The Ralph Fadum Papers document Fadum’s career as Dean and faculty member of the North Carolina State University College of Engineering from 1962 to 1978. The majority of the collection consists speeches and press releases. It also includes correspondence, research notes, awards, news articles, and photographs relating to Fadum's professional career as well as family and travel photographs from after his retirement. Fadum's consulting work, as well as his involvement in military projects and with the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Ralph E. Fadum was born on July 19, 1912, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Niagara Falls, New York. He came to North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University) in 1949 as a Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, holding this position until 1962. Dr. Fadum became the Dean of Engineering on July 1, 1962, serving the University until his retirement in 1978. Fadum was an adviser to many government agencies including the United States Department of Defense, United States Department of the Army, United State Air Force, National Science Foundation, and United States Department of Transportation. As a consultant, he was involved in solving many complex geotechnical problems, such as the construction of airfields in Greenland; the Alaska pipeline; launch facilities for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Apollo Project; the development of the road test program of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; landslide stabilization for the Panama Canal; the construction of underground ICBM missile silos that could withstand nuclear blast effects; and the development of foundation requirements for radar stations in the North American Defense System. Fadum also had a strong interest in athletics. He served twice as president of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and a four-year term as vice president of District 3 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Ralph E. Fadum was born on July 19, 1912, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Niagara Falls, New York. He received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1935. He received two degrees in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering from Harvard University; a M.S in 1937 and a Sc.D. in 1941. He spent eight years teaching as an Instructor and Faculty Instructor at Harvard in Civil Engineering from 1935-1943. Fadum was a Professor of Soil Mechanics at Purdue University from 1943-1949. He came to North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University) in 1949 as a Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, holding this position until 1962. Dr. Fadum became the Dean of Engineering on July 1, 1962 serving the University until his retirement in 1978.
Fadum was a long-time member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). He received the Distinguished Civil Engineering Alumnus Award from the University of Illinois, an honorary doctorate in engineering from Purdue University, and an Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award from the North Carolina Society of Engineers. He was an ASEE fellow and was elected an honorary member of both ASCE and ASEE. In 1975, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for his pioneering work in soil mechanics and foundation engineering. In 1978, he was named a National Honor Member of Chi Epsilon, the honorary society of civil engineering. Shortly before his death, he was honored as a member of the charter class of fellows by the Professional Engineers of North Carolina.
Fadum was an adviser to many government agencies including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of the Army, U.S. Air Force, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Department of Transportation. As a consultant, he was involved in solving many complex geotechnical problems, such as the construction of airfields in Greenland; the Alaska pipeline; launch facilities for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Apollo Project; the development of the road test program of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; landslide stabilization for the Panama Canal; the construction of underground ICBM missile silos that could withstand nuclear blast effects; and the development of foundation requirements for radar stations in the North American Defense System.
Fadum also had a strong interest in athletics. He served twice as president of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and a four-year term as vice president of District 3 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The Ralph Fadum Papers document Fadum’s career as Dean and faculty member of the North Carolina State University College of Engineering from 1962 to 1978. The majority of the collection constists speeches and press relases. It also includes of correspondence, research notes, awards, news articles, and photographs relating to Fadum's professional career as well as family and travel photographs from after his retirement. The collection also contains documentation of some of Fadum's consulting work, as well as his involvement in military projects and with the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The collection is arranged chronologically.
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.
[Identification of item], Ralph Fadum Papers, MC 00278, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Processed by Jessica Hosey-Heitzman; machine-readable finding aid by Jessica Hosey-Heitzman, April 2009; finding aid updated to reflect additions to collection by: Todd Kosmerick, September 2018.
Awards, Fraternity Memeberships, and Diplomas
Fraternity Memberships
Chi Epsilon Activities, Membership Awards, Engineering Paper, News Release and Newspaper Clipping on Panama Canal Zone Study, and Biographical Sketch
Speech (Post-Baccalaureate Education) and Paper by Gordon M. Fair
Membership Awards: Secretary of the Army's Scientific Advisory Panel, American Society of Civil Engineers; and International Date Line Award from Pan American Airline
Correspondence (William D. Alexander, USAF), Newspaper Clippings (Dean of Engineering appointment), Press Releases (Deanship appointment), Membership Award (AASHO, Highway Research Board), Program (Deanship appointment) and Biographical Sketch.
Speeches/Remarks (Freshman Engineering Students, NC Concrete Masonry Association, Engineering Foundation Meeting, Alumni Meeting, AISC Lecture Series, Advisory Council, Rotary Club, Furniture Manufacturing Program), and Report on the School of Engineering.
Speech/Remarks (Critical Path Method Short Course, Alumni Meetings, Municipal Public Works Conference, Raleigh Engineers Club Meeting, Advisory Council, Regional Highway Research and Development Conference, East Carolina Engineer's Club, Engineering--Key to Industrial Progress Conference); Correspondence (Bryant Electric Company); Awards (U.S. Army, Secretary of the Army's Scientific Advisory Panel, Colden Chain, Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree--Purdue University); Program (Purdue University Award); Correspondence (Purdue University, Director of Information Services NCSC); and News Release (Purdue University Award)
Newspaper Clippings (Housing Board); Speeches/Remarks (Engineering Freshmen, Southeastern Gas Association, Advisory Council, Parents Day, Engineers Club of Western North Carolina, N.C. Branch of the ASEE); Outline of Remarks (ASEE meeting), NC Engineering Foundation, Greensboro Engineers Club).
Speeches/Remarks (6th annual Highway Conference, Alumni Meeting, Industrial Ventilation Conference, ASCE Banquet at Purdue, Sandwich Club, Greensboro Rotary Club, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Junior Technical Society, Southern Engineer, Winston-Salem Engineers' Club, Commencement Address); Pamphlet(National Engineers' Week); Press Release (Indiana Section of ASCE); Newspaper Clipping
Speeches/Remarks (Charlotte Engineers' Club, Orientation for Freshmen, NC Engineering Foundation Meeting, Ceramics Conference, Alumni Club, Advisory Council, Engineering Foundation Meeting, Sandwich Club, Faculty Senate); NCState Alumni Newsletter; Biographical Sketch; Press Release (Appointment to US Army Scientific Panel)
Newsletter (NC Society of Engineers); Speeches/Remarks (NC Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Engineers' Fair); Correspondence (Duke Department of Civil Engineering); Press Release (Operation North Star 8); Newspaper Clipping (Operation North Star 8).
Speeches/Remarks (Freshman Orientation, "What is Engineering?", NC Engineering Foundation Conference, NC Engineering Founation Meeting, Meeting of High School Counselors of Western NC Advisory Council, Adhesives and Plastics Workshop, Advisory Conference on Proposed Researches for Athey Products Corporation, High Speed Transportation Committee); Correspondence (Honorarium Americana - Biographical Sketch, Engineers' Society of Western NC); Biographical Sketch.
Speeches/Remarks (National Engineers' Week, Monroe Professional Engineers Society, Industrial Ventilation Conference, On-Campus Tooling and Manufacturing Conference, Engineers' Fair, Symposium on Estuarine Ecology, Administration Council Workshop, IEEE Summer Symposium, Living and Learning Program); Correspondence (Western Electric Company-Engineering Education, Duff-Norton Company, Coordinator of Religious Affairs (Living and Learning Program)); Press Release (US Army's Scientific Advisory Panel appointment); Awards (US Army's Scientific Advisory Panel appointment); Biographical Sketch; Newsletter (Statelog)
Speeches/Remarks (Freshman Orientation, Guidance Counselors Conference, Prestressed Concrete Seminar, Student Chapter of the ASCE, NC ASCE Annual Meeting, Engineering Foundation, Visiting Fayetteville Industrialits and Businessmen); Paper (Opportunities in Engineering); News Article (The University-Industry Interface)
Newspaper Clipping (Engineering Shortage); Correspondence (Duke University - Department of Civil Engineering, NC State University Department of Information Services, Southeast Electric Exchange); Biographical Sketch; Speeches/Remarks (Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Advisory Council, Soap Box Derby Set, Conference on Engineering Education in the Utility Industry, Freshman Orientation); Award (US Army War College)
Newspaper Clipping (5 Year Engineering); Correspondence (US Air Force, MIT publication); Biographical Sketch; Speeches/Remarks (Physical Plant Supervisor Workshop, Summary of CRREL, Numerical Control Seminar, Visiting Nash County Industrialists and Businessmen, High school Guidance Counselor Seminar, Ceramic Plant Operators' Forum, EMD Specialty Conference); News Release (US Army Cold Regions Research, CRRWEL Alaskan Trip); Pamphlet (EMD Specialty Conference)
Newspaper Clipping (Increasing Need for Engineers); Correspondence (US Department of Agriculture, Western Electric, Pittsburg Plate Glass Foundation, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Department of Community Colleges); Biographical Sketch/Data; Speeches/Remarks (Engineering-Education Seminar, Visiting Edgecombe County Industrialists and Businessmen, NC Society of Engineers, Meeting of Parents, Students, and Counselors (Page HS), Visiting New Bern and Craven County Industrialists and Businessmen, St. Patrick's Dance, Home Builders Management Program Certification, Engineering Technology Instructors Meeting, Freshman Orientation, NC Symposium on Transportation)
News Release/Newsletter (Apollo Man-on-Moon Mission); Biographical Sketch/Data; Awards (Engineers Society of Western NC Membership, Who's Who in America)
Speeches/Remarks (NC Highway Conference, Views on Engineering Education and Teaching, Engineers' Fair, On-Campus Tooling and Manufacturing Conference, NC Section of ASCE); News Release/Newsletter (Distinguished Alumnus Award/Illinois); Newspaper Clipping (Distinguished Alumnus Award); Correspondence (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, University Illinois of Distinguished Alumnus Award); Biographical Sketch/Data; Awards (Distinguished Alumnus Award University of Illinois, Raleigh Jaycees)
Speeches/Remarks (Industrial Ventilation Conference, Engineers' Fair, "Role of the University in Today's Society); News Release/Newsletter; Newspaper Clipping; Biographical Sketch/Data; Awards (Personalities of the South, Leaders in Education); Program (Engineering Awards)
Speeches/Remarks (Western Electric Engineering Symposium, Ceramic Plant Operators' Forum, "Engineers Have Brighter Future); News Release/Newsletter (Space Program, North Carolina Engineer, Board of Directors of ASEE); Newspaper Clipping; Biographical Sketch/Data; Awards (NC Society of Engineers - Engineering Award of the Year, Outstanding Educators of America, Dictionary of International Biography, American Men of Science); Correspondence (Rotary Foundation Award Committee, ASEE Editor, Machemehl/Civil Engineering, NC Section of ASCE)
Speeches/Remarks (Estuary Engineering, ASEE Annual Meeting, Presentation of Malaysian Art to University Student Center); Correspondence (ASEE Chairman, Faculty Activities Report)
Speeches/Remarks ("ViewPoint" Presentation on WRAL); Minutes (Engineering School Faculty, Executive Committee); News Release (Engineering Profession); Program (NC State University Engineering Lecture Series, The Transit-Chi Epsilon ); Newspaper Clipping (Athletic Chairman); Awards (US Army War College, Who's Who in America, Outstanding Educators of America, Who's Who in North Carolina); Biographical Sketch/Data; Correspondence (Who's Who in North Carolina)
Correspondence (National Driving Center, Univ. of Chile-Soil Mechanics); Awards (Personalites of the South, Who's Who in America)
Award (Order of the Engineer, Personalities of the South, Dictionary of International Biography, American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in America); News Release (National Academy of Engineering); Program (NC State University Engineering Series); Biographical Sketch/Data; Correspondence (Department of the Army-Education and Professional Development)
Newspaper Clippings (Who's Who in North Carolina, Enrollment Curbs); Pamphlet (The Transit-Chi Epsilon, Minutes of National Conclave-Chi Epsilon); Award (United Airlines Commemoration); Newsletter (NC State University Engineering Research News); Photo (Tidewater Club); Correspondence (Tidewater Club); Speeches/Remars (Tidewater Club); Biographical Sketch/Data; News Release (National Engineers Week)
Speeches/Remarks (Tidewater Club, Engineering Foundation); Program (NC State University Engineering Lecture Series); Awards (Who's Who in America, Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, NC State University Sports Fishing Short Course, Volunteer Center of Wake County Outstanding Service Award); Paper (Energy Programs in North Carolina); News Release (Award-US Department of Army-Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Award-ASEE-Honorary Membership Award, Raleigh Engineers Club Outstanding Engineering Award); Newspaper/Newsletter (The Journal of North Carolina State University, NC State University Engineering Research News); Biographical Sketch/Data; Report (Highway Research Program, First Black Students in Engineering)
Speeches/Remarks (Symposium on Alternative Futures, Chi Epsilon Award-National Honor Member, Advisory Council Meeting); Program (Alternative Futures, Chi Epsilon Award); Correspondence (Chi Epsilon Award, School of Engineering Fellowship, NC State University Department of Materials Engineering-Retirement Schedule, Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service, Department of the Army); Paper (Technology and Environmental Perspectives-Chi Epsilon Award); News Release (Chi Epsilon Award, Retirement); Award (NC Association of Professions); Invitation to Retirement Banquet; Newsletter (Southern Engineer)
Speeches/Remarks (ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, Sketch for the Transit-Chi Epsilon, Retirement Reception); News Release (ROTC Ceremony, New Engineering Records, Southern Furniture Manufactures Association); Schedule (ROTC Commissioning Ceremony); Correspondence (ASCE Honorary Membership, Department of the Army-Science Board, NC State University-Director of Information Services, Harvard University-Casagrande, ASCE-Membership); Program (ASCE Convention, ASCE Awards); Award (NC State University Certificate of Appreciation, Raleigh Engineers Club Lifetime Membership)
Correspondence (Deparment of the Army-Ice Engineering Facility, MIT-Corporation Visiting Committee); Award (NC State University Sports Fishing Short Course)
Correspondence (ASCE Magazine, Chi Epsilon); News Article (Engineering Education-ASEE Constitution); American Indian Marriage Blessing
Biographical Sketches
Papers: Boosting Productivity and Efficiency in the Civil Engineering Profession, The Stater, ASCE Paper, The Unique Role which NC State University has in the Economic Development of NC, Abstract, Application of New Technology to the Solution of Environmental Problems, Phase II Overall Evaluation and Stimulation of Graduate Instruction in Engineering at NCSC
Awards: Encyclopedia Britannica, NC Society of Surveyors, NC State University Athletics Center, State of North Carolina Executive Department
Speeches/Remarks: AIEE Subsection Meeting (Engineering Education at NCSC), Counseling Remarks (Opportunities in Engineering), Introduction of Speaker (Dinner, Fort Bragg Officer's Club), Background for Bill Stevenson's Award Luncheon, Acceptance Remarks (Furniture Factory of the Future), Lamme Award Citation, Knighting Ceremony,
Press Releases: Agromeck Letter to the Editor (The Role of the University in Today's Society), ASEE Outstanding Service Award, Alaskan Pipeline Talk, Awards Convocation of CE Department at University of Illinois, Cambodia's Highway 4 Memories, Engineering Explorer Scout Post 382, Industrial Leaders Visit
Notes
Newspaper Clipping (Engineering Programs at 3 WNC Colleges); Pamphlet (NC State University Graduate Study in Civil Engineering); Newsletter (Civil Engineering: More Than Building Bridges); Notes on Slides (no slides in collection)
Contained in these notebooks is documentation from Fadum's consulting work, his work on the American Society of Civil Engineers Glossary of Terms and Definitions in Soil Mechanics, and his involvement in Operation North Star II and the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
Professional Photographs of Ralph Fadum, alone, for the University.
Personal and Professional Photographs of Ralph Fadum with others.
This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
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Phone: (919) 515-2273
[Identification of item], Ralph Fadum Papers, MC 00278, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.