A Finding Aid for the Henry C. Reitz Papers 1956-1976

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Henry C. Reitz Papers

Creator: Reitz, Henry C.

Dates: 1956-1976

Abstract: Henry Reitz served as a faculty member in the Department of Physical Sciences at Ferris State University from 1963-1976 and as the department head from 1963-1973. He taught various levels of undergraduate chemistry courses. Records include annotated lecture and lab manuals. The papers span the dates 1956-1976.

Language: English

Quantity: 0.5 cubic feet; 1 half records center box

Identification: UA 24.18.51

Repository: Ferris State University Archives and Records Management Program

Historical Note

Henry Charles Reitz was born in 1906. He began his studies at Southwest Missouri State College, and transferred to the University of Illinois where he earned a B.S. in chemistry in 1927. He later earned an M.S. from the University of Maryland in 1931 and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1938.

After earning his degrees, Reitz taught in the public schools of Illinois. Immediately prior to his arrival at Ferris, he spent 16 years as an instructor at Purdue University. He came to Ferris to serve both as a faculty member and as the head of the Physical Sciences department.

Reitz co-authored a book with Leslie Earle Arrow entitled Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry in 1943. It was reprinted in 1949. He also authored lecture course books for Purdue, which he used in his courses at Ferris State College. He retired as department head in 1973, and retired as a faculty member in 1976.

Reitz married Lois Reitz and had three children.

His widow Lois Reitz created a college endowment in his memory. On December 3, 1998, Science 139, was dedicated as the Reitz Science Reading Room. It contained recent science publications and served as a study area to promote the study of the sciences. Additionally, a named scholarship for upper level chemistry students was endowed.

Scope and Content Note

Henry C. Reitz was a professor of chemistry at Ferris State College from 1963-1976. On December 3, 1998, Science 139 was dedicated as the Reitz Science Reading Room.

The archival collection consists solely of material used by Reitz in teaching chemistry courses at Ferris State College. There are no administrative materials relating to his tenure as department head. Nor is there material relating to his personal research interests.

The collection consists of two types of items- the first being the lecture and recitation manual authored by Reitz that was used as a lecture guideline for courses he taught at Ferris State College. The copyright date on the manuals are from 1956-1962, but there are annotations which contain statistics that go far beyond that date. The second part of the collection consists of laboratory manuals written by fellow chemistry professor Shirley Young. These manuals have been annotated by Reitz for sections that he personally taught.

Arrangement

The papers are contained in a single series.

Access Information

Conditions of Access

The Henry C. Reitz Papers are open for research to all users in accordance with University Archives and Records Management access policies. It is available in the reading room of the Ferris State University Archives.

Conditions of Use

Requests for permission to publish material should be directed to the University Archivist. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Copyright interests for this collection have not been transferred to Ferris State University. For more information, contact the University Archivist.

Subject Headings

Below are a list of names, organizations and subjects relating to the collection. Names have been taken from Library of Congress Authority headings whenever possible.

• Chemistry, analytic
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- Curricula
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- History- 1963-1976
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- Physical Sciences Department
• Universities and colleges-Michigan-Curricula

Related Materials

None specified.

Administrative Information

Citations

Footnotes and bibliographic references should use the following format:
[Item], Folder, Box. Henry C. Reitz Papers. Ferris State University Archives. Big Rapids, Michigan.

Provenance (Acquisition Information)

The Henry C. Reitz Papers were donated by Rick Bearden, Big Rapids, Michigan, in December 1990 and came from the estate of Henry C. Reitz.

Processing Information

The Henry C. Reitz Papers were processed to the folder level by Melinda McMartin Isler in June 2006. A finding aid was prepared in a word processing format and converted to EAD 1.0. A collection level MARC-21 record was prepared and placed in the library online public access catalog. Description based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2004).

Separated Materials

Duplicate copies of the VFS building dedication brochure and Chemistry manuals authored by Shirley Young were removed from the collection.

Technical Requirements

This collection consists of typed and handwritten papers. There is no specialized software required for viewing.

Content Listing

Subject Files. 1956-1976.

Records include annotated manuals for chemistry courses, including labs. The lecture and recitation manuals were authored by Reitz prior to his arrival at Ferris

The series is arranged alphabetically by name.

Box	Folder	Contents
1	1	Lecture and Recitation Manual. General Chemistry 111 and 112. 1st edition. 1956. Copy 1.
1	2	Lecture and Recitation Manual. General Chemistry 111 and 112. 1st edition. 1956. Copy 2.
1	3	Lecture and Recitation Manual. General Chemistry 111 and 112. 3rd edition.
1	4	Lecture and Recitation Manual. General Chemistry 111 and 112. 4th edition.
1	5	Young, Shirley. Lab Experiments for Chemistry 120A, 120B and 121. 2nd edition. 1964.
1	6	Young, Shirley. Lab Experiments for Chemistry 120A, 120B and 121. 5th edition. 1965.
1	7	Young, Shirley. Lab Experiments for Chemistry 120A, 120B and 121. 5th edition. 1965.