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Nelson L. Nemerow Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Summary

Creator: Nemerow, Nelson L.
Title: Nelson L. Nemerow Papers
Dates: 1920-2005
Size: 4 boxes (2 linear feet)
Abstract: An assortment of materials related to Nelson Nemerow's professional life including notes, correspondence, video recordings of lectures and reports to the United Nations
Language: English
Repository: University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives

Biography

Nelson L Nemerow (1924-2007) was a civil engineering professor at Syracuse University from 1958 to 1976. Nemerow completed his undergraduate degree at Syracuse University in 1943 and his masters and PhD at Rutgers in 1949 and 1951 respectively.

Nemerow was a pioneer in his field. He advocated for environmental issues before it was a part of the national narrative. Nemerow subscribed to the notion that a state of zero pollution could be reached if companies recycled their waste products in Environmentally Balanced Industrial Complexes (EBICs). He was utilized as an expert in several legal disputes related to water pollution.

Nemerow began his teaching career as an assistant professor and then an associate professor at North Carolina College until 1958 when he was hired at Syracuse University as a professor of civil engineering. In the 1965-66 school year he was a visiting professor at Stanford University. He was chosen by the United Nations in 1975 to serve as an expert consultant to the Hungarian flax industry. In 1976 he was selected by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Vienna, Austria to direct a study of industries polluting the Mediterranean Sea.

Nemerow founded Syracuse University's environmental engineering program (1976) which was one of the first of its kind. Syracuse University provides a scholarship, the Nelson L. Nemerow Memorial Scholarship in Environmental Engineering, endowed by his son Glen Nemerow, for graduate students at the College of Engineering and Computer Science who are interested in clean water initiatives. The first scholarship was awarded in 2017.

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Scope and Content Note

The Nelson L. Nemerow Papers include materials related to his professional life. The papers span from 1920 to 2005 and are arranged into two series:

Media includes VHS tape recordings of his lectures and presentations, along with a floppy disk containing a paper he wrote for the International Seminar on Combined Waste Water Treatment in India.

Papers includes materials related to legal disputes he was consulted on, reports he made to the United Nations, an advanced copy of Industrial and Hazardous Waste Treatment, notes and materials related to his advocacy for and research into Environmentally Balanced Industrial Complexes, and professional and personal correspondence. Some types of materials included are handwritten notes, overhead projector slides, and diagrams related to his work.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Access to recordings requires advance notice to produce a use copy.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Related Material

The University Archives holds a clipping file and portrait file for Nelson Nemerow.

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Selected Search Terms

Names

Nemerow, Nelson L.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Civil engineering.
Sanitary engineering.
Water -- Pollution.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Types of material

Correspondence.
Diagrams.
Drafts (documents)
Floppy disks.
Official reports.
Photographs.
Transparencies.
Videotapes.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Nelson L. Nemerow Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Glen Nemerow donated his father's papers to the University Archives in 2017.

Processing Information

Materials were rehoused in acid free folders and boxes. Materials tucked between the pages of Industrial and Hazardous Waste Treatment were removed and placed in a folder. Photographs were placed in Mylar sleeves.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Nicole Morello
Date: 2018
Revision history:

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Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

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Inventory

Media
Box 2 Nelson Nemerow: Indian Paper - Floppy disc containing .WKS file and .DOC file. Accompanied by handwritten note. (Floppy disk: 3 1/2 inch; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_018)
India paper.wks; Indian paper.doc
Box 2 Nemerow [?]: (Lectures 16 through 20) 4/13/90 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_014)
Box 1 Nemerow counter: (Lectures 1 through 5) 02/13/91 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_005)
Box 2 Nemerow Counter: (Lectures 11 through 15) - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. Note reads: "Tape poor quality". (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_013)
Box 2 Nemerow Counter: (Lectures 21 through 25) 4/25/90 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_015)
Box 2 Nemerow Counter: (Lectures 21 through 25); TV Show 4/26/90 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_016)
Box 1 Nemerow counter: Air Pollution Lectures (11 through 15) 11/6/90 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_002)
Box 1 Nemerow counter: Air Pollution Lectures (21 through 25) 1990 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_003)
Box 1 Nemerow counter: Air Pollution Lectures (26 through 29) 1990 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_004)
Box 1 Nemerow counter: Air Pollution Lectures (6 through 10) 1990 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_001)
Box 2 Nemerow: (Lectures 1 through 4) 2/16/90 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_011)
Box 1 Nemerow: (Lectures 1 through 5) 9/24/90 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_009)
Box 2 Nemerow: (Lectures 1 through 5) - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_017)
Box 1 Nemerow: (Lectures 16 through 20) - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_010)
Box 1 Nemerow: (Lectures 21 through 24) 08/08/91 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_007)
Box 1 Nemerow: (Lectures 25 through 26) 08/08/91 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_008)
Box 1 Nemerow: (Lectures 6 through 10) 02/28/91 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_006)
Box 2 Nemerow: (Lectures 6 through 10) 2/16/90 - Small label on the cassette box lists the content. (VHS; running time 120:00) (ID#: sua_nemerow_n_012)
Papers
Box 3 Clippings 1967, 1982-1983, undated
Box 3 Correspondence - professional 1977-2005, undated
Box 3 Correspondence – quality of United States stamps 1980-1981
Box 3 Correspondence – Spanish translation of Industrial and hazardous waste treatment 1992-1998
Box 3 Environmentally balanced industrial complexes materials and notes 2006 undated
Box 3 Environmentally balanced industrial complexes paper for Water and environment and technology 1998
Box 3 Industrial and hazardous waste treatment enclosures 1991-1993, undated
Box 4 Industrial and hazardous waste treatment, Nelson Nemerow 1991
Box 2 Industrial complexing for zero pollution overhead projector slides undated
Box 3 International seminar on combined waste water treatment – Hyderabad, India 2000
Box 3 Legal consultation – Koppers dispute 1920-1957, 1996-1998, undated
Box 3 Legal consultation – Metex dispute 1998
Box 3 Legal consultation – Northern Indiana Public Service dispute 1998
Box 3 Report before the division of water and waste chemistry - American chemical society, September 1962 1962
Box 3 Photographs 1966, undated
Box 4 Pollution in Cyprus - report to the government of Cyprus, Nelson Nemerow 1974
Box 3 Professional life 1977-1982, undated
Box 4 Wastewater problems in flax processing Hungary - United Nations report, Nelson Nemerow 1975

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