Milton E. Muelder papers

Record Group

Identifier: UA-17.77

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains materials pertaining to Milton E. Muelder's service with the Office of Military Government in Germany, spanning the years 1939-1958. Included are maps, plans, reports, policy directives, correspondence on postwar educational programs in Germany, de-Nazification, and the military government division of Germany by the Allied Forces (United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia) after the war.

There are also materials written by Muelder during his tenure as an administrator at Michigan State University, including journal articles and speeches relating to international extension programs such as University of the Ryukyus in Japan. Also included is 1957 letter from Major General Gailey to MSU President John Hannah about Muelder’s work in the University of the Ryukyus.

A holiday card created by Kathleen Muelder in 1962, and an announcement of the dedication of the Kathleen and Milton Muelder Japanese garden in 2000 round out the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1939 - 2000

Creator

Muelder, Milton E. (Person)

Language of Materials

Some of the materials are in German and French.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical Note

Milton E. Muelder was born in Boody, Illinois on August 27, 1908. Muelder obtained his B.A. from Knox College in 1930 and the University of Michigan where he earned his M.A. in 1932 and his Ph.D. in 1939. He joined the faculty at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1935 and taught until 1943 when he joined the United States Naval Reserves as a lieutenant. The U.S. Navy sent Muelder to Columbia University where he studied public administration and international law. He earned a second M.A. in 1943. Muelder then went to Europe to serve in an administrative capacity for the Navy until World War II ended. Muelder served as Chief of Program Branch Control Office for the Office of Military Government (U.S.) in Germany from 1945 to 1947. In 1948, he was appointed as a civilian to serve as deputy director of the Education and Cultural Affairs Division of the Office of Military Government, again in Germany. In 1949, Muelder returned to Michigan State where he worked in administrative positions, including Dean of the College of Science and Arts (1952-1959), Director of the Office of Research and Development (1951-1956), Dean of the School of Advanced Graduate Studies (1959-1973), Vice President for Research and Development (1959-1975) and Director of the MSU Foundation (1974-1976). After a year of leave, he retired from MSU in 1977. He died on May 6, 2010.

Extent

13 Cubic Feet

Additional Description

Legal Status

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to Michigan State University but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Copyright restrictions may apply. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Processing Information

Merged HC 00120 into UA 17.77 to consolidate the collections. UA 17.77 was chosen to reflect Muelder's connection to Michigan State University. October 2019. M. Badgley Malone, S. Roberts