Skip to main content

Reuben Lovette Frost Private Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SC-MS-016

Scope and Contents

While a meteorologist for the U.S. Weather Bureau, Reuben Lovette Frost wrote about weather and the weather service. In his papers are typescript carbon copies of articles concerning weather phenomena and the history of the weather service. Although unsigned, they all appear to have been written by Frost. Copies of correspondence concerning the publication of some of the articles are also included in this group of papers.

As meteorologist in charge at Wilmington, NC, Frost sent a report to the central office of the Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., on the Cape Fear area’s vulnerability to hurricanes and the need for improved recordings and warning facilities. A draft and a final copy of the report, entitled “Record of Cape Fear Hurricanes,” and correspondence concerning its publication are included in this group of Mr. Frost private papers.

Frost also compiled a study entitled “Wind and Weather Signals 1871-1958” which described various signals used across the country. In correspondence with weather bureau personnel Frost credits Art Newton of Wilmington, NC, for the study’s cover design and Fred Seibel of the Richmond Times-Dispatch for a political cartoon that Frost adapted to his subject.

Frost wrote a biographical sketch of Robert Seyboth, 1846-1921, who came to the U.S. from Germany during the Civil War, sailed on whaling ships, enlisted in the Fourth U.S. Artillery, entered the Signal Corps, and arrived in Wilmington, NC, in late December 1870 to establish a weather observation station.

Other articles are “The Port City of Pleasure, Wilmington, North Carolina,” “Meteorological History,” and an untitled article about record weather conditions in Wilmington and around the world. There is also a report of a hurricane which hit Key West, Florida in 1948, and a parody of it describing harried U.S. Weather Bureau personnel.

Lastly, a journal was later added to the collection, reflecting a Monthly Record Storm Warnings.

Dates

  • Creation: 1948-1959

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Copyright Statement

Copyright retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Biographical Note

Reuben Lovette Frost was a meteorologist for the U.S. Weather Bureau from 1929 until his death in 1962. He wrote about weather phenomena and the weather service. Some of his work, and correspondence concerning it, are in this group of papers.

Frost was born in Edmond, Oklahoma, on March 14, 1898. His parents were Ellis M. and Laura L. (Lovette) Frost. In 1921 he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma A and M College. He married Julia C. Petty on October 18, 1923. After her death, Frost remarried – Vira L. Baugous on January 20, 1939.

Frost first worked as a vocational high school teacher in the Philippine Islands from 1921-1925, and taught for the U.S. Indian Service from 1925-1929. He served as aerology officer in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 and, as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve Corps, attained the rank of lieutenant commander.

Frost worked in the U.S. Weather Bureau in Key West, Florida, before becoming the Director and Chief Observer of the Wilmington, NC weather station in 1950. He lived at 5101 Oleander Drive and attended Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Frost was a member of the American Meteorological Society, Arctic Institute of North America, and the American Polar Society.

Who's Who in the South and Southwest. Chicago, Ill.: A.N. Marquis Company, 1950. p.344.

Note written by Judith H. Davis

Extent

1 Container (Contains 1 document box)

Language of Materials

English

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated by H.E. Taft, son of Reuben Lovette Frost, in November 1972.

Addition

Addition received later in 1972 by H.E. Taft.

Related Materials

MS# 015 Weather Bureau Station Wilmington, North Carolina Official Documents

MS# 070 American Legion Scrapbooks, 1942-1963: located in the scrapbook with the painted cover (known as scrapbook 3), 9 pages from the back is the obituary for Robert L. Frost.

Processing Information

Collection originally processed by Judith H. Davis. In 2014, this manuscript collection was re-foldered and re-housed with current archival standard materials by Rebecca Baugnon.

Title
Reuben Lovette Frost Private Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Judith H. Davis
Date
1972
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:

910-962-7810