John C. Merriam Papers, 1882-1945 (Bulk 1904-1945)
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf8r29p06n No online items Guide to the John C. Merriam papers, 1882-1945 (bulk 1904-1945) Processed by The Bancroft Library staff The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California, 94720-6000 Phone: (510) 642-6481 Fax: (510) 642-7589 Email: [email protected] URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu © 1997, 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Guide to the John C. Merriam BANC MSS C-B 970 1 papers, 1882-1945 (bulk 1904-1945) Guide to the John C. Merriam Papers, 1882-1945 (bulk 1904-1945) Collection number: BANC MSS C-B 970 The Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Contact Information: The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California, 94720-6000 Phone: (510) 642-6481 Fax: (510) 642-7589 Email: [email protected] URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu Processed by: The Bancroft Library staff Additional processing by: Lara Michels Encoded by: Xiuzhi Zhou Revisions to encoding by: Lara Michels Date of revisions: 2013 © 1997, 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Collection Summary Collection Title: John C. Merriam Papers, Date (inclusive): 1882-1945 Date (bulk): (1904-1945) Collection Number: BANC MSS C-B 970 Creator: Merriam, John C. (John Campbell), 1869-1945 Extent: Number of containers: 9 cartons, 1 box (Linear feet: 11.75) Repository: The Bancroft Library. Berkeley, California 94720-6000 Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Abstract: Correspondence, manuscripts and reprints of writings, and some subject files relating to Merriam's career at the University of California as well as his work in palaeontology and conservation. Languages Represented: English Guide to the John C. Merriam BANC MSS C-B 970 2 papers, 1882-1945 (bulk 1904-1945) Access Collection is open for research. Publication Rights All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html. Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html . Preferred Citation [Identification of item], John C. Merriam papers, BANC MSS C-B 970, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. Associated collection: John C. Merriam papers (MSS32706; Library of Congress). Alternate Forms Available Copies of Letters of J.C. Hawver, d. 1914 available on microfilm; negative (BNEG Box 2729) and positive. Acquisition Information The John C. Merriam papers were gifted to the Bancroft Library by Lawrence C. Merriam and Charles W. Merriam in 1963 and 1970. Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. Merriam, John C. (John Campbell), 1869-1945--Archives University of California (1868-1952). Department of Paleontology Save-the-Redwoods League National parks and reserves--United States Paleontology--California Paleontology--California--La Brea Pits Faculty papers Biography Born in Iowa, Oct, 20, 1869, John Campbell Merriam, palaeontologist, educator and administrator, grew up in the Midwest, where he attended Lenox College. After obtaining his doctorate from Munich, Merriam came to the University of California as an instructor of palaeontology and historical geology in 1894, becoming a full professor in 1912, and Dean of the Faculties in 1920. While at the University, he worked on the question of the authenticity of the Calaveras skull, explored shell mounds for fossils and Indian artefacts in conjunction with the Department of Anthropology, studied the John Day fauna in Oregon, the fossil beds of Virgin Valley, Nevada, and extinct faunas of the Mohave area. Of great interest to him was the discovery of fossil remains in the La Brea tar pits of southern California. It was due in large part to Merriam's foresight that the material found in the pits was preserved for scientific research. Merriam was also involved in the negotiations with Annie Alexander for the establishment of the University's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. As a member of the University Press Editorial Committee, he actively supported publication of reports on palaeontological discoveries. Merriam resigned in June 1920 to become president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, a post he retained until 1938. He was also a Regent of the Smithsonian from 1928. Merriam belonged to many scientific societies and was particularly interested in the formation of a palaeontological society which would publish current articles. He always retained an interest in the West, and, as president of the Save-the-Redwoods League, was active in the conservation movement in California. Guide to the John C. Merriam BANC MSS C-B 970 3 papers, 1882-1945 (bulk 1904-1945) Scope and Content The collection consists largely of incoming and outgoing correspondence dating mainly from circa 1904 to 1919 and from 1940 to 1945. Merriam's correspondence dating from the 1920s and 1930s is in the John C. Merriam papers at the Library of Congress. Also in the collection are typed manuscripts of some of Merriam's articles, addresses, lectures, and memoranda dating from circa 1912 to 1945. Among these are Merriam's writings relating to his interest in National Parks (Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Crater Lake, in particular, but also to the idea of National Parks more generally). The collection also includes some files relating to organizations such as the University of California, Save-the-Redwoods League and the National Parks Association. Series 1: Correspondence. circa 1904-1945 Physical Description: carton 1-4 Subseries 1.1: Incoming. circa 1904-1945 Physical Description: carton 1-4 Arrangement Arranged alphabetically by author or organization, then chronologically within each folder. Carton 1: A-Carnegie Institution. Carton 2: Case-Journal of Race Development. Carton 3: K-Putnam. Carton 4: R-Z. A partial list of correspondents is appended. Subseries 1.2: Outgoing. circa 1904-1945 Physical Description: carton 5, carton 6, folder 1-14 Arrangement Arranged chronologically. Carton 5: 1904-1914. Carton 6: 1915-1919, 1933 (two letters), 1940-1945, undated. Series 2: Writings. circa 1912-1945 Physical Description: carton 6, folder 15-30; carton 7 Carton 6, Folder 1912-1915 15 Partial list of folder contents Recent discoveries of artificially formed implements found in association with Pleistocene beds at Rancho La Brea and San Pedro, California (address); The Philosophy of ancient history (paper read before the Cosmos Club); Ancient history and prophecy (paper and notes); Fauna of the Rodeo Pleistocene; The fauna of Rancho La Brea. Carton 6, Folder 1918-1923 16 Partial list of folder contents The breadth of an education (reprint); The beginnings of human history read from the geological record: the emergence of man (reprint); The meaning of history as illustrated by the records secured at Rancho La Brea (paper read before the Pacific Division of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science); Earth sciences as the background of history (reprint of address). Carton 6, Folder 1924-1925 16-17 Partial list of folder contents Remarks on the place of education in a research institution (abstract of address); Convocation address at George Washington University; Yama Farms Conference (notes and memoranda); The creative process in history (lectures). Guide to the John C. Merriam BANC MSS C-B 970 4 papers, 1882-1945 (bulk 1904-1945) Series 2: Writings. circa 1912-1945 Carton 6, Folder 1926 18-19 Partial list of folder contents The meaning of history in individual experience (address to the Philosophical Society of Washington); The responsibility of federal and state governments for recreation (remarks made before the National Conference on Outdoor Recreation and published in the National Parks Bulletin); Our national parks (published article); Windows of time. Carton 6, Folder 1927-1928 20-26 Partial list of folder contents Forest windows; Toast (Our Sister Societies) for dinner of the American Philosophical Society; Importance of historical evidence indicating advance in human capacity and ability; The generations; Memorandum regarding meeting