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George Stock Benton papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0403

Scope and Contents

The collection consists largely of files removed from the office of George Stock Benton, and is divided into 5 series: articles and reports; US/China Working Group; subject files; slides and photographs; and personal. The articles and reports were published by Benton from the 1950s through the 1970s and deal with various aspects of atmospheric science. The subject files address his work with his professional committees, including the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, the American Meteorological Society, the Chesapeake Research Consortium, the National Science Foundation, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science during the 1970s and 1980s. The are some photographs included, and the collection also includes a group of slides that range from professional subjects to Dr. Benton's family.

Dates

  • Creation: 1950 - 1990

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.

This collection is open for use. The contents of Box 11 were restricted until 2015.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical Note

George Stock Benton was born September 24, 1917 in Oak Park, Illinois. He began attending the University of Chicago in 1934, and transferred to the University of California in 1938. In 1938 he left the University of California to work for the Soil Conservation Service of the US Weather Bureau. In 1941 he returned to the University of Chicago and graduated with his B.S. in 1942.

Benton stayed on at the University of Chicago, working as an instructor in the war-time training program for Air Force and Navy meteorologists. While there he worked part time on a PhD in meteorology which he completed in 1947. The early part of 1948 saw Benton as Assistant Professor of Meteorology at University of California, while September of the same year he came to the Johns Hopkins University as an Associate Professor of Meteorology. He joined the faculty of the Civil Engineering Department of JHU in 1957.

Benton was appointed Acting Chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering in 1958 and Chairman of the Department of Mechanics in 1960. He helped to create the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and in 1970 he was named Dean of the School, of Arts and Sciences. In 1972, Dr. Benton was appointed Vice President for Homewood Divisions.

During his lifetime, Dr. Benton worked as an analyst for the Pentagon during World War II, served as President of the American Meteorological Society and Director of the Environmental Science Services Administration. In 1961 he was a joint recipient (with John C. Geyer) of the Harrison Prescott Eddy Medal awarded by the Federation of Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association.

George Stock Benton retired in 1988. He died of cancer on October 16, 1999 at the age of 82 and was posthumously awarded the President's Medal of the Johns Hopkins University.

Extent

13.88 Cubic Feet (10 record center cartons, 3 letter size document boxes, 1 legal half-size document box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

George Stock Benton (1917-1999) was an American meteorologist and educator who helped create the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins. This collection consists of materials dating from 1950-1990, including articles and reports, files on the US/China Working Group in Atmospheric Sciences and Technology, subject files, slides and photographs, and personal items.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Files were donated by Mrs. Charlotte Benton and transferred to Special Collections from Dr. Benton's office in Olin Hall.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Holly Callahan on July 29, 2008.

Title
Guide to the George Stock Benton papers
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA