Cleve Hallenbeck

Interview, Redfield, Georgia B. 	Roswell, New Mexico 		JAN 9 - 1939 

1-6-39, 	Words 770 

Subject: Cleve Hallenbeck 

Roswell Author.	1st

Source of Information:  Cleve Hallenbeck and personal knowledge of biographer. 

CLEVE HALLENBECK - AUTHOR	Meteorologist, Scientist, Artist, Author of "Spanish 
Missions of the Old Southwest", "Legends of the Spanish Southwest", "The Climatic 
Factor in Ethnic Divergence," and Numerous Other Scientific Magazine Articles.

Undoubtedly no on has ever been more valuable - from a scientific point of view - 
to Roswell and Pecos Valley in New Mexico than Cleve Hallenbeck, who has been 
head of the weather Bureau stationed in Roswell since 1915. During this year he 
was advanced to Scientific Rank on the bureau, in which he has remained 
continuously, with interests and activities being extended, not only in this work 
of his chosen profession but in other important scientific and cultural 
developments. 

Mr. Hallenbeck was born at Xenia, Illinois, February 4, 1885. his parents were 
Charles S. Hallenbeck, born at Franklinton, New York, and Frederica Augusta 
(Schleuter) Hallenbeck - born at Potsdam, Germany - a descendant of the old German 
family of Von [Bleum?]. 

When an infant three months old Cleve Hallenbeck moved with his parents to a farm 
near Salem, Illinois, where he lived until he was a young man eighteen years 
old... until 1903. "The next five years in succession", says Mr. Hallenbeck, he 
was "a railway employee, a grocery clerk, a school teacher, and a Federal 
employee, thus going, rapidly, from bad to worse." C18 - 6/5/41 - N. Mex. 

Even though Mr. Hallenbeck stood high in every subject in his completed high 
school course at Salem, Illinois, and in the Valparaiso University in Indiana, and 
Armour Institute of Technology, Chicago, he says: "I consider such as time 
wasted," and states that in his opinion, "the only education worthwhile is that 
gained in the best University of all - the ;School of Experience'". 

Mr. Hallenbeck entered the service of the U.S. Weather Bureau in 1908. He gained 
his preliminary training and experience at: "Atlanta, Pueblo, San Francisco, Los 
Angeles, Fort Worth, Chicago, Houston and Denver," after which be received his 
assignment to Roswell, where he has remained ever since and established his 
permanent home. 

In 1930 Mr. Hallenbeck was married to Miss Juanita H. Williams, who was born 
February 2, 1905 at Vincennes, Indiana, and graduated at Vincennes University in 
1925. The couple have one child, a daughter named [Pomona?], age six years. Mrs. 
Hallenbeck - who is also a writer, contributing to New Mexico Magazines and 
historical articles to periodicals throughout the country - collaborates with Mr. 
Hallenbeck in historical works. As stated by Mr. Hallenbeck: "She is my most 
uncompromising and therefore, most helpful critic." 

Mr. Hallenbeck's hobby is the Spanish history of the Southwest. He is the author 
of "Spanish Missions of the old Southwest" published in 1926, and in 
collaboration with Mrs. Hallenbeck, of "Legends of the Spanish Southwest" 
published in 1938. Many of the splendid illustrations of this book were done by 
Mr. Hallenbeck.

Among his outstanding scientific contributions that have received National 
interest and praise are: "The Climatic Factor in Ethnic Divergence", published in 
1920, and "Types of Thunderstorm Circulation", published in 1922, which was 
prepared by request for the "Pilot's Handbook" for Transcontinental air lines. 
Shorter scientific articles, receiving flattering notice, were, "Sensible 
Temperatures" (1924) and "The Temperature of Civilization" (1925). 

At present Mr. Hallenbeck is collaborating with Dr. Carl Sauer, of the University 
of California upon a volume entitled, "The Journey and Route of Alvar Nunez 
Cabeza de Vaca," which is practically completed and will probably appear before 
the end of 1939. He is also preparing a volume on the history of the old Spanish 
road from Mexico City to Santa Fe, which he states will terminate his researches 
into the Spanish history of the Southwest. 

Mr. Hallenbeck is a member of the "New Mexico Historical Society", and is a 
charter member of the "Advancement of Science and American Meteorological 
Society" to which he was elected a fellow in 1920, with the distinction of being, 
at that time, the youngest of thirty-two fellows in a membership of about 1100. 

Outstanding characteristics of Mr. Hallenbeck are: frankness and sincerity. He 
can be depended upon absolutely in advice and cooperation given by him in 
important business and industrial developments in which his scientific knowledge, 
and meteorological in training and experience, are invaluable. 

He likes a quiet life, is unassuming in manner, and cares nothing for society and 
education. When he is convinced that a cause is worthy, he is generous and kind, 
and is firm - in his decisions amounting almost to stubbornness, on any subject 
whereon his scientific training has to bear. 

Mr. Hallenbeck states that his is a "free lance in thought, word and deed." Twice 
he has refused to enter into contracts for periodical supplies of historical 
material. He belongs to no [?] secret organizations, for the reason that, "such 
affiliation might restrict my freedom to say, or write, what I please." 

The scientific and cultural contributions of Mr. Hallenbeck have indeed proved of 
great value to the community around Roswell and to the State of New Mexico. 

Credit: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project 
Collection.

Chaves

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