Department of Geological Sciences Departmental Administrative Records

Description: Boxes 1-23

This series is comprised of twenty-three boxes and spans the years from 1939 through 1981. It is divided into three subseries: departmental correspondence files, subject files, and grant and research proposal files.

The departmental correspondence files fill over eleven boxes and date between 1967 and 1980. The files consist almost entirely of copies of outgoing correspondence. The correspondence is arranged into folders according to author and within folders in reverse chronological order.

The first fives boxes of the subseries include the administrative correspondence of Laurence L. Sloss, Fred T. Mackenzie, and E.H. Timothy Whitten. Each of these men served teh department as its chairman; Sloss from 1969 to 1970, Mackenzie from 1970 to 1977, and Whitten as acting chair in 1974 and chairman from 1977 to 1981. For each, the correspondence spans a period including and either antedating or postdating the term of his chairmanship. Correspondence typically concerns a broad range of departmental matters such as curricular offerings, faculty recruitment and staffing, and researc projects. Some of Whitten's correspondence pertains to his work as chairman of Northwestern's Research Committee (1974-1976), Shaffer lecture Committee (1976-1977), and as president of the Faculty Club.

The correspondence of the department's directors of graduate studies, Arthur L. Howland (1969-1976) and Roscoe G. Jackson II (1976-1978), and Abraham Lerman, graduate advisor, follows and fills about five boxes. This correspondence is largely routine in nature and concerns mainly graduate admissions and financial aid opportunities. Many form letters along with attachments detailing the names and addresses of letter recipients are included in these files.

The correspondence of five other department members fills out the subseries and totals about two boxes. Represented here are Ronald J. Gibbs, William C. Krumbein, Radomir Petrovic, Norman H. Sleep, and Robert C. Speed. Their correspondence often relates to research interests and proposals, field studies, and professional activities as well as departmental matters including faculty staffing, course offerings, and teaching assignments. Student recommendations are scattered throughout the correspondence. Some of the Speed correspondence also concerns the university's Integrated Science Program for undergraduates.

The second subseries, subject files, fills about eight boxes and spans the period 1939-1981. The files bulk between the late 1950s and early 1970s. Folders are arranged alphabetically according to heading. The subject files include departmental personnel, registration, and teaching load records; reports, memoranda, and correspondence concerning curricular offerings and research; recommendations; and correspondence and related materials concerning faculty staffing, research grants, fellowships, scholarships, and a variety of other administrative matters.

Grant and research proposal files span the years between 1958 and 1977 although most date from the late 1960s. The files fill about three and one-half boxes. Arranged at the front of this subseries are eight folders of correspondence, memoranda, and related materials concerning general grant opportunities and proposals. Following are folders arranged alphabetically first according to surname of principal investigator, then by name of funding or proposed funding agency, and finally according to title of grant or proposal. The files generally include copies of proposals, sometimes in draft and final forms, occasional progress reports for funded projects, correspondence, and financial records.