The Klaus Riegel papers, 1955-1977, document his educational, professional, and research activities in the discipline of psychology. The collection includes correspondence, grant applications, and progress reports, research reports, unpublished papers, reprints, lecture notes and transcriptions, syllabi and handouts, examinations, and conference programs. Riegel's specific interests within the discipline of psychology included developmental psychology of the aged, psycholinguistics, and history of the social sciences. Riegel's research activity in these areas was conducted under grant funding. Scope, objectives, and results of various research projects will be found in the Grant Materials series. While a few of the grant applications were to support graduate-level education, the Teaching Materials series contains course-related materials used by Riegel in his classes, most of which were offered through the Psychology department. Professional activity was a large part of Riegel's career. The Correspondence and Conferences and Symposia series are strongly related and illustrate the active role Riegel played in professional and theoretical development.
Klaus Riegel, 1925-1977, was born in Berlin, Germany and worked as a metal worker in a shipyard before his admission to the University of Hamburg. Initially Riegel studied physics and mathematics but later turned to psychology. Riegel first came to the United States to pursue an M.A. degree at the University of Minnesota, which he completed in 1955. His Ph.D. was granted by the University of Hamburg in 1958, after which he spent a postdoctoral year as a Visiting Scientist at the National Institute of Health. In 1959, Riegel joined the faculty of the University of Michigan Department of Psychology. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Riegel participated in the Psycholinguistics program, the Institute of Gerontology, and the Center for Human Growth and Development. Outside activities included election as a fellow to the Gerontology Society and the American Psychological Association, service on the executive committee of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, and as President of the Psychological and Social Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society. From 1970-1977 Riegel served as editor of Human Development. In 1976, the Gerontological Society awarded Klaus Riegel the Robert W. Kleemier Award for contributions to the field. Throughout his career, Riegel was an active writer and lecturer, contributing to journals and participating in conferences related to his interests in language and cognitive development and functions, the aging process, history of the social sciences, and the developing discipline of dialectical psychology. Precise dates of appointments and an extensive bibliography of his published work are included in the collection.
