Donald J. Winge Papers, 1973-1993

Donald J. Winge Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: Donald J. Winge Papers, 1973-1993

ID: OGLMC1268

Primary Creator: Winge, Donald J. (1933-1993)

Extent: 5.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 04/16/1993. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Health and Medicine, University of North Dakota - Alumni

Languages: English

Abstract

1933-1993; Advocate on behalf of the handicapped, and member of the Governor’s Council on Human Resources and the (Grand Forks) Mayor’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Donald J. Winge Papers are arranged into five series as follows:

Series 1: Biographical Information and Personal Records

Series 2: Invention - Rocking Chair Platform

Series 3: Governor's Council on Human Resources

Series 4: Mayor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped

Series 5: Award Certificates, Plaques, and Photographs

Collection Historical Note

Donald James Winge was born May 29, 1933 in Fargo, North Dakota. He spent his early childhood in Blanchard, North Dakota. His parents moved to Grand Forks in December 1940. Winge attended Belmont and Wilder public schools and 7th and 8th grades in Emerado, North Dakota. He graduated from Grand Forks Central High School May 29, 1951 and enrolled at the University of North Dakota that fall, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

Muscular Dystrophy was diagnosed during the summer of 1949 while Winge was employed at the Grand Forks Municipal Airport, servicing crop spraying planes as well as private planes. He was told by doctors at the University of Minnesota hospital that he had six months and that he would be either dead or in a wheelchair. He proved them wrong.

In September of 1955, he was employed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation at Minot as an engineering draftsman concerned with the Garrison Diversion. In January of 1957, he transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at St. Louis, Missouri as an engineering draftsman concerned with the watershed of various area rivers.

Winge returned to Grand Forks in 1958 to have corrective orthopedic surgery on both feet. He applied for and was accepted as an engineering draftsman and photographer at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines in Grand Forks. Winge received a Civil Service Disability retirement in July, 1973.

During his employment at The Bureau of Mines, Winge pursued his education at the University of North Dakota, changing his major to Industrial Technology. By going to night school, switching to part-time employment, using vacation time and correspondence study, he completed his course of study and graduated from UND, College of Human Resources and Development, Department of Industrial Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He applied and received acceptance into Graduate School at UND where he focused on the design, development and fabrication of devices to aid the elderly and handicapped.

Winge designed numerous items to aid him in performing his job, as well as other aids in daily living. Winge's major innovation was a Rocking Chair Platform for Wheelchairs for which he received U.S. Patent #4,768,497. The platform was the focus of his Master's study. It accepted any standard wheelchair and provided back and forth linear motion with stimulation. After experimenting with several rocking speeds, the platform was mechanically operated at 15 cycles per minute. This rate provided a back and forth, as well as, an up and down motion which not only reduced a person's heart rate but also helped blood circulation and respiration. Winge developed three working prototypes to produce a safe rocking chair.

In the developmental stages, all efforts were directed towards Winge's prime concern, the rocking motion. A ripple effect was developed accidentally by the mechanical vibration set up by the gear reduction drive motor. These vibrations were constant, stimulating the whole body. He also discovered that hard rubber tires transmitted more vibrations to the patient than pneumatic tires. By stimulating the lower extremities, the mechanical vibrations relaxed the body and helped the patient to sleep. Shown at the National Home Health Care Symposium in Atlanta, the New Frontier Rocker was marketed by Mar-Tec, Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska.

Winge served on the Governor's and Grand Forks Mayor's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped. "Equal access" was Winge's major concern including the accessibility of all parts of Grand Forks to all of its disabled citizens. He was responsible for the extension of sidewalk curb cuts used in the downtown area into residential areas. He constantly monitored businesses and encouraged remodeling projects that met the needs of the disabled. To assist in identification of barriers to the handicapped, Winge developed an accessibility survey which addressed criteria pertinent to 36 different entities. Results were compiled from over 1,000 surveyed businesses and made available to both the disabled and the business community.

Along with other disabled members of the Grand Forks community, Winge was responsible for the inception of the Dial - A - Ride (Paratransit) in 1981. After 13 years of correspondence with the US Postal Service, he was responsible for the installation of a ramp at the local Post Office.

An outspoken representative for the disabled, Winge never hesitated to point out potential hazards to those responsible. If appropriate corrective measures were not implemented, he was not hesitant to seek the attention of city, county, state or federal officials. Further inaction often resulted in his contacting the local media.

Winge was active in community affairs. He served as Boy Scout Troop 18 Committee Chairman and assisted the Scoutmaster whenever possible. He received an award from Troop 18 for his efforts as well as the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America. He taught fifth grade Sunday school at the First Presbyterian Church for six years, and served as a Deacon of the Church.

Winge also owned Don's Cameras until 1988. To assist his photography interests, Winge devised a camera tripod for his three-wheeled electric scooter which allowed him to mount two cameras to photograph architectural barriers in the community which confront the disabled. He was nominated as the local Outstanding Handicapped Person of the Year in 1962, 1973, and 1980, as well as the local Outstanding Handicapped Federal Employee of the year in 1956, 1959, 1967, and 1970. He also helped with the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon and numerous other community projects. Donald Winge died October 2, 1993.

Subject/Index Terms

Health and Medicine
University of North Dakota - Alumni

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional material was donated by Mark Hall, First National Bank Trust Department of Grand Forks, on March 3, 1995, after the Winge estate was settled (Acc.95-2010).

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Donald Winge, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc.93-1867

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Donald J. Winge Papers. OGLMC 1268, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in May 2015.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical Information and Personal Records],
[Series 2: Invention - Rocking Chair Platform],
[Series 3: Governor's Council on Human Resources],
[Series 4: Mayor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped],
[Series 5: Award, Certificates, Plaques, and Photographs],
[All]

Series 1: Biographical Information and Personal Records

The first series incudes general correspondence, information regarding Winge's medical care, and business records concerning Don's Cameras.

Box 1

Folder 1: Biography
Folder 2: Personal Papers 1984-1993
Folder 3: Housing at Grand Forks Homes, including smoking policy 1983-1993
Folder 4: Newspaper Clippings 1989, 1993
Folder 5: Henry B. Betts Award Nomination Form 1992
Folder 6: Correspondence - National Association of Letter Carriers 1976, 1988-1990
Folder 7: Correspondence - Hospitals/Clinics 1977, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991-1993
Folder 8: Correspondence - Health Care Affordable 1992-1993
Folder 9: Correspondence - Qualified Service Provider 1987- 1993
Folder 10: Don's Camera - Correspondence 1977, 1981, 1988
Folder 11: Don's Camera - US Small Business Administration 1977-1978, 1980-1981, 1988
Folder 12: Outline for teaching a course on Photography and Dark Room Techniques

Box 6

Folder 6: Miscellaneous

Item 1: UND Diploma and Photograph, Bachelor of Science Degree, August 1982
Item 2: UND Diploma and Photograph, Master of Science Degree, August 1986
Item 3: Epsilon Pi Tau (Professional Fraternity for Education in Technology), Gamma Gamma Chapter Membership Certificate, August 1985

Series 2: Invention - Rocking Chair Platform

This series includes Winge's Thesis, graduate papers, notes, drawings for the development of the rocking chair platform, patents, correspondence, financial records, testing, advertising and marketing, news clippings, and materials about other inventions for the handicapped.

Box 1

Folder 13: Winge's Thesis 1982
Folder 14: Winge's Thesis, Copy 2
Folder 15: Graduate Paper, "Removing Barriers for Handicapped Farmers", July 21-22, 1983
Folder 16: Power train assembly for a Rocking Chair Platform for Wheelchairs April 27, 1984
Folder 17: Short Humorous story on Hearing Loss Nov. 15, 1984
Folder 18: Rocking Platform for people who are dependent upon wheelchairs
Folder 19: A platform which will provide a simulated Rocking Chair Motion for people who are dependent upon wheelchairs
Folder 20: A platform which will provide a simulated Rocking Chair Motion for people who are dependent upon wheelchairs July 13, 1986
Folder 21: Winge's Notes and Drawings
Folder 22: Drawings
Folder 23: Development of the Rocking Chair
Folder 24: Patents
Folder 25: Patents
Folder 26: Patents - Correspondence 1985- 1993
Folder 27: Business Plan and Loan Proposal 1991
Folder 28: Financial records
Folder 29: Testing
Folder 30: Advertising/Marketing
Folder 31: Correspondence 1983-1988
Folder 32: Correspondence 1989-1993
Folder 33: News clippings
Folder 34: Miscellaneous
Folder 35: Other Inventions for the Handicapped

Oversize Folder 1: Color Photograph of the Rocking Chair Platform

Separated and placed in the Oversize File Cabinets.

Series 3: Governor's Council on Human Resources

The third series includes Employment of Handicapped book complied by Winge while he was on the committee and his Employment of People with Disabilities book. The name of the committee was changed from Employment of the Handicapped to Employment of People with Disabilities in 1989. Both of these books contain correspondence, notes, and reports on the committee, and review of the protection and advocacy project.

Box 2

Folder 1: Employment of the Handicapped, 1988-1989
Folder 2: Employment of People with Disabilities - Correspondence, 1988-1991
Folder 3: Employment of People with Disabilities, 1987-1989
Folder 4: Employment of People with Disabilities, 1989-1991
Folder 5: Employment of People with Disabilities - Review of the Protection and Advocacy Project, July 1989

Series 4: Mayor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped

Sub-Series 1: Committee Materials

Box 2

Folder 6: Minutes Nov. 1973 - Oct. 1991
Folder 7: Minutes Nov. 1973 - Oct. 1991 con.
Folder 8: Major's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped - 1975-1976, 1983-1984
Folder 9: Mayor's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped - 1985-1990. 1992
Folder 10: Mayor's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped and Bus Transportation 1977-1980
Folder 11: Mayor's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped and Bus Transportation 1981, 1985-1988
Folder 12: Correspondence 1990

Sub-Series 2: Sub-Committee on Accessibility

This sub-series mainly consists of correspondence regarding various subjects.

Box 2

Folder 13: Requested Handicapped Parking and Parking Lots, County Buildings and Handicapped Access Ramp June 1987
Folder 14: Parking Accessibility, Handicapped Parking Hearing 1987, Drawings, Correspondence
Folder 15: Grand Forks Clinic, Automatic Handicapped Door Openers May 1988
Folder 16: Grand Forks Public Schools July 1988
Folder 17: 110 Cherry, Concrete Replacement and 710 14th Ave. S Handicapped Door Openers Sept. 1989
Folder 18: Project 100, 1989
Folder 19: Bus transfer, Kittson Ave. May 1990
Folder 20: Curb Cuts, Grand Forks and East Grand Forks May 1990
Folder 21: Federal Building Accessibility Nov. 1991

Sub-Series 3: Accessibility Survey

This sub-series includes a list of business who participated in the survey, the zone in which each business was placed, the original survey, summary of results, Winge's notes, and news clippings

Box 2

Folder 22: Accessibility Survey Original Feb.-April 1987
Folder 23: List of Businesses in Survey Feb.-April 1987
Folder 24: Blank Survey with Categories Feb.-April 1987
Folder 25: Zone 1 Feb.-April 1987
Folder 26: Zone 2 Feb.-April 1987

Box 3

Folder 1: Zone 3 Feb.-April 1987
Folder 2: Zone 4 Feb.-April 1987
Folder 3: Zone 5 Feb.-April 1987
Folder 4: Zone 7 Feb.-April 1987
Folder 5: Zone 8 Feb.-April 1987
Folder 6: Zone 6,9,10,11,12,13 Feb.-April 1987
Folder 7: 1987 Summary, original
Folder 8: 1987 Summary, copy
Folder 9: Don Winge's Notes 1991
Folder 10: Correspondence 1987-1991
Folder 11: News Clippings, Post Office Accessibility 1985-1990
Folder 12: News Clippings, Cut in Disabled Funding 1988-1993

Sub-Series 4: Dial A Ride Committee

This sub-series contains bus transportation reports, list of eligible riders, committee reports, financial records, contracts for vans, and correspondence.

Box 3

Folder 13: Bus Transportation Report July 1980
Folder 14: Committee Reports Sept.1988
Folder 15: Committee Reports Sept.1988 con.
Folder 16: Committee Reports Sept.1988 con.
Folder 17: Committee Reports 1991
Folder 18: Committee Reports 1991 con.
Folder 19: Committee Reports 1991 con.
Folder 20: Financial records

Box 4

Folder 1: Contracts for Vans 1990-1991
Folder 2: Contracts for Vans 1991-1993
Folder 3: Wheelchair Lifts, Inc., ca.1978
Folder 4: Joint Paratransit Compliance Plan 1990-1992
Folder 5: Eligible Riders Class 1985-1992
Folder 6: Eligible Riders Class B
Folder 7: Eligible Riders Class C
Folder 8: Correspondence 1985-1993

Sub-Series 5: Barrier Free Design Award Committee

Includes rules and regulations, judging sheets, nominees, winners, expense sheets, guidelines for awards banquet, and correspondence.

Box 4

Folder 9: Rules and Regulations 1973-1988
Folder 10: Judging Sheet 1984
Folder 11: Nominees 1986
Folder 12: New Building Winner 1987
Folder 13: 3rd Runner up, Grand Forks Post Office
Folder 14: Original and remodeled structure nominees 1988
Folder 15: 1989 Winners
Folder 16: 1989 Winners and Nominees
Folder 17: Expense Sheet
Folder 18: Guidelines for 1990 Nominees and Awards Banquet
Folder 19: Nominee, New Structure 1990
Folder 20: New Structure Winner 1990
Folder 21: Winner 1990
Folder 22: Correspondence 1986-1993

Sub-Series 6: Miscellaneous

Box 4

Folder 23: Breaking the Accessibility Barriers, For US Senator Dave Durenberger, June 28, 1989
Folder 24: Disabled Charitable Gaming Money Correspondence, 1988
Folder 25: Disabilities Act, Newspaper clippings 1989-1993
Folder 26: Burlington Northern Crossing, Newspaper clippings 1986-1989
Folder 27: City Hall Addition, Correspondence 1991
Folder 28: City Hall Addition newspaper clippings 1993
Folder 29: Horticulture Therapy Participation - Independence Park
Folder 30: Summary Legislative Bills Pertaining to Developmental Disabilities 1987
Folder 31: Souvenirs of North Dakota made by the Disabled, 1990
Folder 32: Emergency vehicle vs. Local traffic at United Hospital
Folder 33: Miscellaneous, News Clippings 1984-1992
Folder 34: Correspondence, Miscellaneous 1974-1993
Folder 35: Miscellaneous 1985-1993

Series 5: Award, Certificates, Plaques, and Photographs

Includes award certificates, plaques, and photographs.

Box 5

Folder 1: Unframed certificates

Item 1: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Item 2: Boy Scouts of America
Item 3: American Entrepreneurs' Association
Item 4: National Rehabilitation Association
Item 5: Lions Club
Item 6: ND Human Resources Council/ Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
Item 7: Dept. of Interior
Item 8: Bureau of Mines
Item 9: International Conference on Rural Rehabilitation Technologies
Item 10: Entrepreneur's Credo

Folder 2: Loose Plaques

Item 1: Outstanding Handicapped Citizen of Grand Forks, 1973
Item 2: Forks Fighters Boxing Club, 1981
Item 3: UND, Class of 1983
Item 4: Grand Forks Mayor's Committee
Item 5: Employment of the Handicapped, 1986
Item 6: MDA, 1986
Item 7: Special Olympics, 1986
Item 8: Options, 1990
Item 9: Mayor's Committee, 1991-1992

Folder 3: Wrapped Plaques housed next to collection boxes

Item 1: UND, BS Degree in Industrial Technology with Photo, 1982
Item 2: UND, MS Degree with Photo, 1986
Item 3: Epsilon Pi Tau, 1985
Item 4: Don Winge and Rocking Chair Platform

Box 6

Folder 1: Photo Album: Rocking Chair Platform
Folder 2: Photo Album: Street Scenes, with Notes of Inaccessible Buildings in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks
Folder 3: Photo Album: Street Scenes in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks
Folder 4: Photo Album: Unidentified Church Interiors
Folder 5: Photo Album: Turtle River State Park

Oversize Folder 1: Color Photograph of Don's Rocking Platform

Placed in the Oversized Photograph File Cabinet

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