Scope and Content Note
The papers of John Campbell Merriam (1869-1945) span the years 1899-1938. The collection consists of correspondence, articles, memoranda, notes, reports, speeches, drawings, maps, photographs, memorabilia, and other manuscript and printed materials. The papers are organized into nine series: General Correspondence , Miscellaneous California Correspondence , Carnegie Institution of Washington , Trips , National Academy of Sciences , National Parks , National Research Council , Inter-American Congress on Education , and Miscellany .
Topics of importance concern Merriam's work as chairman of the National Research Council, president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and regent of the Smithsonian Institution. Also included are materials reflecting his interest in forestry and national parks.
Correspondents include James Bertram, Henry Bryant Bigelow, Howard Walter Blakeslee, William DuBois Brookings, Ovid Butler, Ralph W. Chaney, Bruce L. Clark, Newton Bishop Drury, Charles W. Eliot (1899-1993), George Ellery Hale, Ansel F. Hall, Herbert Hoover, Edgar Billings Howard, Raymond M. Hughes, Vernon L. King, Frederick P. Keppel, Waldo Gifford Leland, Frank Rattray Lillie, Harold Glenn Moulton, Henry Fairfield Osborn, Earl L. Packard, Stewart Paton, Raymond Pearl, Elihu Root, L. S. Rowe, Chester Stock, William Charles White, Edwin Bidwell Wilson, F. E. Wright, Robert Sterling Yard, and Robert Mearns Yerkes.
Dates
- Creation: 1899-1938
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of John C. Merriam are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of John C. Merriam is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1869
- Born, Hopkinton, Iowa
- 1887
- B.S., Lenox College, Hopkinton, Iowa
- 1893
- Ph.D., University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- 1894 - 1920
- Faculty member, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. (appointed chairman, Department of Paleontology, 1912; dean of faculties, 1920)
- 1918
- Co-founded Save-the-Redwoods League
- 1919
- Chairman, National Research Council
- 1920 - 1928
- President, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C.
- 1928 - 1945
- Regent, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
- 1945
- Died, Berkeley, Calif.
Extent
70,000 items
237 containers
94.8 linear feet
Abstract
Paleontologist, educator, and author. Correspondence, articles, memoranda, notes, reports, speeches, drawings, maps, photographs, memorabilia, printed matter, and other materials mainly concerning Merriam's work as chairman of the National Research Council, president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and regent of the Smithsonian Institution.
Arrangement of the Papers
The collection is arranged in nine series:
- General Correspondence, 1920-1938
- Miscellaneous California Correspondence, 1913-1920
- Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1928-1938
- Trips, 1921-1938
- National Academy of Sciences, 1924-1938
- National Parks, 1928-1934
- National Research Council, 1919-1938
- Inter-American Congress on Education, 1930
- Miscellany, 1899-1938
Catalog Record
Acquisition Information
The papers of John C. Merriam, paleontologist, educator, and author, were given to the Library of Congress by Malcolm L. Merriam, Charles W. Merriam, and Lawrence C. Merriam in 1951.
Processing History
The papers of John C. Merriam were arranged and described in 1951. The finding aid was revised in 2012 by Maria Farmer.
Source
- Merriam, John C. (John Campbell), 1869-1945 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Bertram, James, 1872-1934--Correspondence. (Person)
- Bigelow, Henry Bryant, 1879- --Correspondence. (Person)
- Blakeslee, Howard Walter, 1880-1952--Correspondence. (Person)
- Brookings, William DuBois, 1873-1950--Correspondence. (Person)
- Butler, Ovid, 1880-1960--Correspondence. (Person)
- Chaney, Ralph W. (Ralph Works), 1890-1971--Correspondence. (Person)
- Clark, Bruce L. (Bruce Lawrence), 1880- --Correspondence. (Person)
- Drury, Newton Bishop, 1889- --Correspondence. (Person)
- Eliot, Charles W. (Charles William), 1899-1993--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hale, George Ellery, 1868-1938--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hall, Ansel F. (Ansel Franklin), 1894-1962--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964--Correspondence. (Person)
- Howard, Edgar Billings, 1887-1943--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hughes, Raymond M. (Raymond Mollyneaux), 1873-1958--Correspondence. (Person)
- Keppel, Frederick P. (Frederick Paul), 1875-1943--Correspondence. (Person)
- King, Vernon L.--Correspondence. (Person)
- Leland, Waldo Gifford, 1879-1966--Correspondence. (Person)
- Lillie, Frank Rattray, 1870-1947--Correspondence. (Person)
- Merriam, John C. (John Campbell), 1869-1945. (Person)
- Moulton, Harold Glenn, 1883-1965--Correspondence. (Person)
- Osborn, Henry Fairfield, 1857-1935--Correspondence. (Person)
- Packard, Earl L. (Earl Leroy), 1885- --Correspondence. (Person)
- Paton, Stewart, 1865-1942--Correspondence. (Person)
- Pearl, Raymond, 1879-1940--Correspondence. (Person)
- Root, Elihu, 1845-1937--Correspondence. (Person)
- Rowe, L. S. (Leo Stanton), 1871-1946--Correspondence. (Person)
- Stock, Chester, 1892-1950--Correspondence. (Person)
- White, William Charles, 1874-1947--Correspondence. (Person)
- Wilson, Edwin Bidwell, 1879-1964--Correspondence. (Person)
- Wright, F. E. (Frederic Eugene), 1877-1953--Correspondence. (Person)
- Yard, Robert Sterling, 1861-1945--Correspondence. (Person)
- Yerkes, Robert Mearns, 1876-1956--Correspondence. (Person)
- Carnegie Institution of Washington. (Organization)
- National Research Council (U.S.) (Organization)
- Smithsonian Institution. (Organization)
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- John C. Merriam Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Manuscript Division Staff
- Date
- 2012
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 101
Washington, DC 20540-4683
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