bˈɔːɹn ɪnðə smˈɔːl tˈaʊn ʌv wˈiːvɚ, mˌɪnɪsˈoʊɾə, hiː ɹᵻsˈiːvd hɪz bˈiː.ˈɛs. fɹʌm hˈæmlaɪn jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ɪn sənt. pˈɔːl, ˌɛmˈɛn ænd hɪz mˈæstɚz ænd pˌiːˈeɪtʃ.dˈiː. fɹʌmðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv ˈaɪəwə ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi θɹˈiː; hɪz dɪsɚtˈeɪʃən ɐdvˈaɪzɚ wʌz ˈɛdwɚd tʃˈɪtɛndən.
Born in the small town of Weaver, Minnesota, he received his B.S. from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN and his Master's and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1933; his dissertation advisor was Edward Chittenden.