Parents, Letters from, 1956-1960, undated

The David Anderson correspondence is divided into three subseries: personal, professional, and family. The first two subseries are arranged chronologically, with any already titled folders placed in alphabetical order at the rear of the subseries. Of note is the letter from Robert Oppenheimer and correspondence with Jim Fixx. Fixx was a student and personal friend of David Anderson; a program from Anderson's 1984 memorial service for Fixx appears in the "special services" folder of the Ministerial Files series. These folders are peppered by some amusingly critical letters to companies making claims to impossible products, which as a physicist, Anderson could debunk. (See May 7, 1980 letter to Vivitar Corporation.) Anderson freely wrote letters of praise, as well, commending responsible companies and good service. The file “History of College Physics Department, 1990-91” contains letters to Anderson from former Physics students. The letters were written in response to Anderson’s request for reminiscences of the Physics Department and Professor Carl Howe, Forrest Tucker, and Lloyd W. Taylor. Anderson was asked to write a history of the Oberlin College Physics Department. The third subseries, consisting of letters to and from immediate family members, is arranged alphabetically by correspondent; the bulk of this subseries (2.5 l.f.) is made up of letters from Anderson's parents. This series provides a useful complement to the other series that address Anderson's personal and professional life.