistical Institute in Rome. He won the ASTM Award of Merit in 1962. Some of the organizations, corporations, and associations that Bicking worked with include the American Society for Quality Control, the American Statistical Assocation, A.S.Q.C., Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, White Sands Missile Range, Carborundum Company, Hercules Powder Company, NASA, Nashua Corporation, Tracor Jitco, the American Society for Testing and Materials, and the Control Data Corporation.
The Charles Bicking Papers contains documents spanning across the entirety of Dr. Bicking's career, as described above.
The Julian Corrington Papers contain teaching and academic files concerning the University of Miami in addition to materials on scientific research and literature. Class records and course materials, dated 1944-63, include syllabi, memos, lecture notes, book lists, lists of research topics, correspondence with students and student recommendations. Other correspondence and memos, relating to the Biology Department discuss such topics as the curriculum, course requirements, faculty meetings and building plans. University of Miami "faculty notices," and "university memoranda" cover announcements of library news, information on education, and the Science Department. The records also contain publications such as "Self Portrait of a University," and a program from the 1962 dedication of the Otto G. Richter Library. Correspondence with faculty of other universities discusses the merits of general introductory science courses versus more specialized instruction.
Several files contain manuscripts and correspondence dealing with publications. Other files include materials on the electron microscope and include photographs taken through the microscope, reprints of articles and news clippings relating to the microscope. "Field Check Lists," dated 1917-21, and field trip reports record observations on the sea coast at Georgetown University. Photographs document trips led by Corrington. Reprints and publications on various scientific topics as well as and bulletins, newsletters, and programs from various scientific and scholarly organizations are included in files. Additional files of particular interest contain newspaper clippings and literature from various organizations on eugenics, genetics and the teaching of evolution. Corrington collected these materials, dated 1920-44, for inclusion in class lectures.
