Warren N. White, Jr. papers

Identity elements

Reference code

US US kmk 2021-22.01

Level of description

Collection

Title

Warren N. White, Jr. papers

Date(s)

1977 - 2010 (Creation)

Extent

9 Cubic feet

Name of creator

White, Warren N., Jr.

(1952-2021)

Biographical history

Warren Nichols White, Jr. was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 12, 1952. Finishing his secondary education at St. Paul’s High School in Covington, Louisiana, he pursued a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering with honors in Electrical Engineering at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the summer of 1974, he began working for General Electric in Schenectady, New York.

White later transferred to GE’s Power Transformer Division in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. While working in Pittsfield, White commuted to Troy, New York, to earn a Master of Engineering degree in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1977. While working on his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Tulane, he met his future wife, Georganne Wilcox and married on May 4, 1980.

In 1985 White and family traveled north to Manhattan, Kansas, where he began teaching at Kansas State University. Over the years he taught Digital Controls, Finite Elements, and Dynamics among other subjects and developed a course in circuits specialty for Mechanical Engineers. He served as advisor for Women in Engineering, the Wildcat Wind Power Team and Final Frontier Aerospace Systems and Technology (FFAERO). He was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, a national honorary society for Engineering.

Warren Nichols White, Jr., 68, died on Monday, May 24, 2021.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The Warren N. White Jr. papers were generated during Dr. White’s career at K-State. The collection concerns Dr. White’s models, robots, and Kansas Electric Utilities (KEURP) research, as well as materials for the courses he taught. The work largely focuses on electrical engineering and robotics, although it contains some correspondence as well. Notably, there are records of his Galloping Line research from the 1980’s, his work on the General Electric P-50 Robo, and his collaborative work involving ball & beam and pendulum research. Approximate years covered by the records are 1977-2010.

System of arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series: 1) course materials; 2) research; 3) professional activities. The course materials series is arranged in numerical order and not chronologically.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

All materials are open for research.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Languages of the material

English

Scripts of the material

Latin

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Immediate source of acquisition

The records were in Dr. White’s office in Rathbone Hall at the time of his death. In November 2021, the records were brought to the University Archives. A deed of gift was signed by Dr. White’s family and a records transfer agreement was signed by Steven Eckels, Department Head for Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Student records and grades were removed from this collection and destroyed.

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Related descriptions

Specialized notes

Citation: [Item title], [item date], Warren N. White, Jr. papers, Box [number], Folder [number or title], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.