Letter to Taylor from Leverett, June 3, 1913

Item — Box: 2, Folder: 6

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 3, 1913

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

I send you p. 619-831 of our Monograph for correction and revision, hopefully before June 30. I have already sent p. 1-618 to the Editor who will transmit the whole thing to publication if it is ready. I have suggested a few changes: 1. Roxana moraine, 2. Thumb interlobate moraines have blocks of pre-Wisconsin drift which should be discussed, 3. I re-worded the discussion on the Hadley moraine to avoid duplicate names, 4. Discussion of Otter Lake esker appears twice, 5. Millington moraine is a continuation of the Owosso moraine, 6. References to Imlay and Goodland moraines on p. 686 should be cross-referenced to fuller discussion on p. 747. 7. Confusion about references to Mayville moraine with Marlette and Index moraines, 8. You need a discussion of the Grosse Isle moraine on p. 759, 9. Discussion on striae should omit references to 4 invasions and use only the 2 listed by Sherzer -- Illinoian and Wisconsin, 11. if you omit 2 paragraphs on p. 760-61 you will not indorse nor oppose Sherzer's interpretation. (NOTE: Taylor appears to have added check marks in red as he revised the text.) I rec'd a statement from Chamberlin about proposed names Kansionan and Iowillian and also how to handle questions of Pleistocene intervals at the upcoming Intl. Geological Congress. I will spend a few hours with him tomorrow to dissaude him; I think these terms will detract from serious discussion, to the point of causing laughter. I will outline for you my thoughts on the nomenclature: Illinoian refers to the 3rd widespread ice sheet and the Illinois Lobe and is a stable part of the literature; Iowan was originally applied to what is now called Kansan several years before the Illinoian was coined, and was later applied to the main loess deposits above the Illinoian and separateed by the Sangamon soil zone. It now appears that the Iowan was placed too high on the time scale and may be the same general age as the Illinoian. I think it foolish now to displace the term Illinoian. What do you think? I can't come to Fort Wayne but have been delayed so I will go direct to Minnesota. You can reach me care of Prof. Sardeson. Don't worry about cahnges to the manuscript as Alden has arranged for a stenographer to make a typewritten copy at the Survey Office.