Melbert E. Peterson papers

Mel Peterson was born July 30, 1930, in Moline, Illinois, to Oscar and Jeanette Anderson Peterson. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Augustana College in 1953, and then obtained a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and a doctorate from Oklahoma State University. In 1958, Peterson joined the chemistry faculty at Augustana College. In 1988, Peterson became the director of the John Deere Planetarium & Carl Gamble Observatory at Augustana College, and continued to teach both chemistry and astronomy until his retirement in 1995. Peterson taught for three more years after his retirement, and continued to volunteer at the Planetarium until his death on July 16, 2011. Peterson was active in Kiwanis, and a member of the Black Hawk Hiking Club for over 50 years. Materials in the collection include correspondence, lectures, printed matter, blueprints, and photographs.