OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical Society
Anderson, A. P. (Alexander
Pierce).
Alexander P. Anderson papers and
research notebooks.
1855-2003 (bulk 1890-1943).
Materials in English, German, and Swedish.
The papers and research notebooks of Alexander P. Anderson.
The papers include correspondence, articles and essays, school and teaching
materials, biographical information, family history, and genealogical data. Two sets
of research notebooks focus on the process of puffing cereal grains and on
Anderson's experiments with aerodynamics. A smaller set of notebooks focuses on
other miscellaneous experiments, such as his experiments on the growth of fruit,
watermelons, and puffing wood. The research notebooks on the process of puffing
cereal grains and other starches are on microfilm.
7.25 cu. ft. (8 boxes) and 9 microfilm reels.
See [Detailed Description](a9) for
shelf locations.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Alexander P. Anderson invented the process of puffing cereal grains and other
starches. He was born in Featherstone, Minnesota in Goodhue County on November 22,
1862, the son of John and Britta Anderson, Swedish immigrants.
Anderson went to the University of Minnesota in 1890 and received his B.S. in 1894
and his M.S. in 1895. In 1895 he went to the University of Munich
(Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München) in Germany, where he got his Ph.D. in
1896. He taught at Clemson College in South Carolina from 1897-1898, married
Lydia Johnson of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1899, and taught at the University of
Minnesota in 1899. He returned to Clemson and taught there from 1899-1901.
In 1901 he became the Curator of the Herbarium at Columbia University, which allowed
him to do research at the New York Botanical Garden, where he discovered the process
of puffing starch. He obtained patents on the process and started the Anderson
Puffed Rice Company in 1905, which was in business until 1941. He partnered with Quaker
Oats and developed puffed rice and wheat products, including the cereal Quaker
Crackles. He conducted his work in a lab in Chicago until 1917 when he built his own Tower View
laboratory at his home near Red Wing, Minnesota, and continued his experiments there.
He also conducted numerous experiments in aerodynamics, working on a wind motor based
on the theories and principles of tornadoes, and other ideas, including experiments
on puffing wood, the growth of fruits, pumpkins, watermelons, gourds, and fungi. In
1937 he was awarded the Charles Reid Barns honorary life membership by the American
Society of Plant Physiologists, and he published a book of short stories, poetry,
and reminiscences of his boyhood in Minnesota titled The
Seventh Reader in 1941. He died on May 7, 1943.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The papers and research notebooks of Alexander P. Anderson, who discovered the
process of puffing cereal grains and other starches. The papers consist of
biographical information, family histories and genealogical data on Alexander P.
Anderson's family and relatives, school and teaching materials, and correspondence
and related papers.
The school papers and teaching materials consist of Anderson's class notebooks from
the University of Minnesota and the University of Munich, some correspondence, and
photographs. The class notebooks contain his handwritten notes and original drawings
and sketches. Also included are sketch pads with original drawings by Anderson.
Teaching materials consist of class record books, schedules, and some miscellaneous
correspondence.
The correspondence and related papers includes letters between Anderson and family
members, John Lind, and others. There is also correspondence concerning a
number of subjects and events including Anderson's illness and surgery, the Anderson
Fellowship funds, teaching positions, World War II, and others.
Research notebooks focus on the process of puffing cereal grains and other starches
(39 volumes on microfilm), experimental aerodynamics (20 volumes), and miscellaneous experiments.
Also included with the research notebooks are correspondence and related papers
regarding the puffing process along with patents and patent applications obtained in
the United States and foreign countries related to the process.Miscellaneous research notebooks focus on his experiments on the growth of fruit,
watermelons, puffing wood, and others.
ARRANGEMENT
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Biographical Information, Family History, and Genealogical Data
- Articles, Clippings, Essays, and Papers
- School Papers and Teaching Materials
- Correspondence and Related Papers
- Research Notebooks
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here].
Alexander P. Anderson Papers and Research Notebooks. Minnesota Historical
Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Microfilm Production:
Microfilm. Saint Paul, Minnesota : Minnesota Historical Society, 1976. 9
reels.
Location of Originals:
Original research notebooks on process of puffing cereal grains and other
starches: New York Botanical Garden; New York, NY.
Accession Information:
Accession numbers: 12,152; 16,000; 16,390
Processing Information:
Processed by: Alex Kent, December 2009.
Catalog ID number: 001717630
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the
Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics,
persons or places should search the catalog using these
headings.
Topics:
Aerodynamics.
Cereal products.
Cereals, Prepared.
Food industry and trade.
Grain -- research.
Starch.
Wheat -- research.
Persons:
Anderson, Solomon.
Graves, Henry S.
Georgii, Max.
Johnson, Jonas Victor.
Lind, John, 1854-1930.
MacDougal, D. T.
Organizations:
Anderson Puffed Rice Company.
Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina.
Columbia University.
Quaker Oats Company.
New York Botanical Garden.
University of Minnesota.
Universität München.
Places:
Munich (Germany).
Red Wing (Minn.).
Types of Documents:
Microforms.
Photographs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Biographical information, Family History, and Genealogical
Data
141.E.10.7B
1
Photograph of Alexander P. Anderson and postcards of Tower View,
1905, 2003.
Biographical Information:
Alexander P. Anderson organizational memberships certificates
and correspondence,
1896-1941.
Alexander P. Anderson finances: personal loans and notes,
land purchase receipts,
1855, 1864, 1866, ca. 1929-1934, ca. 1940-1943.
2 folders.
Alexander P. Anderson and Lydia Anderson Research and
Fellowship Funds,
1928-1944.
3 folders.
Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame,
1982.
Includes list of patents with numbers and descriptions of
inventions.
The Vasa Lutheran's Children's Home background, clippings,
correspondence,
1924, 1926, 1933.
Family history and genealogical data:
Alexander P. Anderson and Anderson family biographical and
historical information,
undated, 1942.
Anderson family genealogical charts,
undated.
Solomon Anderson family: Biographical information and
correspondence,
1909, 1921, 1927-1930, 1934.
Solomon is the uncle of Alexander P. Anderson.
John Lind family biographical information, history, and
genealogy,
1981-1984, 1999.
3 folders.
Includes genealogical data on the Jonas Persson family.
Articles, Clippings, Essays, and Papers
141.E.10.7B
1
Articles and clippings by and about Anderson and miscellaneous
subjects,
undated, 1892, ca. 1938-1941, 1967.
6 folders.
Essays and papers by and about Alexander P. Anderson,
3 folders.
undated, 1894-1902, 1982.
School Papers and Teaching Materials
141.E.10.7B
1
Clemson College,
1897-1901.
2 folders.
Includes correspondence and class record book.
University of Minnesota miscellaneous papers and photographs,
ca. 1893-1943.
5 folders.
Includes photographs of Anderson's friends, the Anderson Registering
Balance, clippings, and class reunion programs and related papers.
141.E.10.7B
2
University of Minnesota miscellaneous papers and photographs,
ca. 1893-1943.
3 folders.
University of Minnesota teaching materials and related papers,
1899-1900.
3 folders.
Includes schedule, notes on botanical experiments, personal
receipts.
University of Minnesota class notebooks:
Botanical notes,
1892.
Chemistry,
1892.
History,
1892-1894.
Zoology and Botany lectures,
1893-1894.
Zoological lecture and class notes,
1892-1895.
Zoology,
ca. 1890-ca. 1892.
University of Minnesota sketch pads: Botany and miscellaneous,
undated, ca. 1891.
University of Munich Notebooks:
Notes on laboratory methods, new apparatus...,
1895.
Goebels class lecture notes,
1896.
University of Munich miscellaneous papers and printed materials,
1895-1896, 1897.
2 folders.
In German and English.
University of Munich miscellaneous personal papers and
correspondence,
1895-1896.
141.E.10.9B
3
Alexander P. Anderson's inaugural dissertation,
1896, 1997.
Includes original in German with English translation.
Correspondence and Related Papers
141.E.10.9B
3
Family members,
ca. 1876-1979, bulk 1876-1937.
4 folders.
Includes correspondence with Anderson's sister, his brothers, his Uncle
Solomon Anderson, and others. Some of the correspondence is possibly in
Swedish, with some translations.
Henry S. Graves,
1897-1901.
Jonas Victor Johnson, Mrs. Fred Olson,
ca. 1930-1934, 1941.
Includes photographs of Jonas Victor Johnson.
John Lind,
ca. 1893-ca. 1928.
2 folders.
Includes photocopied correspondence and John Lind obituary.
John and Norman Lind,
1895-1910.
D.T. MacDougal,
1900-1921.
Includes letter regarding the discovery of the process for puffing
cereal.
Letters to Alexander P. Anderson while at University of Munich,
1895-1896.
Includes miscellaneous photographs taken when Anderson was at University
of Munich.
Miscellaneous,
ca. 1894-ca. 1930
Topical correspondence:
Anderson Fellowship Funds,
1924, 1933-1946.
Anderson Registering Balance: Advertising and photographs,
1894-1901.
2 folders.
Difficulties manufacturing corn puffs,
ca. 1911-1913.
Illness and surgery of Alexander P. Anderson,
ca. 1908-1924.
Land purchases, contracts, property deeds, stock
certificates,
ca. 1907-ca. 1930s.
2 folders.
Land purchases,
1907, 1908, 1919, 1960.
Quaker Oats miscellaneous,
1932-1933, 1935-1940.
Teaching at Clemson,
ca. 1897-1899.
Teaching positions,
ca. 1901.
Teaching years,
1896-1901.
2 folders.
Includes botany class notes from Columbia.
University of Minnesota,
1895-1899.
World War II and miscellaneous,
November 1940-August 1941.
Research Notebooks
141.E.10.10F
4
Process of puffing cereal grains and other starches:
Anderson Puffed Rice Company business records,
1905-1941.
4 folders.
Includes correspondence and related papers, organization of, annual
reports, director's meetings, and correspondence and papers related
to the final liquidation of the company in 1941.
Detailed content analysis of research notebooks prepared by the Goodhue Historical Society, undated.
M3141-9
Research Notebooks:
Records (39 volumes) of Anderson's experiments in puffing cereal
grains and other starch-containing materials conducted between
1900 and 1901 in South Carolina, at the New York Botanical garden,
and in his Red Wing Laboratory.
Microfilm was produced in 1976 by the Minnesota
Historical Society.
Originals are located at the New York
Botanical Garden.
M3141
Notebooks I-III,
1899-May 1904.
M3142
Notebooks IV-VI,
May 1904-May 1907.
M3143
Notebooks VII-X,
July 1907-July 1909.
M3144
Notebooks XI-XV,
July 1909-March 1911.
M3145
Notebooks XVI-XX,
April 1911-July 1912.
M3146
Notebooks XXI-XXV,
August 1913-April 1914.
M3147
Notebooks XXVI-XXVIII, XXXI-XXXIII,
April 1914-August 1922, November 1924-January
1926.
Notebooks XXIX-XXX (September 1922-October 1923) are missing.
M3148
Notebooks XXXIV-XXXVII,
January 1826-March 1928.
M3149
Notebooks XXXVIII-XL and unnumbered notebook,
March 1928-July 1931, 1930-1931.
141.E.10.10F4
Correspondence and related papers:
Discovery of process, early accounts of process, early
problems,
1901-1941.
2 folders.
Advertising puffed products,
1904-1936.
Continuous puffing process and miscellaneous,
ca. 1914-1937.
Continuous puffing process, machinery, miscellaneous,
ca. 1910-ca. 1939.
Publicity,
ca. 1902-1905.
Quaker Oats and miscellaneous,
ca. 1918-ca. 1931.
Rice and bread making,
ca. 1921-1932.
Included is a small packet of mochi opaque rice grains.
Starch, puffed rice, wheat, and popcorn,
ca. 1902-ca. 1914, 1929-1930, 1937-1939, 1941.
2 folders.
Drawings and related papers,
ca. 1902-1921.
2 folders.
Drawings and related papers: Technical paper on starch,
1922.
141.E.11.1B
5
Patents and patent applications:
Correspondence,
1902-1913, 1922-1933.
3 folders.
Includes correspondence with Anderson's patent attorneys Georgii
and Massie.
Announcements and petitions: treating starch and cereal
grains,
undated, ca. 1902, ca. 1906-1907.
Early patents for popping and puffing rice, wood,
undated, 1858, 1867, 1886.
The Art of Treating Starch Material, no.
707892.
August 26, 1902.
Air-Dry Puffing Method,
undated.
Crackle cereal,
1931.
Patents,
1904, 1912.
Patent Application 115,221 and 115,222: Preparing Cereal
Products and Adhesives,
1902-1904.
Patent Application 116,279: The Art of Baking,
1902-1907.
Patent Application 133,283 and 133,284: Preparing Starch
Materials and Adhesive Wafers,
1902-1910.
Patent Application 220,873: Treating Indian Corn,
1904-1909.
Patent Application: Production of Puffed Products,
1927.
Patents: Foreign countries,
1905.
List of pending and approved patents.
Patents: Foreign applications: Treating starch,
1902-1905.
2 folders.
Patents: Foreign applications and receipts,
1903, 1904-1907, 1920, 1929-1940.
2 folders.
Patent application papers,
1906-1907.
2 folders.
Includes correspondence and descriptions of inventions written by
Alexander P. Anderson which were used in patent
applications.
141.E.11.1B
5
Experimental aerodynamics:
Miscellaneous materials: Clippings, wind velocity tables, and
related papers,
ca. 1925-ca. 1935.
Detailed inventory of experimental aerodynamics research
notebooks I-XX (1-20),
undated.
Includes photocopied pages from research notebooks.
Research notebooks I-III,
1925-1928.
The original handwritten research notebooks of Alexander P.
Anderson's experiments with aerodynamics, documenting his attempts
to develop a wind motor, and other inventions and ideas. Pieces of
various models used in his experiments are also included.
141.E.11.2F
6
Research notebooks IV-XV (4-15),
1928-1934.
141.E.11.3B
7
Research notebooks XIV-XX (16-20),
ca. 1936-1939.
Model notes,
1937-1938.
Miscellaneous notes and related papers,
1924-1940.
2 folders.
Miscellaneous research notes and related papers,
undated, ca. 1898, ca. 1906-1909, ca. 1916.
Reference material,
undated.
Correspondence and related papers: Airplane engine purchase,
1929, 1931-1935.
2 folders.
Plans for patent applications,
ca. 1929, ca. 1934-1935, 1997.
Reprints of helicopter and related aerodynamics patents,
1920s-1930s.
Miscellaneous research notebooks:
Miscellaneous reference material: Chemical experiments
handbook,
1889.
Miscellaneous reference material: Pharmacopoeias,
1894, 1897.
Cucurbit fruits, pinius peziza disease, others,
undated, 1898.
Growth of grape vine,
ca. 1901.
141.E.11.4F
8
Luffa cylindrica and Lageneria vulgaris research and notes,
undated.
New apparatus, intstruments, inventions...
1895.
Puffing wood,
ca. 1919-1938.
Pysllium seed experiment miscellaneous notes and related
papers,
undated, ca. 1930-1932, 1997.
2 folders.
Starch,
ca. 1903-1905.
Vitas rotundifolia, melex; Root pressure and SOP exudation
experiment with weighing balance,
undated.
Watermelon seed, drawings for paper on starch,
undated, ca. 1901.
Watermelon growth and tree diseases photographs and related
papers,
undated, ca. 1901.