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Ben H. Petty papers

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 34, Placement: 01
Identifier: MSF 303

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of two folders which contain articles and publications edited by or by Ben H. Petty.

Dates

  • Creation: 1923 - 1954

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Access Information

The cCollection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Some material in this collection is in the public domain, while other material copyrights are held by Purdue University. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Biographical Information

Ben H. Petty was born in a sod house on a government prairie claim in Haynes County, Nebraska, October 12, 1888. He moved to Jonesboro, Indiana at the age of six and went through grade school and high school there. He entered the Civil Engineering School at Purdue University in 1909 and graduated in 1913.

From 1913-1915, Petty did flood control work in Miami Valley, Dayton, Ohio, for Morgan Engineering Company, and from 1915-1920 for the Miami Conservancy District. In 1920 he joined the staff of Purdue University as a Professor of Highway Engineering.

Petty spent two summers with the Indiana State Highway Commission and most of the remaining summers doing highway education work for counties, cities and state highway districts. He was in charge of the Purdue Road School from 1924-1957, with the exception of army service.

He was in active duty with the army June 1943 to April 1945, and served as assistant post engineer, Fort Knox, Kentucky and post engineer, Camp Cambell, Kentucky. He went from Captain to Major, CE.

Ben Petty was a member of the American Road Builders' Association and was a past president of the Educational Division. He served on the board of directors of both organizations. Petty was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Military Engineers. He belonged to Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Delta Chi and Iron Key and a member of the Indiana Society of Chicago. He was editor of Highway Extension News for twenty-seven years, and authored scores of article appearing in technical publications. Petty was voted Engineer of the Year in 1957 by the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers.

Extent

0.05 Cubic Feet (Two folders)

Arrangement

The material is in chronological order.

Acquisition Information

Source and date of acquisition are unknown.

Processing Information

The material is housed in acid-free folders and an acid-free box.

Title
Ben H. Petty papers
Status
Completed
Author
Mary A. Sego
Date
2020-06-18
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Second edition. Collection description first completed 2010-04-02.

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
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