A Guide to the Clarence Trent Papers 1958-1991 Trent, Clarence. Papers Ms85-010

A Guide to the Clarence Trent Papers 1958-1991

A Collection in
Special Collections
Collection Number Ms85-010

Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Contact Information:
University Libraries
P.O. Box 90001
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia 24062-9001
USA
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Email: specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu/
Processed by: Clayton McGahee Special Collections Staff
Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
© 2002 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Repository

Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Collection number

Ms85-010

Title

Clarence Trent Papers 1958-1991

Physical Characteristics

1 container; .5 linear feet.

Collector

The Trent papers came to Special Collections Department in two groups. Trent himself donated a small group of papers in 1985. His widow, Mrs. Nellie Trent, donated the balance of the collection in February, 1992.

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Clarence Trent Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred Citation

Trent, Clarence Papers, 1958-1991, Ms85-010, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Biographical/Historical Information

Clarence E. Trent was born on September 26, 1904. A native of Northfolk, West Virginia, Trent attended Bluefield Junior College in Bluefield, Virginia, where he earned a two-year academic diploma in 1925. In 1930 and 1931 he earned a BS and an MS in Electrical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). In 1935 and 1936 he earned BS and MME degrees in Mechanical Engineering at VPI. Trent was appointed an assistant professor at VPI in 1931, teaching at first in the Department of Mathematics. In 1932 he was sent to Bluefield, Virginia, to organize the VPI Engineering Branch School in cooperation with Bluefield College. He served as head of the Branch School for eleven years. He returned to VPI campus in 1943, where he remained until his retirement in 1973, teaching both electrical and mechanical engineering. Trent played an active role in the history of the Virginia Section of the Amercian Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) from 1945 until his death in 1991. In 1981 he was awarded the grade of Life Fellow of the ASME. Serving on the History and Heritage Committee, Trent was a prime force in the selection of two national mechanical engineering landmarks: the Jackson Ferry Shot Tower at Fort Chiswell, Virginia, and Norfolk and Western Railway's 611 steam locomotive. Trent was the co-author (along with Earl B. Norris) of the book Applied Thermodynamics (New York: McGraw Hill, 1955). He died on December 1, 1991, at the age of 87.

Scope and Content Information

The Trent papers contain materials dealing with his activities in the ASME, the Lutheran Campus Ministry at VPI, and engineering education. Further biographical information on Trent may be found in Folder 1 and 27, the latter of which deals with the Distinguished Alumnus Certificate which Bluefield College awarded him in 1986.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged according to subject matter.

Contents List

Biographical ca. 1982-89

Box-folder 1-1

Biographical Information ca. 1982-89

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 1958-91, n.d.

Box-folder 1-2

Correspondence 1958
Box-folder 1-3

Correspondence 1971-72
Box-folder 1-4

Correspondence 1973-81
Box-folder 1-5

Correspondence 1982-83
Box-folder 1-6

Correspondence 1984-91
Box-folder 1-7

Nominations for honors and officers ca. 1965-79
Box-folder 1-8

Norfolk and Western Railway Locomotive 2300 1979
Box-folder 1-9

History of Virginia section of the ASME--documents, drafts, etc. 1979-83
Box-folder 1-10

"Comments on Prof. C.H. Long's Activities with the ASME" 1980
Box-folder 1-11

Fink Truss Bridge relocation 1980
Box-folder 1-12

ASME Fellow 1980-81
Box-folder 1-13

National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks--publications 2-13
Box-folder 1-14

Regional Administration Committee 1982
Box-folder 1-15

History and Heritage Committee 1982-86
Box-folder 1-16

Jackson Ferry Shot Tower (Wythe County) ASME National Historic Landmark dedication--correspondence, notes, etc. 1980-81
Box-folder 1-17

Jackson Ferry Shot Tower (Wythe County)--photographs 1981
Box-folder 1-18

Jackson Ferry Shot Tower (Wythe County) ASME National Historic Landmark dedication--thank you letters 1981
Box-folder 1-19

Jackson Ferry Shot Tower (Wythe County) ASME National Historic Landmark dedication--newspaper articles, press releases 1981-82
Box-folder 1-20

Jackson Ferry Shot Tower (Wythe County) photocopied formula book n.d.
Box-folder 1-21

Norfolk and Western Class J Locomotive No. 611 AMSE National Historic Landmark dedication--correspondence ca. 1982-85
Box-folder 1-22

Norfolk and Western Class J Locomotive No. 611 ASME National Historic Landmark dedication--photographs 1984
Box-folder 1-23

Norfolk and Western Class J Locomotive No. 611 ASME National Historic Landmark dedcation--ceremony 1984
Box-folder 1-24

Norfolk and Western Class J Locomotive No. 611 ASME National Historic Landmark dedication--publications ca. 1984-89

General 1968-77, 1982-86, n.d.

Box-folder 1-25

Engineering education subject files ca. 1968-77
Box-folder 1-26

Lutheran Campus Ministry 1982-86
Box-folder 1-27

Bluefield College Distinguished Alumnus certificate 1984-86
Box-folder 1-28

Unidentified photographs n.d.