Donald M. Burmister Papers
name: label: Creator
content: Burmister, Donald, 1895-1981
label: Former owner
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
topic: label: Topic
content: Beach erosion
label: Topic
content: Civil engineering
label: Topic
content: Civil engineers
label: Topic
content: Docks
label: Topic
content: Engineering
label: Topic
content: Foundations
label: Topic
content: Piers
label: Topic
content: Soil mechanics
label: Topic
content: Airports
label: Topic
content: Roads -- Design and construction
label: Topic
content: Roads
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Donated to the National Museum of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History) by Donald Burmister.
creator: label: Creator
content: Burmister, Donald, 1895-1981
setName: label: See more items in
content: Donald M. Burmister Papers
bioghist: label: Biographical/Historical note
content: Born in Arizona in 1895, Donald M. Burmister emerged as a valuable contributor to the field of civil engineering during his career as a consulting engineer and university professor. After being drafted for service in the first World War, Burmister enlisted in the American military between 1918 and 1919. He later earned his B.A. (1926), B.S.(1927), C.E.(1928), and PhD (1938) from Columbia University pioneering achievements in the fields of civil engineering and soil mechanics. Burmister taught civil engineering at Columbia University from 1928-1963, specializing in soil mechanics and foundational engineering. He died in 1981 in Calhoun, Michigan at the age of 86.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5.5 Cubic feet (14 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1927-1974
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Transfered to the Archives Center from Division of Work and Industry, 2007.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.1068
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Diagrams
label: Type
content: Articles
label: Type
content: Reports
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Specifications
label: Type
content: Photographs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into two series.

Series 1: Projects, 1934-1966

Series 2: Publications and Writings, 1927-1974
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Kendall McKinley, intern, and Alison Oswald, archivist, 2022.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Diagrams
label: Genre/Form
content: Articles
label: Genre/Form
content: Reports
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Specifications
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 20th century
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents Note
content: Collection consists primarily of reports, prepared by Burmister, relating to consulting projects concerning beach erosion, building and bridge foundations, airports, highways, docks, piers, bulkheads, and land development. Most of the reports were prepared under the Soil Mechanics Laboratory, Columbia University. The laboratory was established by Burmister in 1933 as one of the first soil mechanics laboratories in the United States. It is now equipped with several unique apparatuses for advanced soil testing and research.