Henry H. Bauer Inventory

Henry H. Bauer Papers

1971-1999, Ms99-005, 14 cu. ft.

Introduction

Dr. Henry H. Bauer (Ph.D. 1956, University of Sydney, Australia) is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and Science Studies, and Emeritus Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1978-1999) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He frequently wrote and spoke about scientific unorthodoxies (e.g., Loch Ness monster, Velikovsky), ethics in science, as well as the politics of higher education.

Scope and Content

The Bauer Collection contains correspondence, grant reports, newspaper clippings, memoirs, books, class roles, chemistry files, evaluations, lectures, and appointment books. Correspondence and clippings mainly concern Loch Ness. There are papers on chemistry and Bauer's classes. There are papers written by Bauer about Immanuel Velikovsky, a Russian-born doctor and scientist who wrote Oedipus and Akhnation and Age of Chaos. In Oedipus and Akhnation Velikovsky argues that Akhnation, one of Freud's characters, was actually Oedipus. Age of Chaos deals with a history of the Middle East, based on the theory that natural catastrophes occurred during the same time as the Israelites Exodus from Egypt. Velikovsky used many of Bauer's papers for his sources.

Provenance

Dr. Bauer donated the collection over a number of years, 1992-1999.

Contents List (prepared by James Finck, August 2001)

Box 1:

Loch Ness correspondence
Literature search
Chemistry grant reports

Box 2:

Loch Ness clippings

Box 3:

Loch Ness clippings
Dean's memoirs
Chemistry papers and personal memos

Box 4:

Kronos
Society for Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS) Review
Society for Interdisciplinary Studies Workshops

Box 5:

A New Theory of the Earth
Velikovsky's sources part 1-6
Books on Velikovsky

Box 6:

Books by Velikovsky
Enigma correspondences
Sci Lit correspondences

Box 7:

Chemistry files

Box 8:

Loch Ness correspondences
Mackal archives

Box 9:

Lock Ness correspondences
Velikovsky References

Box 10:

Teacher coarse evaluations
Communications from students
Newspaper articles
Student evaluations
Reactions to speeches

Box 11:

Class roles 1986-1994
Misc. Files

Box 12:

Class roles and lectures 1993-1996
1983-1994 appointment books
Misc. files

Box 13:

Loch Ness
Kelikovsly
Science files
Misc. files

Box 14:

Misc files; Deanship; Sci Lit, 1998-1999

Comments or questions? Contact Gail McMillan