Finding Aid
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Gustavus Hinrichs Papers Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research. Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department. Copyright: Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials. Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement. Acquisition and Processing Information: These materials were transferred to the University Archives prior to 1970. Finding aid created by Denise Anderson, September 2007. Photographs: None |
Gustavus D. Hinrichs, ca. 1868 |
Scope and Contents
The Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs Papers at the University of Iowa Archives consist of his publications. In addition, his papers reside at the Illinois Historical Survey, University of Illinois Library, at Urbana. The first box Includes articles by Hinrichs that were collected by James P. Wells.
Biographical Note
Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs was born in Lunden, on December 2, 1836. Lunden is now within Germany, but was part of Denmark in 1836, and he considered himself to be Danish. He attended the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1853, followed by the Polytechnic School in the same city. He earned the C.P. degree at the latter institution in 1860, and emigrated from Denmark to the United States during the summer of 1861, settling first in Davenport, Iowa, where he taught at a district school, and later at a high school. His first marriage, in 1860, was to Auguste C. F. Springer. With the death of his wife, he married Auguste's sister, Anna, in 1867. His children were Gustavus John, Anna, and Carl Gustave.
In addition to the C.P. degree earned in Denmark, Hinrichs took the A.M. degree at Griswold College in Poultney, Vermont, in 1870. In 1872 he took the M.D. at Missouri Medical College, and the LL.D. at Griswold College in 1884.
Hinrichs conducted research and published in many fields, including chemistry, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and geology. Among his many accomplishments while affiliated with the University of Iowa, Dr. Hinrichs was one of six researchers credited with the creation of the Periodic System of Elements during the 1860s. In the field of astronomy, Hinrichs wrote about the Amana Colonies meteorite shower, which fell on February 12, 1875 in Iowa County, Iowa.
Possessing a keen interest in meteorology, Dr. Hinrichs made early weather recordings, and in 1875 established the first state weather and crop service in the United States, named the Iowa Weather Service. Dr. Hinrichs was the director from 1875 to 1889. He used his own personal funds to support the project, until state funding was finally available in 1878 for equipment only, with no funding provided for salaries. In this capacity during the 1880s, he termed the phrase derecho for straight-line winds.
Dr. Hinrichs was fluent in Danish, French, German, Italian, and English, and knew some Greek and Latin. He joined the faculty at the University of Iowa on August 13, 1863 as teacher of Modern Languages, which continued for one year. In June 1864, he was named professor and taught physical science in the Department of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy. He also became director of the laboratory. Hinrichs left the University of Iowa on March 2, 1886, following 22 years of service.
Dr. Hinrichs moved to St. Louis in 1889, and served as professor in the St. Louis University Chemistry Department, within the College of Pharmacy. In 1903, St. Louis University named him professor of chemistry within the Medical College. He served in both capacities until his retirement in 1907. Gustavus Hinrichs continued researching his many areas of interest until his death on February 14, 1923, at age 86.
[D. Anderson; 09/2007]
Related Materials
Folder, "Hinrichs, Gustavus," Faculty and Staff Vertical Files collection (RG 01.15.03)
Papers of Charles H. Preston (RG02.09.07) [Student notes of two courses taught by Professor Hinrichs.]
Papers of George W. Stewart (RG99.0141)
Papers of James P. Wells (RG99.0143)
Records of the Manuscript File Collection
on Early University History
(RG 01.01.01), boxes 21-22. [Regarding Hinrichs' dismissal.]
Hinrichs, Adelaide. "The Life of My Grandfather." Typescript, University High School, University of Iowa, n.d. 7 pp., in Historical Papers Collection (RG01.01.03).
Hinrichs, Jeanne A. "Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs." Typescript, 1946. 35 pp. Archives, in Historical Papers Collection (RG01.01.03).
Iben, Icko. Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs Collection, an Inventory. Urbana: University of Illinois Library, 1967
Keyes, Charles. "Contributions to Knowledge by Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs, M.D., LL.D." Iowa Academy of Science Proceedings 31 (1924): 79-94.
Keyes, Charles. "Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs." Iowa Academy of Science Proceedings 30 (1923): 28-31, illus.
Nipher, Francis E. An Address to the Alumni of the State University of Iowa, on the Present Condition of the University. St. Louis: Nixon-Jones Print Co., 1886. 22 pp. [Regarding Hinrichs' dismissal.]
Nipher, Francis E. "Early Instruction in Physics in Iowa." Iowa Historical Record 11 (October 1895): 349-352. Hinrichs at UI, 1870-1872.
Wylie, Charles Clayton. "Gustavus Detlef Hinrichs." Palimpsest 11 (May 1930): 193-201, illus.
Box Contents List
Box 1
Articles
---. 1855
---. 1864
---. 1865
---. 1866
---. 1867
---. 1868
---. 1869
---. 1870
---. 1871
---. 1872
---. 1873
---. 1874
---. 1875
---. 1885
---. 1886
---. 1887
---. 1888
---. 1889
Booklets
---. On the Necessity of the Investigation of the State University of Iowa Ordered by the 22nd General Assembly. 1888
---. False Statements made by the Regents of the Iowa State University to the 24th General Assembly to Secure More Money. 1892
Index of articles
Biography
Inventory of Hinrichs collections
---. University of Iowa
---. University of Illinois
Report of Census Board on Plans for a New Capitol Building, Executive Office, February 1, 1870
Hinrichs, Gustavus. Elements of Chemistry and Mineralogy. 1871 (two copies)
Box 2
The School Laboratory of Physical Science, 1871
Bulletin of the Iowa Weather Service (bound)
---. 1880
---. 1882
---. 1883
---. 1886
---. 1887
Box 3
Bulletin of the Iowa Weather Service (unbound)
---. 1878 (hand-printed)
---. 1879 (hand-printed)
---. 1882
---. 1885
---. 1888
---. 1889
---. 1890
"Natural Classification of the Elements," n.d.
"Typical Cloud Forms for the Observers of the Iowa Weather Service,"
1883
Photocopies of above box 3 contents
Hinrichs, Gustavus. "Introduction to the Mathematical Principles of the Nebular Theory, or Planetology." American Journal of Science, vol. 39 (1864): 2-41
Hinrichs, Gustavus. "The Density, Rotation, and Relative Age of the Planets." American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. 37 (January 1864): 36-56
"Hinrichs' System of the Chemical Elements, Their Atomic Structure and Genesis."
"A Few Facts About the Iowa Weather Service, With Extracts From the Official Report of the Central Station."
Hinrichs, Gustavus. "How a Snow Flake is Built." Scientific American, April 18, 1868: 245
"First Annual Report of Progress of the Geological Survey, by C.A. White, M.D., State Geologist, Together with a Report of Progress by the Chemist, Prof. G. Hinrichs." January 3, 1867
Hinrichs, Gustavus. Six Notes de Chimie Molé culaire sur la Rotation des Molécules. Paris: 1873
