urn:taro:smu.00209 Ben S. Melton papers A Guide Finding aid by Cynthia Franco, 2012. DeGolyer Library
P. O. Box 750396 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275-0396
Finding aid encoded by Cynthia Franco 2012 Finding aid written inEnglish. Description based on DACS Overview DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University Melton, Ben S. Ben S. Melton papers 1931-1988 2 boxes (2 linear feet) This collection contains the professional papers of Benjamin Starr Melton, a Dallas-born geophysicist. Included are his patents, subject files, photographs and notes of his work with proximity fuze, spark photography, seismometers, and stable platform. A2011.0033 Material is in English Biographical Note

Benjamin Starr Melton was born in Dallas on January 2, 1904. He attended Rice Institute and began his career in seismology with Geophysical Service, Inc. in Dallas. During World War II Melton joined the Applied Physics Lab at Johns Hopkins University and worked on the proximity fuze project. Melton later worked as a civilian geophysicist for the U.S. Air Force, and as a consultant. He was a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the American Geophysical Union.

Source:

“Ben Starr Melton.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune 23 January 1992, 12B: (news.google.com)

Scope and Contents of the Collection

These two boxes contain Melton’s subject files, patents, presentations, and photography of his life’s work.

 Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is organized into 1 series: Ben S. Melton papers.

 Access to Collection:

Collection is open for research use.

 Publication Rights:

Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the DeGolyer Library.

 Copyright Statement:

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization.

 Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following terms in the Southern Methodist University Libraries' online catalog. Researchers desiring related materials may search the catalog using these terms.

Melton, Ben S. (Benjamin Starr) Geophysicists -- Texas -- Dallas. Geophysics. Photography, Ballistic. Patents. Clippings Photographs. Related Materials

Benjamin S. Melton papers at Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX

 Preferred Citation

Ben S. Melton papers, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

 Custodial History

These papers were acquired by Dr. Eugene Herrin at Southern Methodist University and given to Herb Robertson in 2010.

 Acquisition Information

Gift, Herb Robertson, 2011-2012.

 Processing Information

Most of this collection was in alphabetical order by file name, so this order was maintained and papers were housed in acid-free folders. The miscellaneous correspondence file was alphabetically arranged by correspondent, with letters written by Melton arranged chronologically. Loose pamphlets and clippings were placed at the end of the collection.

Processed by

Cynthia Franco, 2012.

 Finding aid encoded by

Cynthia Franco, 2012.

 Detailed Description of the Collection Series 1: Papers, 1931-1988 2 boxes

The miscellaneous correspondence file contains letters by Ben S. Melton arranged chronologically, then with letters to Melton arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Correspondents include A.A.J. Hoffman, Margaret McDermott, and the White House Office of Science and Technology.

11Amplifiers, 1965-1971 12Articles in preparation, 1964-1967 13Astronomy, 1967-1981 14Atanasoff Kolsrud NOL seismometer, 1980-1987 15CB radio license, 1986 16Correlation – correspondence, basic drafts, and notes, 1951-1959 17Course notes 18Directories, 1963 19Durham talk, 1977 110Electronics, 1963-1983 111Galvanometers, 1950-1962 112Geophysics, general, 1931-1982 113Geoscience electronics, 1962-1972 114Geotech engineering notebooks, 1966-1970 115Geotech news and views, 1968-1984 116Gravity instruments, 1967-1979 117Gravity tides, 1942-1976 118Gyroscope clipping, 1965 119Historical notes, miscellaneous, 1974 120Honored friends, 1939-1988 121Idea history, 1952-1972 122Institute of Radio Engineers papers, including 2 glass lantern slides, 1952-1987 123Magnetic tape, 1963-1965 124Math and science miscellaneous, 1964-1982 125Miscellaneous correspondence, 1956-1982 126Miscellaneous technical, 1978-1984 21Multicorrelator final report by Israel Rotkin, 1965 22Noise discussions, 1972-1973 23Old technical notes, talks, 1944-1962 24Patent ideas, 1949-1964 252 Patent matters, 1932-1970 26Proximity fuze, Johns Hopkins University certificate (1947) 2World War II Office of Scientific Research and Development (1944) 27Public affairs, 1958-1982 28Reprints, 1965-1976 29Reviewers’ comments, 1964-1975 210Scientific articles, miscellaneous, 1955-1980 211Seismograph, 1952-1981 212Seismograph, 1957-1981 213Seismograph, 1963-1976 214Seismograph design, 1959-1973 215Seismology, 1951-1979 216Seismology, 1959-1963 217LASA Shreveport talk, 1966 218Sign coincidence (early writings), 1951-1953 219Spark photography 220Spark photography, 1948-1952 221Stable platform, 1960-1962 222Standards, 1965 223Statistics thermodynamics, 1961-1964 224Technical pictures (Geotech) 225Triax correspondence and photographs, 1966-1969 226Pamphlets and clippings