By Dale S. Hashagen
Title: Meredith J. Cox Papers, 1921-1966
Primary Creator: Cox, James Meredith (1896-1976)
Extent: 3.52 Cubic Feet
Arrangement: The material is arranged in alphabetical order by subject. Within the folders, the material is arranged chronologically. If the material in the folder is not dated, then it is arranged alphabetically.
Date Acquired: 05/20/2002
Subjects: Chemistry--Study and teaching, Higher--Kentucky., Eastern Kentucky University--Faculty and staff., Science--Study and teaching, Higher--Kentucky.
Languages: English
The Meredith J. Cox collection is composed of seven boxes of material relating to Professor Cox's forty-one years of teaching college chemistry at Eastern Kentucky University (1924-1965). The material covers the large variety of Professor Cox's interests, including both his work on and off campus. There are lecture notes and tests concerning the subjects he taught, such as Chemistry 111, 112, 310, and 312. Professor Cox also taught general science and Sociology classes, but chemistry was his specialty.
Also included in the collection is Cox's correspondence with various companies and organizations concerning science as well as possible careers (primarily in medicine) for some of Eastern's students. Two interesting folders in the collection are The Challenge of Science--which concerns the struggle (or race) between Russia and the United States over science in education, and Writings, which is made up of several of Cox's own writings, professional papers, and publications.
Meredith James Cox was born May 29, 1896, in Cave City, Kentucky, and spent his childhood in Smith Grove. He attended high school at Warren Academy in Bowling Green and did undergraduate work at Georgetown College (1913-1916) before receiving his B.S. degree in chemistry at Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1922. Continuing with graduate work, Cox received an M.A. degree in chemistry from Peabody in 1923. While in college he held membership in K.E.A., N.E.A. and Phi Delta Kappa, an educational fraternity.
In the 1920's he did further graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, Columbia University and Duke University. Before obtaining a teaching position at Eastern in 1924, Cox had held positions as principal of Hodgenville High School, instructor in science and coach of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, High School and professor of chemistry at Berea College.
Professor Cox actively served both his institution and his community. Aside from teaching a variety of general science and chemistry courses, he was the major force in the college's pre-medical program. Ten years a sponsor for the pre-medical students' Caduceus Club, he also served as an advisor for the rural medical interests. He wrote several articles about chemistry and related subjects in addition to spending a year (1960-1961) as visiting professor at the University of the Pacific. In the community Cox held membership on the board of the First Christian Church as well as important positions in the American Legion and the Elks. He and his wife, Elizabeth, traveled widely.
After his retirement from Eastern in 1965, Professor Cox helped to establish the chemistry department at Somerset Community College. He died in Richmond on April 30, 1976, less than one month prior to his eightieth birthday.
Chemistry--Study and teaching, Higher--Kentucky.
Eastern Kentucky University--Faculty and staff.
Science--Study and teaching, Higher--Kentucky.
Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source: Cox, Meredith, Mrs.
