Dr. W.A. Quebedeaux Environmental Collection
Collection
Identifier: MSS 0234
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of business correspondence, some personal items including Dr. Quebedeaux's theses, diplomas, certificates of appreciation, etc., copies of his and others articles and speeches, clippings and photographs and slides, mainly of pollution and its effects. There is also a large collection of precedents put together by him for use in his work and the classes he taught.
The collection starts with correspondence relating to Dr. Quebedeaux's work, followed by personal items such as diplomas, etc., information on his work with his research laboratory, sundry items relating to the organizations with which he was affiliated, copies of his articles and speeches, clippings on Dr. Quebedeaux and on pollution. The collection continues with copies of various papers, reports, laws, acts and legislation on pollution, information on conferences attended by Dr. Quebedeaux, articles and speeches on pollution, information on government air pollution agencies, miscellaneous information on legal cases prosecuted by Dr. Quebedeaux as well as the classes instructed by him together with his large collection of legal precedents.
There are 135 photographs of Dr. Quebedeaux, his associates and views of pollution damage and polluted sites followed by numerous slides and films of pollution and its effects in Houston, the surrounding area and in other cities.
The collection starts with correspondence relating to Dr. Quebedeaux's work, followed by personal items such as diplomas, etc., information on his work with his research laboratory, sundry items relating to the organizations with which he was affiliated, copies of his articles and speeches, clippings on Dr. Quebedeaux and on pollution. The collection continues with copies of various papers, reports, laws, acts and legislation on pollution, information on conferences attended by Dr. Quebedeaux, articles and speeches on pollution, information on government air pollution agencies, miscellaneous information on legal cases prosecuted by Dr. Quebedeaux as well as the classes instructed by him together with his large collection of legal precedents.
There are 135 photographs of Dr. Quebedeaux, his associates and views of pollution damage and polluted sites followed by numerous slides and films of pollution and its effects in Houston, the surrounding area and in other cities.
Dates
- 1932-1985
Use Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
Dr. Walter Arnim Quebedeaux, Jr., born 1915 at Georgetown, TX, was the son of a prominent local family. He attended Georgetown High School, Southwestern University, (B.S. in chem., B.A. in math), Texas University (M.A. in chem. 1937, PH.D. in chem. 1940, B.S. in chem. and Eng. 1940) and South Texas School of Law (Juris Doctor degree 1968). From 1940-1946 he was a research chemist in New York and Missouri, a hygiene engineer and research engineer in Texas, and operated his own chemical analysis laboratory in St. Louis, Mo. He was Air & Stream Pollution Director at Champion Paper Co. and in 1954 was made Director of the Air & Water Pollution Control Section of the newly formed Harris County Health Dept. where he rigorously enforced pollution laws and became known as a tough fighter against pollution. He was recognized as one of the nation's foremost authorities on pollution control with his achievements being held as models of what can be done with persistence and quality work. In 1971 he was appointed Director of the Harris County Pollution Control Department in Pasadena, Texas. He died suddenly of a heart attack in November 1976.
Extent
7.5 Linear Feet (12 document boxes, 4 small photo boxes, 1 record storage carton, 1 medium flat box, four 16mm films)
Language of Materials
English
Photo Database
HMRC's Photographic Archives Database (https://hmrc.houstonlibrary.org/photos/) contains an inventory of photographs in this collection.
- Air -- Pollution Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Environmental protection -- Texas Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Houston Ship Channel (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Pollution -- Texas -- Harris County Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Pollution control personnel -- Texas -- Harris County Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sewage disposal plants -- Texas -- Harris County Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Water -- Pollution Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Dr. W.A. Quebedeaux Environmental Collection: An Inventory of His Papers at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center Repository
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