Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Dan H. Pletta Papers, Ms1982-006, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The first accession was donated to Special Collections by Dan H. Pletta in 1982. The second accession was transferred from the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia Tech in 1996.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Dan H. Pletta Papers was completed in or prior to April 2001.

Biographical Note

Dan H. Pletta (1903-1996) was educated at University of Illinois (B.S., 1927; C.E., 1938) and University of Wisconsin (M.S., 1931) with additional graduate study at Columbia University. He was professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia Tech (1932-1972) and department head from 1958-1970. As department head he guided the development of that department until it emerged as a leader in related graduate study and research. He was one of the original five University Distinguished Professors appointed in 1970 and Professor Emeritus upon his retirement in 1972. Besides teaching, his experience included design and construction in civil engineering, consulting as a stress analyst, and World War II service as an Ordinance Officer and as an instructor at the U. S. Military Academy.

Pletta's awards include an Engineering News Record Citation for Service to the construction industry, Engineer-of-the-Year Award of the Virginia Society of Professsional Engineers, and Alumni Honor Award for Distinguished Service from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. In1987 he received the Distinguished Service Award of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). In 1988 Virginia Tech awarded him its Ruffner Medal for notable and distinguished service ot the university, and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Mechanics Division conferred its distinguished educator award on him.

He served on the National Boards of Direction of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and of the NSPE; as president of their Virginia affiliates; and on many committees of these and other engineering societies. He was chairman of the ASCE Committee on Professional Conduct charged with enforcing its Code of Ethics. He was chairman of the Professional Engineers in Education Practice Division and vice president of NSPE in 1977-1978. He was chairman (1982-1985) of the NSPE Public Advisory Review Board which serves as the Society's ombudsman for its members when disputed issues involve health and safety. Hewas honorary member of the ASCE and founding member of the American Academy of Mechanics.

Pletta was author of Engineering Statics and Dynamics (Ronald Press, 1951), Engineering Mechanics, Part I Statics, Part II Dynamics (Ronald Press, 1964), The Engineering Profession: Its Heritage and Its Emerging Purpose (1984) and numerous articles in technical journals (1952-1982).

Scope and Content

The Dan H. Pletta Papers includes treatises, transcripts of talks and correspondence dealing with all aspects of the field of engineering, but especially with the role of education in producing a professional engineer, qualifications for practice, the public purpose of engineering, ethics, and whistleblowing. Other topics include the Department of Engineering at Virginia Tech, the American Society of Civil Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers, and the Order of Engineers.

Arrangement

The original order in which Dan H. Pletta arranged the file folders was retained. The original file folder titles also were retained. This order is not always either choronological or alphabetical.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Faculty and staff
• Science and Technology
• University History
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Engineering Science and Mechanics Department
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Engineering Mechanics Department

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Dan H. Pletta Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).