Letter to Taylor from Leverett, June 30, 1907

Item — Box: 1, Folder: 13

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Series:

The correspondence series includes approximately 1100 letters written between 1892-1939. The majority of the collection are letters between Frank Leverett and Frank Bursley Taylor; they discuss their field work, Monograph 53, other publications and various related problems. There is also other correspondence with other geologists, including T.C. Chamberlin, Grove K. Gilbert, J.W. Goldthwait, H.L. Fairchild, et alia. There is extensive correspondence with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the Michigan Geological Survey. The primary subject of this series is the surficial glacial geology of the midwestern U.S. and Canada. Leverett & Taylor's work was essential for understanding how the Great Lakes were formed as the Pleistocene glaciers advanced and retreated from the midwestern states. The letters describe the 30 year process of gathering data, mapping the data and constructing the picture of glacial processes during the last Ice Age.

Dates

Creation: June 30, 1907

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

The material is stored offsite in Remote Storage. Please contact Special Collections 3 working days in advance if you wish to use it.

Extent

From the Collection: 1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

General

My notes on Mason Co. have reference to distinct border between morainic and flat surface just S of Ludington about 80' above lake. Similar change N of Bass Lake. Goldthwait should level both. Concerning shorelines in SW Michigan, there are shore features above Glenwood probably due to small proglacial lakes on east edge of lake; evidence of this from northern Muskegon Co. south to St. Joseph. Flat tract with bluff at Twin Lake Station, also at Moorland, also at Borculo N of Holland, and sand ridges SE of Holland. Kalamazoo River at Allegan has terrace at 680', nearly at same level as glacial lake held between Valparaiso and Lake Border Moraininc Systems. At Fennville sandy plain has outwash apron or pitted gravel plain at 675-680'. Glacial lake at 680' was probably older than lakes in the Grand and Muskegon valleys. Glacial lake between Valparaiso and Lake Border Moraines near Pawpaw and St. Joseph Rivers was at 660' and plain at Hartford long Pawpaw River is also at 660'. South of Ludington, to is necessary to discriminate between beaches of Lake Chicago and shore features of small proglacial lakes that preceded Lake Chicago. Shore features at 660' near Ludington and Amber were probably produced by Lake Chicago, but Goldthwait needs to measure these very carefully. Best place to see full series might be at Pentwater River NW of Hart. N of Montague is sandy plain with moraine at 650-655' which may be from Lake Chicago or from a local glacial lake. Grand River Delta in Allendale Tp. has altitude of 645' which correlates with what may be upper Lake Chicago beach. Goldthwait should run levels from Holland up to this beach as well as low beach at west Black Lake. Also the S side of Kalamazoo River near Saugatuck. From there S to Indiana, upper shore of Lake Chicago is very evident along coast of Lake Michigan; beach is horizontal here 640' with a possible raise of 20' north toward Muskegon. My 1900 studies show a very narrow trench at E end of Black Lake, but floor of old Grand River outlet is typical till. Question for you and Goldthwait: is this bar or beach from Lake Algonquin or from Toleston from Chicago. Other questions: 1. IF beach extends over peat deposit and weighs it down, would it give conditions such as at Evanston, New Buffalo, MI, and Michigan City, IN. 2. Would Lake basins (Muskegon, White, Pentwater, etc.) mark existence of ice masses and be basins in drift instead of excavated valleys? 3. Were thick clay layers in Grand Traverse area formed around edges of stagnant ice masses occupying deep basins or finger lakes of that area. Please share these notes with Goldthwait.