Clarence M. Flaten papers, circa 1890s-1982 bulk 1935-1974
A guide to his papers at the Indiana University Archives
Finding aid prepared by Jessica Ballard and Mary
Mellon
Summary Information
Repository
Indiana
University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives
Creator
Flaten, Clarence M. (Clarence Malven),
1910-1974.
TitleClarence M. Flaten papers, circa 1890s-1982 bulk 1935-1974
Collection No.
C660
Extent
4.1 cubic feet
(3 boxes, 24 film canisters, 2 oversize folders)
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
Clarence Flaten (1910-1974) was
Supervisor of Photography at the Indiana University Audio-Visual Center from
1949-1974 and a faculty member in the IU School of Education from 1958-1974. This
collection documents Clarence Flaten’s family life, professional career at Indiana
University, and military service during World War II through photographs, film,
correspondence, course materials, publications, military personnel files, and other
materials.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.
Access to films requires the creation of digital use copies. Please allow for extra
processing time when requesting these materials.
Biographical Note
Clarence Flaten was born August 27, 1910 in Hettinger, North Dakota, to parents
Gunerius and Ollie (Evans) Flaten. In 1928 the family purchased a farm in Dell
Rapids, South Dakota, where Clarence graduated from high school in 1929. Flaten
enrolled in University of Michigan in 1934, earning his Bachelor of Science in
Forestry in 1938 and his Master of Science in Forestry in 1939. After graduation,
Flaten began working as a preparator at the Institute for Fisheries Research at the
Michigan Conservation Department, where he developed maps and was in charge of still
and motion photography. Flaten enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps (later U.S. Air
Force) in 1942 after the U.S. entrance into World War II. As a Photographic Officer,
Flaten was stationed in Mobile, Alabama (1942-1944), Dallas, Texas (base
photographer, 1944-1945), and India (wing photographer, 1945-1946). Upon the
completion of his service, Flaten returned to his position at the Institute for
Fisheries Research, where he worked for another year.
In 1947, Flaten joined the staff of the Audio-Visual Center Photographic Laboratory
of the Indiana University Division of Adult Education and Public Services as Chief
Photographer (1947-1949) and Supervisor of Photography (1949-1974). In 1949 he began
a joint appointment as Instructor for the Division of Adult Education and the School
of Education, teaching graduate-level courses in audiovisual production techniques.
At the same time, Flaten pursued a Ph.D. in Botany, which he completed in 1959.
After earning his doctorate degree, Flaten was appointed Assistant Professor in the
School of Education, and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor (1965) and
Professor (1972).
Flaten and his colleagues at the Audio-Visual Center created numerous instructional
films, often in consultation with faculty at Indiana University and other
institutions, several of which won international awards for innovative production
techniques. Beginning in 1961, Flaten and Dr. George Vuke began working on the
“Developmental Anatomy” film series, which was partially funded by grants from the
National Science Foundation. The series included the films “Development of the
Cardio-Vascular System of the Chick: the Heart” and “Development of the Chick: Extra
Embryonic Membranes,” which earned recognition from the Biological Photographic
Association, the Educational Film Library Association, and the Council on
International Nontheatrical Events (Cine). Flaten also produced several single topic
inquiry films as a consultant for the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) of
Boulder, Colorado, from 1964-1970. Other consulting work included the production of
visual aids for biology textbooks and other teaching material produced by Milprint,
Inc.
Clarence Flaten married Mary F. Browne in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1941. The couple
had eight children: Christopher (“Kit”), Larry, Margaret (“Peg”), Brian, Elizabeth
(“Liz”), Georgia, Marianne, and Thomas (“Tom”). Flaten’s interest in photography and
filmmaking extended to documenting his family’s home life and travels to various
locations including Gunerius and Ollie Flaten’s farm in South Dakota. Members of the
Flaten family also comprised the cast of Long Journey West, an educational film
produced by the Audio-Visual Center in 1959. Flaten won the “Indiana Father of the
Year” award in 1960 after being nominated by his children.
Clarence Flaten passed away in 1974.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into five series: Personal, Professional, Military
Service, Films, and Photographs.
Scope and Content Note
This collection documents Clarence Flaten’s family life, professional career at
Indiana University, and military service during World War II.
Photographs taken by Clarence Flaten, Gunerius Flaten, and other family members
comprise the bulk of the collection. A majority of the photographs are of Clarence
and Mary Flaten and their children at their homes in Ann Arbor, Michigan (1941-1947)
and Bloomington, Indiana (1947-1974) and at Gunerius and Ollie Flaten’s farm in Dell
Rapids, South Dakota. Photographs taken or presumed to have been taken by Gunerius
Flaten date from the 1890s and include family photographs from Clarence's childhood
as well as images of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century settlements in
North Dakota. Also included are photographs of Gunerius Flaten’s photography studio.
Images related to Clarence Flaten's World War II service include aerial photographs
of the Himalayas taken during Flaten’s deployment in India and photograph albums
documenting Flaten's service at air bases in the United States and India.
The remainder of the consists of personal correspondence, clippings, legal documents,
certificates, diplomas, home movies, instructional materials from Flaten’s courses
on audiovisual production techniques, publications, grant materials, and films produced
by the IU Audio-Visual Center. Also included are personnel files, manuals, maps,
films (2 reels) and other items related to Flaten’s active duty and reserve military
service through 1970.
-
Indexing Terms
-
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries'
online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by
searching the catalog using these terms.
Separated Material
Photographs and films are stored separately. Please contact the University Archives
staff for access.
The following biographical essays on Clarence Flaten were removed and added to the Clarence Flaten
biographical reference file at the University Archives:
- Katherine S. Daisley,
"With Love and Kicks: a Biography of Clarence M. Flaten,"
March 15, 1993
-
"My Father Clarence Malven Flaten,"
circa late 1970s-1990s
Related Material
A
significant portion of the photographs in this collection have been digitized and are available through the
University Archives Photograph Collection. The database includes additional pictures of Clarence Flaten and other IU Audio-Visual Center staff from other collections.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accessions: 2005/033, 2005/034, 2005/139, 2005/140, 2005/141, 2006/065, 2006/066,
2006/104, 2007/122, 2007/123, 2007/124, 2008/082
Usage RestrictionsThe donor(s) of this collection have transferred their copyrights for the
materials to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please
contact the University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of
others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials
in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift.
Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials
rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are
responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights
holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other
statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives
are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If
you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have
questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University
Archives staff.
Preferred Citation
[item], Clarence M. Flaten papers, Collection C660, Indiana University Archives,
Bloomington.
ProvenanceU.S. Army Air Forces Aerial Photographic Section album and loose family
photographs donated by Brian and Judy Flaten in August
2007.
Long Journey West photograph album and additional
family photographs donated by Georgia Shaw in August
2007.
Film reels, photographs, and personal, professional, and military service
documents donated by Margaret Daisley between
2004 and 2007.
Processing InformationProcessed by Jessica Ballard and Mary Mellon.
Completed in June 2018
Container List
Series:
Personal, 1904-1982
Scope and Content Note
This series contains correspondence, clippings, legal documents,
certificates, and biographical material related to Clarence Flaten and his
family.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Related Materials
Flaten family home movies are located in the "Films" series. Family
photographs are located in the "Photographs" series.
Box 1
Certificates and diplomas, 1926-1959
Christopher Flaten, 1956-1973
Scope and Content Note
This file mainly contains material related to the death of Christopher Flaten in a car accident in 1973, including accident
reports, death certificate, and correspondence regarding his estate.
Correspondence,
1910-1911
Scope and Content Note
Contains postcards received by Gunerius and Ollie Flaten.
1934-1944
1960-1964
Indiana Father of the Year award, 1960
Jury Duty, Hashfield Murder Trial, October-November
1962
Legal papers, 1910-1982
Legal papers, estate of Mrs. Ollie Flaten , 1972
Miscellaneous, 1904, 1929, 1960
Newspaper clippings, 1950-1969
St. Charles Church Passion play script and playbill, March 1, 1960
Series:
Professional, 1935-1974
Scope and Content Note
This series includes articles and course materials from Flaten's work as
instructor and professor in IU School of Education; correspondence and other
documents related to his consulting work and academic appointments; and
publications, drafts, and awards related to Flaten's work in instruction and
photographic and audiovisual production at Indiana University.
Arrangement
This series is arranged into three subseries: General, Writings, and Course
Materials. Each subseries is arranged alphabetically.
Subseries:
General, 1935-1974
Box 1
Awards, 1957-1967
Box OS1
Awards, 1966,
1970
(oversize)
Box 1
Correspondence, 1947-1971
Identification cards, 1935-1974
Indiana University promotion dossier, 1971
Measuring instruments, circa
1950s
Scope and Content Note
Includes an exposure calculator and a condenser, lens board, and
extension post selector.
Subseries:
Writings, 1939-1972
Box 1
Milprint, Inc. Trans-Vision consulting materials , 1962-1967
"Careers in Biological Photography"
,1968
Degree publications, 1939, 1959
Scope and Content Note
Includes full copy of "A study on chlorosis of pinus resinosa in a
forest nursery..." (M.S. Forestry thesis, University of Michigan),
1939, and abstract only of Cine-micrographic studies of mitosis in
Tradescantia staminal hair cells (treated and untreated), Ph.D.
dissertation, Indiana University, 1959.
"Development of the cardio-vascular system of the chick: the
heart"
visuals booklet, 1963
Developmental Anatomy Film Project, National Science
Foundation grant proposal, 1961
"Growth and metamorphosis in jellyfish: a picture story"
,
1967
Inquiry notes and drafts, circa
1967-1969
Miscellaneous, 1972 and undated
Reference and instructional aids, drafts and device mock-ups,
circa 1962-1968
Scope and Content Note
Possibly developed as part of Flaten's consultant work for Milprint,
Inc.
Report on the National Science Foundation Developmental
Anatomy Film Project at Indiana University, 1963
Subseries:
Course Materials, 1952-1972
Box 1
Education R500: Production Techniques,
1952-1953
1957-1958
Education R544: Production Techniques,
1961
1972
Slide talk lesson notes, 1972
Series:
Military Service, 1942-1970
Scope and Content Note
This series contains personnel files, manuals, maps, and other items related
to Clarence Flaten's service in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War
II. It also includes certificates and a personnel file from Flaten's service
in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1957-1970.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Related Materials
Photographs and films created by Flaten during his active military service
are located in the Photographs Series and Film Series, respectively.
Box 1
Statement of Service, 1975
U.S. Army Air Forces,
Identification cards, 1942-1949
Order to report for induction, July 29, 1942
Manuals, circa 1943-1945
Scope and Content Note
Includes "Safeguarding Military Information" and "Chemical Warfare
Reference Card"
Box OS7
Map of Brahmaputra River, 1943, 1945
(oversize)
Map of Burma and Indo-China, circa 1942-1945
(oversize, printed on two sides of fabric)
Box 1
Memorandum receipts, June-December
1945
Scope and Content Note
Primarily receipts for office and photographic laboratory
equipment.
Personal receipts, 1944-1945
Personnel file, 1942-1945
Personnel file, 1945-1947
U.S. Air Force Reserve,
Certificates, 1957-1964
Personnel file, 1953-1959
Box OS1
Retirement certificate, 1970
(oversize)
Series:
Films, circa 1940-1968
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphanumerically according to the original reel
numbering system devised by the Flaten family.
Processing Note
Film descriptions appearing in quotation marks were provided by Peg Daisley
(Flaten's daughter).
Scope and Content Note
This series includes two film reels Flaten recorded of Indian street scenes
during his World War II service, as well as home movies shot during the
1940s and 1950s in Sherman, South Dakota; Bloomington, Indiana; Ann Arbor,
Michigan; and New York City and other vacation spots. It also includes
instructional films Flaten produced during his consultant work for the
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study in the 1960s, as well as the
Long Journey West (filmed by the Audio-Visual
Center at IU) and an instructional film from the Michigan Institute of
Fisheries Research.
Access Restrictions
Access to films in this series requires the creation of digital use copies.
Please allow for extra processing time when requesting these materials.
Subseries:
Personal, 1944-circa late 1950s
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphanumerically according to the original reel
numbering system devised by the Flaten family.
Ask Staff
World War II films, India, circa
1944-1945
"Taken in India during WWII near CM Flaten's camp in the Assam Valley
(street scenes); about 1944-45."
Reel 1A
(16mm reel, black and white)
"B&W, very faint/dark. A few glimpses of a truck, a cow
wandering through the streets."
Reel 1B
(16mm reel, color)
Film features Kolkata skyline and Holi Festival celebrants.
Family film (Ann Arbor, Michigan?) (Reel 3), circa
1945
(16mm reel, black and white)
"At playground/yard, just post-War - about
1945?"
Family films at the Flaten farm in Sherman, South Dakota ,
circa
1946
(3 16mm reels, black and white)
"All B&W, of family and farm; taken in
Sherman, SD on parents' farm; about 1946."
Reel 4A
"[Flaten farm] shows the bee colonies –
the Blizzard Belt Apiary run by CM Flaten's father, G.C.
Flaten; images very faint and dark."
Reel 4B
"The buildings – barns, house—are very
clear. Shots of cows. Kit Flaten, about 4 or 5, and Mary
Flaten."
Reel 4C
"Quality not good; rather dark.
Christopher (Kit) Flaten with a dog; CM Flaten showing Kit
how to pick strawberries."
Family films at the Flaten farm in Sherman, South Dakota ,
1950
(3 16mm reels, color)
"In color, of family and farm; taken in
Sherman, SD on parents' farm, fall 1950"
Reel 5A
"Fall 1950 Flaten farm Watermelon feast
G'ma and G'pa Flaten"
Reel 5B
"Fall 1950 S. Dakota Flaten and Haak
Farm- G'ma and G'pa Flaten"
Reel 5C
"Fall 1950 Haak Farm Corn shucking,
Larry on toy horse"
Family films taken in Bloomington, Indiana , 1949-1951
(4 16mm reels, black and white)
"B&W films, all of family, taken at
first home in Bloomington, IN, on South Washington
Street."
Reel 6A
"Fairly good quality. Kit, Larry, Peg
Flaten. Wonderful shots of Kit & then Larry posing as
photographers with cameras"
Reel 6B
"Fairly good quality. Kit, Larry, Peg,
Mary Flaten. Peg has had a haircut and is looking at/kissing
mirror. Kit washing dishes, reading."
Reel 6C
"Clarence, Mary, Kit, Larry, Peg, Brian
Flaten. Short film, broken, visibility very poor."
Reel 6D
"Good quality. Shows Kit with a bird in
his hands (a pigeon?), Larry, Peg, Brian, Liz (baby), and
Mary Flaten."
Family films taken in NYC, Bloomington, IN and additional
places, 1951
(2 8mm reels)
"Photos of family, taken in NYC and
thereabouts of Mary Browne Flaten's parents, store, car, the
beach; additional shots back in Bloomington at the house on
Airport Road, where the family had just moved that year;
1951"
Reel 7A
"Summer 1951- New York G'MA & GPA-
STORE- CAR; BLOOMINGTON OLD HOUSE, CHICKEN COOP"
Reel 7B
"Summer 1951- New York - Park and
Beach, GMA BROWNE"
Family films (reels 9A and 9B), circa late 1950s?
(2 16mm reels)
Subseries:
Instructional, circa 1940-1968
Ask Staff
Institute of Fisheries Research instructional film ,
circa 1940-1942 or
1946-1947?
(16mm reel, black and white)
Scope and Content Note
"B&W film shot for the Institute of
Fisheries Research, Dept. of Conservation, U of Michigan. This
is an instructional film which shows the scale of a fish and how
to identify the age of the fish by markings on the scale;
demonstrated using the scales of about a dozen fish (brook
trout, northern pike, bass, perch, bluegill, crappie, etc.) Film
is very clear, though there is a break near the
beginning."
Long Journey West, circa 1959-1960
(16mm reel)
Scope and Content Note
"Educational film made by the A.V.
Department, cast with members of the Flaten family (Clarence,
Mary, Larry, Peg, Tom)"
Mimicry, Biological Sciences
Curriculum Study, 1967
(8mm reel)
Water and Desert Plants,
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study , circa 1967-1968
(8mm reel)
Social Behavior in Chickens,
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, 1968?
(1 Super 8mm Magi-cartridge)
Scope and Content Note
Includes a teacher's guide. Note on container: goes out of focus
Behavior of a Purple
Bacterium
, Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, 1969
(8mm reel)
Mating Behavior in a
Cockroach
, Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, 1972
(8mm reel)
Series:
Photographs, circa 1890s-1975
Scope and Content Note
This series includes over 750 photographs and two photograph albums dating
from the 1890s to 1975, the majority of which were taken by Clarence Flaten, his
father Gunerius Flaten, and other family members.
The bulk of the photographs are of Clarence and Mary Flaten and their
children at their homes in Ann Arbor, Michigan (1941-1947) and Bloomington,
Indiana (1947-1974) and at Gunerius and Ollie Flaten’s farm in Dell Rapids,
South Dakota. The series also includes photographs related to Clarence
Flaten's military service during World War II, including wing photographs of
the Himalayas taken during Flaten’s deployment in India and photograph
albums documenting Flaten's service at air bases in the United States and
India. There is also a small number of photographs of Clarence Flaten
teaching film production and working at the Audio-Visual Center at Indiana
University.
Photographs taken or presumed to have been taken by Gunerius Flaten date from
the 1890s and include family photographs from Clarence's childhood as well
as images of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century settlements in
North Dakota. Also included are photographs of Gunerius Flaten’s photography
studio.
Digitized Items
A significant number of these photographs have been digitized and are
accessible through the
University Archives Photograph Collection.
Box 2-3
Photographs, circa 1890s-1975
Long Journey West album, 1959
Scope and Content Note
This album documents the Flaten family's participation as cast members in
Long Journey West, an educational film produced by the Audio-Visual
Center in 1959. The photographs were presumably taken by an Audio-Visual
Center staff member.
U.S. Army Air Forces Aerial Photographic Section album, circa
1943-1945
Scope and Content Note
This album documents Flaten's training in and contributions to the
Photographic Arts Division of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War
II. Many photographs are specific to Army photographic training, such as
aerial photographs, photography labs and equipment, and officer
portraits. The album also include images of aircraft, personnel, and
members of the public at various airfields and nearby cities, including
Brookley Field, Mobile, Alabama, and Love Field, Dallas, Texas.
