Robert W. Karpinski was a professor of geology at the University of Illinois at Chicago during the late 1960s. It is likely that he is the son of mathematician and cartographer Louis Karpinski. The elder Karpinski taught mathematics at the University of Michigan during the late 1930s. His book entitled Bibliography of the Printed Maps of Michigan is highly regarded by contemporary cartographers and his extensive photograph collection of manuscript maps relating to America has been useful to many scholars. Louis Karpinski published serval articles on mathematics as well, which can be found in this collection. In addition to his interests in mathematics and cartography, it also appears that Louis Karpinski was a collector of autographs and letters dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. This collection appears to have been later inherited by Robert Karpinski.
From the description of Robert W. Karpinski collection, 1746-1969. (University of Illinois-Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 58465069
