Hobbies/Sports:
Researching the Cherry Mine Disaster
Education Degrees:
Coursework, U.S. Army Engineers School; Diploma, Newton Fall High School, OH (1948)
Affiliations Awards:
Army Engineer Association
Number Of Years In Profession:
44
Number Of Years In Current Position:
42
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
He attributes his success to his passion for his profession and ability to learn about electronic engineering on the job.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
He became involved in his profession after gaining experience working as an engineer in the Army.
Extended Bio Profile:
Mr. Caldwell conducted research on the Cherry Mine Disaster in Illinois. He became interested after transferring with his company to Bureau County in 1975. One of the ways he likes to get to know an area is to learn about its history. An engineer by trade, he learned of the Cherry Mine Disaster and was surprised at how little factual information was available. Fortunately, he found time and opportunity to do research. He spent years gathering newspaper articles, photos, and documents about the mine, the fire and its aftermath. His years of research into the mining disaster have been compiled on DVDs. It includes newspaper articles, diaries, coroners' inquest notes, legal documents, mine commission reports, books and a collection of more than 500 photographs. He was represented to professional electronic engineering organizations. He also volunteers for the documentation of the history of the Cherry Mine Disaster. He published his historical documentation of the disaster in the Illinois State Historical Society magazine, and his collection of work was accepted to the Abraham Lincoln presidential library in Springfield, Ill. They accepted a digitized collection of original and fresh source material about the 1909 disaster in Bureau County, Ill. It is an invaluable supplement to the existing Cherry Mine Disaster collection at the Lincoln library, which houses a donated collection of oral histories and 150 photos. It helped change state laws for mining and safety. He donated copies of his collection to the Illinois State Historical Society, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Matson Public Library in Princeton. His hope is that his collection will be used for research and education. Meanwhile, he has become a local authority on the disaster. "This collection about the 1909 Cherry Mine Disaster greatly enhances what we can offer researchers looking into one of United States history's worst mine disasters," said Rick Beard, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. "I am pleased to announce that we are in the early stages of planning an exhibit on this topic, which will open in 2009, the 100th anniversary of the disaster." Mr. Caldwell helped author Karen Tintori research her book, "Trapped: The 1909 the Cherry Mine Disaster," and the two became friends.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Engineering electronic appliances
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Mr. Caldwell hopes to continue conducting historical research on the Cherry Mine Disaster and spend time with his family.