Letter to Taylor from Leverett, March 9, 1917

Item — Box: 2, Folder: 10

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: March 9, 1917

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

Rec'd your March 6th letter but I am not the person who convinced Dr. Clarke to cooperate with the USGS in Pleistocene work. I think David White has been doing the diplomatic work. On Feb. 23 I received a letter from Mr Alden asking for an estimate ASAP for the NY work, time required, expense, etc., to continue negotiations with Dr. Clarke who had expressed interest in cooperating with USGS. I wrote a statement about what I thought you & I could do in a single season where you would work on moraines and ice borders of Iroquois shore lines, and I will continue mapping from the Genessee valley east to the Catskills. These are the most important, and I spoke of your special fitness for this work, and said one season's work would make it easier to make a better estimate than the $1500 I thought would cover both of us for field expenses and a conference with Fairchild if necessary. I spoke of Fairchild's good work but said that he was not trained in mapping moraines and ice border features, as you are. If your work should bring out an interpretation that might require Fairchild to revise his work, it would be good to get Fairchild in the field and see the evidence. So I am suggesting one season's work be spent in clearing up matters of interest. If, after this year, you think you have had enough and are prepared to leave it, there would be no binding obligation to stay. I am interested in carrying the work to the Catskills to see if the late Wisconsin ice covered the mountains or wrapped around them. Perhaps in the following year you could make arrangements to work on the Canada side. You should understand that this is all contingent on USGS getting funding. We all hope to see you at the Michigan Academy meeting March 28-30. We would be glad to have you come here; my cousin who had the stroke if much better and requires little care now. Mrs. Leverett and I have the same birth date, and tomorrow we will celebrate a combined 100 years. Some of our friends are giving us a century plant. I only saw your cousin a few times this winter but I think he is getting along nicely. At the Academy meeting I plan to talk on geology of the northern peninsula.