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Hodges-Argo Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1285

Dates

  • 1852 - 2010

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to qualified researchers only, at the sole discretion of the Auburn University Special Collections and Archives staff. Note to staff: Further details are found in the 2019 gift agreement.

Biographical / Historical

Clifford Anthony Marion (CAM) Weber (1886-1951) graduated from API (now Auburn University) with a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1906 and a Master of Science degree in 1907. He began his career at Westinghouse Electric in 1908 and was manager of the Small Motor Engineering Department at the Westinghouse plant in East Springfield, Massachusetts for many years. During that time, Weber earned a civil engineering degree for professional work from API in 1914 and invented a type ‘ARS’ motor. Weber also worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. He was involved in developing power generating equipment. Weber’s classmate Pearl Argo (1887-1978), who attended API in 1906 and 1907, married Weber on December 5, 1912. Two years later, the couple had a daughter, Margaret (1914-2005), who went on to graduate from Lasell Junior College in Auburndale, Massachusetts. Margaret married Walter Francis Hodges. They had two sons: Robert Leith Hodges (born 1941) and Alan Guilder Hodges. Walter Hodges served as a sergeant in the Fourth Infantry Division during World War II, landing on Utah Beach and participating in the Normandy and Huertgen Forest campaigns. Walter returned to his family in Boston after the war, but left his career and his family in the early 1950s, presumably in connection with his war experiences. Margaret and her two sons moved from Boston to Birmingham, Alabama in 1952. Robert lived with his mother and grandmother, Pearl, at the home of M.M. Argo on Montevallo Road in Mountain Brook, Alabama. Robert Leith Hodges earned a chemistry degree from the University of Alabama in 1964. After leaving the university in 1964, Robert went to work for Acousti Engineering of Alabama. Robert and his wife, Nancy, moved from Birmingham to Huntsville where Robert became manager of Acousti’s new office. He became president of Acousti, Huntsville in 1984. After 27 years in the Acousti group, Robert started Specon Systems in 1994. Specon had offices in Birmingham and Huntsville and over 100 employees. Specon was sold in 2010. Robert also served in the Alabama National Guard from 1964 to 1970. He was FDC platoon leader of B Company of the 167 Mechanized infantry 31st division.

Extent

1.50 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This finding aid is organized by accessions. Each accession represents an addition to the collection. Each accession also represents a transfer of physical and legal custody of archival materials from the donor(s) to Auburn University Special Collections and Archives.

Title
Guide to the Hodges-Argo Papers
Subtitle
Record Group 1285
Status
Under Revision
Author
Lisa Glasscock
Date
October 28, 2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Auburn University Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Auburn University
Ralph Brown Draughon Library
231 Mell Street
Auburn Alabama 36849
334-844-1732