Leslie A. Stauber Papers

The General Correspondence folders contain correspondence between Stauber and his professors, students, scientific peers, and representatives of scientific organizations. There are also some letters to and from relatives and personal friends. The correspondence is primarily from the 1940s through Stauber's death in 1973, although there are some letters from the 1920s and 1930s.

Stauber's administrative records range in date from 1927 to 1973. They are organized into nine series: General correspondence, University files, Reference files, Research files, Armed Forces Epidemiological Board files, Organization files, Nelson Correspondence files, Personal files and Photographs.

The University files are mostly administrative in nature, but there are several files that deal with certain key University personalities, events, committees and milestones. The bulk of records consist of professional and personal correspondence, internal to the zoology/biology department and university, or external to professional organizations and colleagues outside Rutgers. It is hard to determine if these files represent the complete record or if the surviving correspondence is just a sample of the overall amount of records produced. Given the number of actual documents, it appears that the saved documents are bits and pieces of what was actually produced throughout the years of Stauber's tenure. Also, the range of records is very diverse and though they can be divided into general categories, as a whole, they do not build upon each other to produce a particular theme. Many of the documents capture a moment of time, but taken together are haphazard and do not develop the beginning and end of an accomplishment, emerging pattern or key event. For example, the records range from Stauber's university administrative records (university employment forms, promotion and pay raise notifications), the coordination details of a conference and seminar to interdepartmental memos highlighting some of the administrative issues of the day. In addition to Stauber's correspondence and administrative files, of note are the Bureau of Biological Research records that capture some of the key research events and issues between 1947 to 1973, the Nelson Biological Laboratories records that provide documentation on the development, design and capabilities of the lab facility, to records highlighting the efforts of the Thurlow C. Nelson Portrait Fund and the establishment of the Thurlow and Dorothy Nelson Undergraduate Fund. Other files cover a wide spectrum of university topics such as the retirement of President Mason W. Gross, the inauguration of President Edward J. Bloustein, the bicentennial of the University in 1966, information on the New Jersey Hall and the course instruction to members of Peace Corps volunteers during the summer of 1963.

The Reference series comprises a number of files that consist of parasitological subject reference sources, topic papers, lecture and seminar notes and student projects. These files range from Stauber's graduate school days up to his retirement. Though many of the records are not dated, there is enough dated material to show areas of emphasis during particular time periods. A good example is the malaria and tropical diseases files from 1944 that capture the need of this study at the height of the Pacific Campaigns of World War II. The Research records include: grant applications and proposals, grant progress reports and lab notebooks. There are several Faculty Fellowships, however, most grants are from the U.S. Public Health Department. There is an in-depth oyster research study that is very detailed. However, most records are administrative in nature, highlighting grant applications, expenditure of funds, communication between colleagues, coordination of different issues and progress reports showing how the research was being conducted and resources used. There is very little information on actual results and how these findings contributed to the scientific research effort overall. The lab notebooks contain research information, but are not stand-alone products. There was no deliberate attempt by Stauber to expand this raw data into a specific finding or conclusion to the research work that is captured in the notebooks.

The Armed Forces Epidemiological Board records consist of correspondence from Stauber and members of the board and reports issued by the board. In addition to the general letters, memorandums and reports, there are files specifically from special Commissions on Malaria and Parasitic Diseases. The time range of these records coincides with a critical time in American history (1964-1972). It was during this period that the United States increased its military role in Vietnam and within this context, these Armed Forces Epidemiological Board records capture the areas of military parasitological research that was being conducted in support of the overall military effort taking place in Vietnam at that time.

Stauber was associated with more than 30 organizations. The Organization files from the many professional associations to which he belonged to are mainly administrative in nature. Most records are letters acknowledging membership, announcement of seminars or other organizational business. Perhaps, the most interesting file is that of the American Society of Parasitologists. As president of this organization, Stauber's correspondence and records show the major issues and challenges of the day within the parasitologistic community.

The Nelson correspondence files range from 1926 to 1960 and follows the relationship that evolved between the two men. Dr. Thurlow C. Nelson, one of the more influential Rutgers' professors, was first an instructor to Stauber as a graduate student, then he became a mentor during Stauber's doctoral candidate days. The men were professional colleagues and fellow faculty members of the Zoology Department. Stauber eventually succeeded Dr. Nelson as Chairman of the Zoology Department. Their correspondence is a mix of business, professional views, personal and family updates, encouragement and appreciation of their mutual friendship.

Stauber's personal files consist of a vast array of mementos, paperwork as a student and records dealing with his medical history. Stauber was the subject of many newspaper articles, university alumni and news releases and in addition to collecting the many newspaper and magazine clippings, Stauber also kept mementos from the many conferences and seminars he attended.

The Photograph file contains numerous photographs. Some are random photographs taken throughout the years. Many photos, both personal and scientific, come from his Correspondence files. There are pictures from Stauber's oyster fieldwork, various receptions/dinners and of colleagues taken at different seminars. Also, there are several photos of Stauber with his fellow Rutgers faculty colleagues.

Within the different series, there are several areas that may be of potential interest and value to researchers. The following records are highlighted.

Within the Research series is a very informative record of background information and Stauber's role in the development of the United States display in the 1957 Brussels International Exhibit. The National Science Foundation put together a "Cell Parasitism Section" display within the exhibit. Stauber was a consultant to the Foundation and was a key member of the Foundation team working on this project. Through the study of Stauber's records, one can acquire good background details behind the project, exhibit plans, layout, graphics and notes. There are also documents that highlight some of the problem areas, such as the translation of the display into Flemish/French and finding a company that could do the required photographic work for the display.

Also, within the Research series, another potential area of interest, is Stauber's oyster research study, (the Ecological Studies on the Oyster Drill in the Delaware Bay). This file has no date associated with it, but it was written during the time that Stauber was leaving the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and joining the faculty at Rutgers University (late 1930s to early 1940s). This is a very unique file as it captures from a scientific standpoint, the condition of the Delaware Bay oyster grounds as they were in the mid-twentieth century. Environmentalists or other scientific groups who want to compare the conditions of the oyster grounds today to what they were in the 1930s/1940s will find Stauber's work invaluable. It is perhaps the only work of its kind covering this particular geographical location.

Armed Forces Epidemiological Board files. For specialized research of the Vietnam War, these records show what areas and concerns of parasitological research the U.S. military was focusing on during the critical years of the conflict. Data includes malaria rates of U.S. troops per unit (and location), preventive treatment programs of units in the field and how those plans were implemented by the many different military organizations in Vietnam.

The Nelson correspondence offers a possible treasure trove of information for those individuals researching the history of Rutgers University, especially, the Zoology/Biology Department. The many letters and notes capture events and issues of the day and may give researchers some insight into those particular university or departmental topics that they are researching. Of particular significance is the informal record left behind by two of the university's most prominent faculty of their day.

Researchers interested in past American scientific exhibits, environmentalism, effect of disease on military operations in the Vietnam War and the history of Rutgers University may find these records of value. Also, some of the information found within these series may be good background information for development of other specialized topics.