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Kiril Spiroff Collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MTU-040

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Collection, circa 1920-circa 1973, of Kiril Spiroff, professor at Michigan Technological University and long-time curator at the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, located in Houghton, Michigan. Includes correspondence and papers related to his career at Michigan Technological University as well as a memory book signed by students, former students and friends on the occasion of his retirement from teaching, cards and photographs. Also includes records of the Isle Royale Copper Company and records of his involvement with the company.

Dates

  • Circa 1920-Circa 1973

Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Biography

Kiril Spiroff was born in Bulgaria on April 21, 1901. He arrived in the United States as a young boy and grew up in Michigan, graduating from Michigan College of Mines (now Michigan Technological University). After completion of college in 1923, he moved out west to pursue a job as a mining engineer. After 10 years laboring in the working world, Spiroff returned to Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) and earned a master's degree in geology in 1933. He worked for the Seaman Mineral Museum at $0.25 per hour under Dr. C.O. Swanson, then head of the department. He also taught a few classes and held the position of a lab instructor and became an assistant curator in 1935. After Seaman's death, Spiroff was appointed curator in 1938. Spiroff's influence on and work in the museum was constant throughout his years of teaching, mining engineering and consulting. It was due largely to his friendly and knowledgeable influence that the museum received countless donations from various individuals in the mineral industries and at least two very large private collections. Spiroff was also well known for his support of the Michigan Tech hockey program, counseling players, providing scholarship money, and recruiting players for coaches Amo Bessone and Al Renfrew. The MTU training room is named in his honor today as a result of his actions. (excerpted from A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, "Curators," http://www.museum.mtu.edu/information/Curators/spiroff.html, accessed Jan. 2010.

Extent

8.03 Cubic Feet (8 paige boxes, 3 folders, 1 oversized folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection, circa 1920-circa 1973, of Kiril Spiroff, professor at Michigan Technological University and long-time curator at the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, located in Houghton, Michigan. Includes correspondence and papers related to his career at Michigan Technological University as well as a memory book signed by students, former students and friends on the occasion of his retirement from teaching, cards and photographs. Also includes records of the Isle Royale Mining Company and records of his involvement with the company.

General Physical Description note

8.18 cubic feet1/2 manuscript box (letter size), 8 paige boxes

Processing History

Elizabeth Russell,1/26/2010

Title
Kiril Spiroff Collection
Author
Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Russell
Date
1/26/2010
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US