Collection ID: C416
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Borkenstein, Robert F. (Robert Frank), 1912-2002
Abstract:
Robert F. Borkenstein worked in various capacities with the Indiana State Police in collaboration with Indiana University before retiring in 1958 and coming to IU full time, serving as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Police Administration until his retirement in 1987. He played a major role in developing the department, which was renamed the Department of Forensic Studies in 1970 and again renamed the Department of Criminal Justice in 1985. Borkenstein was a prolific figure in the fields of forensic science and traffic safety; he is well known for inventing the Breathalyzer in 1954 and for research efforts into blood alcohol concentration through the Grand Rapids Study in the 1960s. This collection consists of biographical documents, research and professional materials, instruments, and subject files. Included are files and instruments related to Borkenstein's research and development of several of his breath test inventions, including the Breathalyzer.
Extent:
28 cubic feet(Approximately) (31 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], Robert F. Borkenstein papers, Collection C416, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Robert F. Borkenstein was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on August 31, 1912. He graduated high school at the onset of the Great Depression and was unable to continue on to college due to financial constraints. Instead, he found employment as a photographic technician in Fort Wayne where he developed an expertise in color film, leading to his invention of a color camera. Due to his photographic skill, creativity, and analytical abilities, Borkenstein was hired in the newly established Indiana State Police Criminological Laboratory in 1936, where he rose through the ranks from civilian clerk up to Captain in charge of Laboratory Services. Throughout his employment with the Indiana State Police, Borkenstein advanced the use of photography in law enforcement and assisted in the development of the polygraph machine.

While working with the Indiana State Police, Borkenstein developed a professional relationship with Professor Rolla N. Harger of the Indiana School of Medicine who was working to develop the Drunkometer—the first practical instrument in breath alcohol analysis developed 1938. However, because of the Drunkometer's complicated use and low reliability, Borkenstein continued to work to develop a more reliable device. As a result, in 1954 Borkenstein created the Breathalyzer, a more compact, easier to operate breath test machine which produced reliable results concerning blood alcohol content. It went on to revolutionize the ability of traffic enforcement officials' to identify and prosecute drivers under the influence of alcohol. The breathalyzer was commercially produced and adopted in law enforcement agencies throughout the country and world.

During the course of the 1950s, Borkenstein attended Indiana University on a part time basis graduating with his A.B. degree in forensic sciences in 1958. That same year he retired from his position with the Indiana State Police and joined the Indiana University faculty as Chairman of the newly established Department of Police Administration. One of the only programs of its kind at the time, the department continued to develop over the course of his tenure – changing its name to the "Department of Forensic Studies" in 1970 and again to the "Department of Criminal Justice" in 1985. In 1971, Borkenstein became the director of the IU Center for Studies of Law in Action, which went on to offer a reoccurring "Robert F. Borkenstein Course on Alcohol and Highway Safety: Testing, Research, and Litigation" for forensic science, law enforcement, and criminal justice professionals.

In addition to his administrative roles at Indiana University, Borkenstein was an avid researcher and prolific figure in his field. One of his most significant research endeavors was the Grand Rapids Study of 1967-1968, the findings of which supported changing the legal blood alcohol content from 0.1 to 0.08. In light of his achievements, Borkenstein was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Wittenberg University in 1963 and an Honorary LL.D. from Indiana University in 1987. Borkenstein retired from the University in March 1987, though he continued to hold the position of Professor Emeritus and Director Emeritus of the Center for Studies of Law in Action.

Throughout his life, Borkenstein was heavily involved in professional organizations related to the forensic sciences and traffic safety. These included: the Indiana University Society for Advanced Study, the Indiana University Transportation Research Center, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Harvard Associates in Police Science, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Alliance for Traffic Safety, American Public Health Association, Chairman of the National Safety Council, consultant to the President's Task Force on Highway Safety, president of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety, and president of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Borkenstein married Marjorie K. Buchanan in 1938. The couple had no children. Marjorie preceded her husband in death in December 1998. Borkenstein died on August 10, 2002 at the age of 89.

Scope and Content:

The Borkenstein papers span the period from 1928-2002, with the bulk of the records concentrated in the years 1940-2002. The collection is organized into five series: Biographical, Research and professional activities, Alphabetical files, Subject files, and Realia. The Research and professional activities series is further divided into five subseries: Breathalyzer; Conferences, meetings and symposia; National Safety Council; Writings; and General. Files within each series and subseries are arranged alphabetically; when multiple files exist for a single subject, these are further arranged in ascending chronological order.

The first series, Biographical (1937-2002, undated), contains documents related to Robert F. Borkenstein's personal life and achievements. These include awards, certificates, diplomas, and other biographically oriented documentation.

The second series, Research and professional activities (1941-2000, undated), contains materials specifically related to Borkenstein's professional life in various capacities. This series is divided into five subseries: Breathalyzer; Conferences, meetings and symposia; National Safety Council; Writings; and General. The first subseries, Breathalyzer (1950-1999, undated), contains records related to Borkenstein's initial invention and subsequent developments of the Breathalyzer machine—his most widely lauded professional achievement. Other materials throughout the collection may in same way relate to the Breathalyzer's development and use, but documents in this series do so explicitly. Materials include correspondence, research activities, plans, and details of various models.

The Conferences, meetings and symposia subseries (1967-1996, undated) contains materials relating to conferences which Borkenstein attended and at which he presented. Conference schedules, presentation notes and drafts, correspondence, travel details, and other conference related materials are included.

The National Safety Council subseries (1941-2000, undated) includes documentation related to Borkenstein's contributions as Chairman of the National Safety Council and to his involvement with the Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs under the Highway Traffic Safety Division. Materials include general National Safety Council documentation as well as items specifically attributed to the Committee on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Bylaws, correspondence, council history, meeting minutes and working papers, research materials, membership information, newsletters, and materials relating to the Robert F. Borkenstein award are present in this series.

The Writings subseries (1958-1995, undated) contains draft and finalized versions of professional articles, papers, and talks authored by Borkenstein.

The final subseries under the Research and professional activities series is General (1928-2002, undated), which contains general materials used or produced by Borkenstein in a professional capacity. Items include documents related to various breath test machines; studies, publications not authored by Borkenstein, correspondence, and BACGRAM publication materials—a newsletter published through the Indiana University Center for Studies of Law in Action with which Borkenstein was involved.

The third series, Alphabetical files (1938-2001, undated), contains files attributed to a variety of topics, organizations, companies, and individuals. Materials in this series relate to both personal and professional aspects of Borkenstein's life. They were kept together to retain the original order and contextual qualities imposed by Borkenstein at the time of their creation.

The fourth series, Subject files (1939-2002, undated) includes topical materials not specifically related to Borkenstein's professional life. These include clippings, court case documentation, information related to colleagues, and personal matters.

The fifth and final series, Realia (undated), is comprised of three dimensional objects significant to Borkenstein's professional life. These include Breathalyzers of several different models designed by Borkenstein, a carrying case used by Borkenstein during demonstrations, a Drunkometer and generic "Breath Test" designed by Borkenstein's colleague Rolla Harger, three unidentified machines which may be polygraphs or early breath/breathing measurement devices, and a camera invented by Borkenstein during his time as a photographic technician.

Acquisition information:
Accession Information: 2006/024, 2007/113, 2009/006
Appraisal information:

Duplicate documents, personal bills/receipts, and Indiana University transcripts were weeded from the collection.

Custodial history:

Collection materials were transferred to the University Archives in three portions dating March 2006, July 31, 2007, and January 8, 2009. The bulk of the collection came in 2007 from Darlena Lindsay of IU's Center for Studies of Law in Action.

Processing information:

Processed by Amy L. Jankowski.

Completed in 2010

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into five series: Biographical, Research and professional activities, Alphabetical files, Subject files, and Realia. The Research and professional activities series is further divided into five subseries: Breathalyzer; Conferences, meetings and symposia; National Safety Council; Writings; and General.

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Select files are closed to researchers and are indicated in the folder list; these include student transcripts, graded student work, recommendation letters, and documents displaying social security numbers. Restricted files are housed at the end of the collection in box 15.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The donor(s) of this collection have transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University through a Deed of Gift. For more information, please contact the Indiana 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 Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Robert F. Borkenstein papers, Collection C416, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu