Johan August Udden was born in Sweden in 1859 and emigrated to America with his family at the age of 2. He attended St. Ansgar Academy in Minnesota from 1873-1876, and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Augustana College in 1881. On August 27, 1882, he was married to Johanna Kristina Johneon. That same fall he accepted a teaching position at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas. There he was a professor of natural science and geology from 1882 until 1888. He then returned to Augustana College to join the faculty and to teach in the same areas. He received his master's degree in 1889 at Augustana, and an honorary Doctorate from Bethany in 1900.
While at Augustana, Udden supervised the geology museum, which had been started by Josua Lindahl. Also, he was leader for the Weatherman's Club (1903) which was the forerunner of the Science Club at Augustana. In 1910, Udden left Augustana College for a permanent position in the Bureau of Ecology, Geology, and Technology at the University of Texas at Austin.
From 1899 to 1903, Udden worked as a special assistant to the Iowa Geological Survey. He was assistant geologist for the University of Texas Mineral Survey from 1903 to 1904. He worked as a geologist for the Illinois Survey from 1906 to 1911, and he served as special agent for the United States Geological Survey from 1906 to 1914.
Professor Udden was a member of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, and a member of the Fellow Geological Society of America. King Oscar II of Sweden decorated him with the Order of the North Star in 1929. He was delegate to the 12th International Geological Congress, which met in Toronto, Canada, in 1913.
Dr. and Mrs. Udden had three sons, Jon Andreas, Anton David, and Svante Mauritz. Udden passed away January 5, 1932, in Austin, Texas. |
The Biographical, 1916-1973 series contains an autobiography of J.A. Udden as well as notes on the Udden family. There are many tributes and memorials following his death, including the dedication of the Lindahl-Udden memorial on May 5, 1950. There are letters to members of Augustana alumni asking for pledges to establish an Udden Memorial Fund as well as a list of the faculty committee appointed to write a tribute. Also included is a biographical essay written by a history student at Augustana.
The Correspondence, 1879-1931 series contains letters between J.A. Udden and the Udden family, F.M. Fryxell and Joshua Lindahl as well as two folders of business correspondence.
The Research and Publications, 1873-1912 series contains Udden's publications from 1891-1924, including original manuscripts.
The Illinois Earthquake, 1909 sub-series contains Udden's observations of the earthquake that shocked Illinois on May 26, 1909. Also included are newspaper clippings about the event as well as maps of the affected area.
The Miscellaneous Manuscripts are Udden's notes, rough drafts, and charts (materials are not arranged due to their fragile condition).
The Academic, 1875-1913 and 1987 series contains speeches and lectures given by Udden at Augustana College. It also contains his grade book, 1875 commencement programs and information about his flying machine, the Rotopter.
The Artifacts series contains sieves used by Udden in his fieldwork.
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Box 1
Series I. Biographical, 1916-1973
Biographies, 1916 and undated
Memorials and Tributes, 1932-1933, 1939
Newspaper Clippings, 1932, 1947
Biography by Augustana student Marianne Horn, 1973
Photographs, undated
Box 2
Series II. Correspondence, 1879-1931
Family Letters, 1903-1918
Family Letters, 1921-1931
Letters from J. Lindahl, 1879-1889
Letters from J. Lindahl, 1890-1906
Letters to F.M. Fryxell, 1922-1931
Business correspondence, 1894-Feb. 1904
Business correspondence, Mar. 1904-1929
Box 3
Series III. Research and Publications, 1873-1912
Lists of published papers, 1891-1924
Well logs and coal land chart, 1873
Megalonyx Beds in Kansas, 1891
A Geological Section Across the Northern Part of Illinois, 1893
Contribution to a biography on Carl von Linne, 1895
Dust and Sandstorms in the West, 1896
Paleozoic Rocks explored by deep borings, 1896
Loess as a Land Deposit, 1897
Pine Creek Conglomerate, 1898
Mechanical Composition of Wind Deposits, 1898
A Geological Romance, 1898
Sweetland Creek Beds, 1899
Geology of Muscatine County, 1899
Geology of Louisia County, 1900
An Old Indian Village, 1900
Box 4
Geology of Jefferson County, 1902
Cyclonic Distribution of Precipitation, 1904-1906
Proboscidian Fossils of the Pleistocene Deposits, 1905
Fossil tracks in the Del Rio Clay, 1906
Geology Sketch Brewster County (Part 1), 1907
Geology Sketch Brewster County (Part 2), 1907
Geology Sketch Brewster County (Part 3), 1907
Geological Survey of Upper Rio Grande Embankment, 1907
Structure of the Belleville-Breeze Area, 1908
Artesian Wells in Peoria, 1908
Geological Classification of the Waters of Illinois, 1909
Structural Relations of the Quick Silver Deposit, 1911
Box 5
Geology and Mineral Resources of Peoria (Part 1), 1912
Geology and Mineral Resources of Peoria (Part 2), 1912
Geology and Mineral Resources of Peoria (Part 3), 1912
Geology and Mineral Resources of Peoria (bound), 1912
Geology of Peoria, undated
Sedimentary Rocks, undated
Trip to the Black Hills, undated
Mining Operations (Part 1), undated
Mining Operations (Part 2), undated
Rudiments of Invertebrate Paleontology, undated
Box 6
Sub-Series: Illinois Earthquake, 1909
Observations on the Illinois Earthquake, 1909
Observations on the Illinois Earthquake continued, 1909
Observations on the Illinois Earthquake (bound), 1909
Newspaper clippings on earthquake, 1909
Maps, 1909
Series IV. Miscellaneous Manuscripts
Notes and Manuscripts, n.d.
Notes and Manuscripts, n.d.
Notes and Manuscripts, n.d.
Box 7
Notes and Manuscripts, n.d.
Notes and Manuscripts, 1910 and n.d.
Series V. Academic, 1875-1913 and 1987
Commencement Programs, 1875
Lectures, 1890-[1900?]
Speeches, 1897-1910
Rotopter: news and photographs, 1908 & 1987
Grade book, 1913
Box 8
Series VI. Artifacts
5 metal sieves, c. 1900
Box 9
1 wooden sieve, c. 1900
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