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Guide to the Records of the Vertebrate Paleontology
Department of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Prepared by Carolyn Smith, Summer, 2006
Collection Number:
2006-7
Inclusive Dates: 1894-2004
Bulk Dates: 1965-1999
Extent:
This collection is housed in 18 archival boxes.
Repository:
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Library
4400 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Email: calleryb@carnegiemnh.org
Abstract:
This collection documents the research activities of the Vertebrate Paleontology
Department as well as its interaction with other museums and the public. It also includes
information on the scientific contributions of individuals within department. Materials
include correspondence, research notes, field notes, field packing lists, manuscript drafts,
grant proposals, and manuscript reviews, among others.
Acquisition Information:
Records created in the course of normal museum activities within the Vertebrate
Paleontology Department at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. These records
were arranged and described in Summer, 2006.
Preferred Citation:
Records of the Vertebrate Paleontology Department of the Carnegie Museum of Natural
History, Carnegie Museum of Natural History Archives – 2006-7.
Access Restrictions:
The collections of the museum shall be available for examination and study by any
qualified individual under the normal museum security procedures and other special
procedures established by the section for the protection of the specific collection.
Copyright:
Property rights reside with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. For information
about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Bernadette Callery, Museum
Librarian, at the address listed above
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Alternate Format:
This collection is not available in another format
Related Materials:
For more information concerning individual members of the Vertebrate Paleontology
Department, see the Papers of Dr. Anthony Barnosky, 2004-1; Papers of Cathy Barnosky,
2006-1; Papers of Earl Douglass; Papers of John Edward Guilday, Papers of O.A.
Peterson, Papers of John Clark.
History:
The Department of Vertebrate Paleontology was founded in 1895, at the same time as the
Carnegie Museum of Natural History itself. Originally focusing on the acquisition and
reconstruction of dinosaurs, members of the department traveled to Utah, Wyoming,
Montana, and other western states in search of fossil beds. Among their discoveries were
the fossil sites that would become Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, and Agate Fossil
Beds National Monument, Nebraska. The focus of the department has changed over time,
shifting from dinosaurs to mammal species and Permo-Triassic reptiles and amphibians.
In addition to research and fieldwork, the department assists in creating displays of fossils
and casts to the public.
Scope and Content Note:
Since the original order of the material was fragmentary, the collection was arranged by
document type and subject and then organized into five series. Series I. contains
departmental and interdepartmental correspondence. Series II. is comprised of materials
relating to specimen acquisition and care. Series III. documents the contributions of
individual members of the department through research and publication. Series IV.
demonstrates the department’s involvement in exhibit planning and its interaction with
other CMNH departments. Finally, Series V. contains ephemeral purchase and budget
files.
Series I. Correspondence Files
This series contains the departmental and interdepartmental files of Vertebrate
Paleontology in their original order.
Subseries 1. General Department Correspondence, 1965-1999
This subseries represents the correspondence files of the Vertebrate Paleontology
Department from 1965 to 1999. Items remain in their original order, filed alphabetically
by name of the author, recipient, or institution and arranged in blocks of approximately
five to ten years. Most of the correspondence is between members of the department or
between Vertebrate Paleontology staff and paleontologists from other institutions.
Common document types include requests from other paleontologists or biologists to
view specimens or obtain casts, informal reports on fossil localities or discoveries from
colleagues in the field, and discussions of particular species, specimens, or theories. Each
block of correspondence also includes a “Public Inquiry” folder containing exchanges
between CMNH paleontologists and members of the public. Most incoming letters take
the form of general questions about dinosaurs or paleontology, letters and drawings from
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children, and requests for teaching materials. Copies of responses are often, but not
always, present.
Although the documentation is continuous and covers many departmental activities, it
should not be considered complete; most of the material was filed by Mary Dawson or
former Collection Manager Elizabeth Hill, and other members of the department – who
may have kept their correspondence elsewhere – are not as well represented. Individuals
appearing frequently in each time period are as follows:
1965-1979:
Mary Dawson
David Berman
Craig Black
Helen McGinnis
M. Graham Netting
Robert West
1980-1984:
Anthony Barnosky
Cathy Barnosky
Craig Black
Mary Dawson
Elizabeth Hill
William Korth
Allen D. McCrady
Robert West
1985-1989:
Donald Baird
Anthony Barnosky
Cathy Barnosky
Chris Beard
David Berman
Mary Dawson
Elizabeth Hill
Jim King
Carolyn Sekerka
Richard Stucky
1990-1994:
Anthony Barnosky
Cathy Barnosky
Chris Beard
Mary Dawson
Elizabeth Hill
Leonard Krishtalka
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Malcolm McKenna
1995-1999:
Chris Beard
Mary Dawson
Elizabeth Hill
Helen McGinnis
Norman Wuerthele
Wang Yuanqing
Luo Zhexi
Box 1 Folder 1-22
Correspondence A-S, 1965-1979
Box 2 Folder 1-6
Folder 7-9
Folder 10
Folder 11-35
Folder 36-37
Correspondence T-Z, 1965-1979
Public Inquiry, 1965-1976
Public Inquiry – Billy Schake, 1970s
Correspondence A-Z, 1980-1984
Public Inquiry, 1980-1984
Box 3 Folder 1-24
Folder 25
Folder 26
Folder 27-48
Correspondence A-Z, 1985-1989
Public Inquiry, 1985-1989
Letters of Thanks and Appreciation, 1985-1989
Correspondence A-U, 1990-1994
Box 4 Folder 1-3
Folder 04-07
Folder 08
Folder 09-33
Folder 34
Folder 35
Correspondence V-Z, 1990-1994
Public Inquiry, 1990-1994
Letters of Thanks and Appreciation, 1990-1994
Correspondence A-Z, 1995-1999
Public Inquiry, 1995-1999
Letters of Thanks and Appreciation, 1995-1999
General Correspondence by Topic
Folder 36
Contracts and Related Papers, 1985-2000
Folder 37
Films – BBC and David Attenborough, 1987-1989
Folder 38
Radiocarbon Dating, 1969
Folder 39
Seminars and Symposia, 1991-1999; includes 1999 Dinosaur
Symposium
Subseries 2. Professional Correspondence, 1966-1984
This subseries consists of correspondence between CMNH paleontologists and their
colleagues at other institutions. Since Mary Dawson was a participant in most of these
conversations, the information often reflects her interest in lagomorphs and other
mammal specimens. Filed alphabetically by correspondent.
Folder 40
Folder 41
Baird, Donald
Black, Craig C.
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Folder 42
Folder 43
Folder 44
Folder 45
Dawson, Mary R.
de Bruijn, Hans
Emry, Robert J.
Engesser, Burkart
Box 5 Folder 01
Folder 02
Folder 03
Folder 04
Folder 05
Folder 06
Folder 07
Folder 08
Folder 09
Folder 10
Folder 11
Folder 12
Folder 13
Folder 14
Folder 15
Folder 16
Folder 17
Folder 18
Folder 19
Folder 20
Folder 21
Folder 22
Folder 23
Folder 24
Folder 25
Folder 26
Folder 27
Folder 28
Folder 29
Folder 30
Folder 31
Folder 32
Folder 33
Folder 34
Folder 35
Folder 36
Folder 37
Fahlbusch, Volker
Fejfar, Oldrich
Galbreath, Edwin C.
Gazin, Charles Lewis
Green, Morton
Guilday, John E.
Guthrie, Daniel A.
Hibbard, C.W.
Hunt, Robert
Hurzeler, Johannes
Lander, Bruce
Langston, Wann
Lillegraven, Jason E.
Lund, Richard
MacDonald, James Reid
McKenna, Dr. Malcom C.
Patterson, Bryan
Radinsky, Leonard
Ray, Clayton E.
Repenning, Charles E.
Riedel, Donald
Riel, Stanley J.
Robinson, Peter
Rohrer, Willis L.
Russell, Alan P.
Russell, Dale
Russell, Donald E.
Salkin, Robert
Savage, Donald E.
Savage, R.J.G.
Schaeffer, Bob
Schultz, C. Bernard
Shotwell, J. Arnold
Simpson, G.G.
Sloan, Robert E.
Sych, Lucjan (visiting museum specialist)
University of Pittsburgh
Later Additions
Folder 38
Berman, David; dispute over fossil ownership
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Folder 39
Folder 40
Folder 41
Folder 42
Folder 43
de Bruijn, Hans, 1989-1996
Fiorillo, Anthony R., 1990-1995
McKenna, Malcolm and George Gaylord Simpson, 1968
McKenna, Malcolm, 1989-2001
Woodside, 1963-1974
Subseries 3. Interdepartmental Correspondence, 1975-2002
This subseries contains correspondence between the Department of Vertebrate
Paleontology and other CMNH departments and divisions. Most discussions relate to the
day-to-day functioning of the museum and include security questions and problems,
requests for funds, or explanations of library procedures.
Folder 44
1970-1975
Folder 45
Black), 1970-1975
Folder 46
1984
Folder 47
Folder 48
Folder 49
Folder 50-51
Folder 52
Folder 53
Memos to the Directors Office (Graham Netting and Craig Black),
Memos from the Director’s Office (Graham Netting and Craig
Memos to the Director and Museum Office (Craig Black), 1980Memos from the Director’s Office (Craig Black), 1980-1984
Memos, Director’s Office (Craig Black), 1980-1984
To Other Sections, 1980-1984
From Other Sections, 1980-1984
Interim Director Dave Watters, 1987-1988
Anthropology, 1991-1998
Box 6 Folder 01
Buildings and Grounds (Facilities), 1991-1998
Folder 02-03 Memos to and from Director’s Office (James E. King), 1988-1996
Folder 04
Memos to and from Acting Director Jim Richardson, 1996-1997
Folder 05
Memos, Directors Jay Apt and Bill DeWalt, 2001-2002
Folder 06
Memos, Director Bill DeWalt, 2001-2002
Folder 07
Earth Sciences 1986-2000
Folder 08
Education, 1991-2001
Folder 09
Exhibits, 1984-2002
Folder 10
Flower Fund (for funerals), 1974-1978
Folder 11
Gift Shop; Carnegie Collection Dinosaur Models, 1989-1999
Folder 12
Assistant Director of Finance, 1998
Folder 13
Hungerman, Andy, 1996
Folder 14
Invertebrate Zoology, 1986-1998
Folder 15
Leonard Krishtalka representing Vertebrate Paleontology and
Invertebrate Paleontology, 1991-1994
Folder 16
Library, 1985-2000
Folder 17
Minerals
Folder 18
Other Departments, 1983-2001
Folder 19
Preparation Lab Renovation, 1979-1980
Folder 20
President Ellsworth Brown, 1993-2002
Folder 21
President Robert Willburn, 1986-1992
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Folder 22
Personnel, 1988-2001
Folder 23
Powedermill, 1997
Folder 24
Public Relations, Media Relations, and Development, 1993-2000
Folder 25
Scientific Publications, Office of, 1987-1999
Folder 26
Scientific Staff, 1996-2001
Folder 27
Security, 1987-2001
Folder 28
Carolyn Sekerka, 1985-1994
Folder 29
VP Section Office Organization, 1990-1994
Folder 30
VP Section Office Organization, 1995-1999
Folder 31
General CMNH Memos, 1985-1989
Folder 32
General CMNH Memos, 1990-1994
Folder 33
General CMNH Memos, 1995-1999
This series contains information relating to the acquisition, handling, care, and study of
specimens by the department as a whole.
Subseries 1. Grants
The Vertebrate Paleontology Department relies heavily on grants for both scientific
research and the care of its collections. The National Geographic Society and National
Science Foundation have been major sources of funding, while the internal M. Graham
Netting and O’Neil Funds provide additional support. This section includes copies of
proposals filed by foundation and year, as well as information on specific grants and
grant-funded projects, arranged by foundation or project number.
Grant Proposals
This section contains grant proposals for paleontological research and facilities care, filed
by date and funding institution. In most cases, only the proposal itself is available, but
some are accompanied by correspondence or project reports. Item level descriptions
include the title of the proposal, principal investigator, amount requested, and year of
submission. All proposals were submitted by the Vertebrate Paleontology Department
unless otherwise noted. Item-level description has not been provided for the Netting and
O’Neil funds.
Internal Funding Sources
Folder 34-36 M. Graham Netting Fund, 1977-1999
Folder 37
O’Neil Fund, 1979-1982
National Geographic Society
Folder 38
Proposals to the National Geographic Society, 1977-1982
1.
“Paleogene Terrestrial Vertebrate Faunas, Canadian High Arctic:
Origin, Affinities, Environment.” PI: Mary Dawson and R.M. West.
Amount requested: $10,105. 1977
2.
“Tertiary Terrestrial Floras and Vertebrate Faunas, Canadian High
Arctic.” PI: Mary Dawson, R.M. West, Leo Hickey. Amount requested:
$7,913. 1979
3.
“Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic Terrestrial Biota, Canadian High Arctic.” PI:
Mary Dawson, R.M. West, Leo Hickey. Amount requested: $11,900.
1982
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4.
Folder 39
1.
2.
3.
4.
Related materials (letters, reports)
Proposals to the National Geographic Society, 1989-1999
“Middle Pennsylvanian Vertebrate Assemblage from Newly Discovered
Cannel Coal Locality in Ohio.” PI: David Berman, Donald Baird,
Robert Hook. Amount requested: $11,035. 1989
“Terrestrial Vertebrate Assemblage from Late Pennsylvanian Rock
Lake Shale Near Garnett, Kansas.” PI: David Berman with Robert Reisz
of the University of Toronto. Amount requested: $9,270. 1990
“Paleontological Exploration of the Eocene Melawi Formation, Western
Kalimantan (Indonesia).” PI: Christopher Beard. Amount requested:
$24,250. 1991
“Upper Carboniferous Vertebrates from a New Locality in Eastern
Ohio.” PI: David Berman. Amount requested: $9,764. 1993
National Science Foundation: Facilities and Collection Care, 1970s-1980s
Box 7 Bound proposal: “Reorganization and Rehabilitation of the Vertebrate
Paleontological Collections of CMNH: A Proposal for Support of Scientific Collections.”
PI: Mary Dawson, Craig Black, James M. Walton. Amount requested: $415,409.79. 1976
Folder 02
Notes, reports, and photographs relating to “Reorganization and
Rehabilitation,” 1976 (documents had been stored between the proposal’s pages)
Bound proposal (2 copies): “Renovation and Reorganization of the Vertebrate
Paleontological Collections of CMNH: A Request for Continuing Support.” PI:
Mary Dawson, Craig Black, James Walton. Amount requested: $117,248. 1979
Folder 03
Notes, reports, and photographs relating to “Continuing Support,”
1979 (these documents had been stored between the proposals’ pages)
Bound proposal: “Curation and Preparation of Parts of the Vertebrate
Paleontological Collections of CMNH: A Request for Continued Support” PI:
Mary Dawson, Craig Black, James Walton. Amount requested: $130,753. 1982
Folder 04
Notes and Drafts for an NSF Facilities Proposal 1970s
Folder 05
Support for Systematic Collections, including “Proposal to NSF
for Support of Systematic Collections.” Section of Birds. PI: Kenneth Parkes. Amount
Requested: $85,478. 1972 and “Facilities for Storage and Curating of Collections of
Lower Vertebrate Fossils in Carnegie Museum.” PI: Craig Black, Graham Netting.
Amount requested: $79,235. c. 1960” as well as notes for a systematic collection grant
for Vertebrate Paleontology, 1971-1972
National Science Foundation
Folder 06
Proposals to the National Science Foundation, 1962-1977
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“Monograph of the Ithomiidae (Lepidoptera).” PI: Richard Fox.
Amount requested: not specified. 1962
2.
“Stratigraphy and Sedimentation of the Late Eocene Tepee Trail
Formation in Central Wyoming.” PI: Craig Black. Amount requested:
$10,477. c. 1967
3.
“Early Permian Vertebrates from the Tri-State Region.” PI: David
Berman. Amount requested: $17,486. 1976
“Early Permian Vertebrates from the Tri-State Region.” PI: David Berman.
Amount requested: $24,105. 1977
1.
Folder 07
Proposals to the National Science Foundation, 1980-1987
1.
“Early Permian Vertebrates of New Mexico.” PI: David Berman.
Amount requested: $97,622. 1980
2.
“Geology and Paleontology of the Early Eocene Wind River Formation
of Wyoming.” Geology and Planetary Sciences Department, University
of Pittsburgh. PI: Mary Dawson. Requested amount: $3,973. 1980
Folder 08
“Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Paleontology of the PermoPennsylvanian Fluvial Redbeds of North-Central New Mexico.” PI: David
Berman. Amount requested: $109,994. 1986
1.
“Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Paleontology of the PermoPennsylvanian Fluvial Redbeds of North-Central New Mexico.” PI: David
Berman. Amount requested: $124,413. 1987
2.
“Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Paleontology of the PermoPennsylvanian Fluvial Redbeds of North-Central New Mexico.” PI: David
Berman. Amount requested: $196,337. 1987
3.
“Addendum to NSF Proposal BSR-8709242: Excavation and Survey of
Paleocene and Eocene Faunas of the Wind River Basin, Wyoming.” PI:
Leonard Krishtalka, Richard Stucky, Mary Dawson. 1987
Folder 09
Proposals to the National Science Foundation, 1988-89
1.
“Geology and Paleontology of the Kishenehn Basin, Northwest
Montana.” Department of Earth Sciences. PI: Mary Dawson. Amount
requested: $173,943. 1989.
2.
“Phylogenetic Relationships of Pelycosaurs.” PI: David Berman.
Amount requested: $181,120. 1990.
Folder 10
Proposals to the National Science Foundation, 1990-1992
1.
“Renovation of Vertebrate Paleontology Research Facility.” PI: Mary
Dawson. Amount requested: $701,592. 1990
2.
“Renovation of Vertebrate Paleontology Research Facility.” PI: Mary
Dawson. Amount requested: $696,150. 1990
3.
“North American-like Lower Permian Terrestrial Tetrapod Assemblage
from the Rotliegend of Germany.” PI: David Berman. Amount
requested: $215,910. c.1992
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4.
“Rescue of Late Eocene Vertebrates, Yuanqu Basin, China.” PI: Mary
Dawson. Amount requested: $34,520. c.1992
Folder 11
Proposal to the National Science Foundation, 1992
1.
“Renovation of the Vertebrate Paleontology Collections at Carnegie
Museum of Natural History.” PI: Mary Dawson. Amount requested: $731,456.
1992; proposal was accepted.
Folder 12
Proposals to the National Science Foundation, 1996-1999
1. “Paleontological Investigation of Middle Eocene Primate-Bearing FissureFillings in Southeastern China.” PI: K. Christopher Beard. Amount requested:
$289,900. 1992.
2. “Paleontological Field Work and Research on Eocene Anthropoids and Other
Primates from the People’s Republic of China.” PI: K. Christopher Beard.
Amount requested: $341,752. c.1996
3.
“Improvement of the Vertebrate Fossil Collections at the Carnegie
Museum of Natural History.” PI: Mary Dawson. Amount requested:
$126,363. c. 1998 (2 drafts)
Folder 13
Proposal to the National Science Foundation, 1998
Rejection of “Computerization and Improvement of Vertebrate Fossil Collection
at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History” and related documentation. 1998
Other Foundations
Folder 14
Proposals to Other Foundations, 1990-2004
1.
“Early Permian Vertebrates from the Dunkard Group of the Tri-State
Area.” The Pittsburgh Foundation. PI: David Berman. Amount
requested: $2880. c.1971
2.
“A Proposal for Support for Paleontological Collections and Research
at Carnegie Museum of Natural History.” Gulf Oil Foundation. PI:
Mary Dawson, Craig Black. Amount requested: lab renovation and
equipment: $280,472; endowment for paleontology programs:
$750,000. c. 1976
3.
“A Proposal to the Hillman Foundation for the Purchase of the
Germaine Collection.” Details unspecified, n.d.
4.
“Survey of the Distribution of Vertebrate Remains within the Morrison
Formation (Late Jurassic) of Dinosaur National Monument, Utah.”
University of Wyoming – National Park Service Research Center. PI:
Anthony R. Fiorillo. Amount requested: $39,365. c.1990
5.
Proposal to the Katherine Mabis Foundation for Tyrannosaurus and
Triceratops renovation. Amount requested: $50,000. c.1994; proposal
was rejected.
6.
“Early Anthropoid Primates of the Yuanqu Basin, Central China: A
Paleontological Rescue Mission.” LSB Leaky Foundation. PI: K.
Christopher Beard. Amount requested: $12,100. c. 1994
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7.
8.
FY 2004 Federal Save America’s Treasures Grant Application for the
installation of climate control systems in Dinosaur Hall, the Big Bone
Room, and the Little Bone Room. Project Director: Craig Dunham.
Amount requested: $1,000,000. 2004.
Appendix to an unidentified proposal; includes data on use of
collections, n.d.
Grant Funded Projects
These folders contain financial and management information for grants awarded to the
Department of Vertebrate Paleontology. Project reports are occasionally present.
Folder 15
American Philosophical Society Fund, 1966
Folder 16
Childs Frick Corporation, 1960-1966
Folder 17-18 Gulf Fund, 1959-1974
Folder 19
Gulf Fund; Notes and drafts for an unspecified grant for the
Invertebrate Paleontology Department, 1970s
Folder 20
Marsh Fund, 1964-1971
Folder 21
McIntosh Fund, 1982-1987
Folder 22
O’Neil Fund, 1979-1989
Folder 23
O’Neil Purchases, 1973-1988, including report: “Reconnaissance
Paleontological Survey of Oligocene Rocks, Weld, Washington, and Logan Counties,
Colorado, 1988” by Richard K. Stucky
Folder 24
Pittsburgh Foundation, 1965-1970
Folder 25
Fund Identification Sheets, 1965, 1985-1989
Folder 26
Estimates for NSF Grant Funding, 1965-1968
Box 8 Folder 01
Memos Regarding Grants and Funds, 1985-1989
Folder 02
Memos Regarding Grants and Funds, 1990-1994
Folder 03-04 Progress Reports; reports and budget estimates relating to an NSF
grant for the reorganization and rehabilitation of the Vertebrate Paleontology collections,
1976-1979
Folder 05
NSF Facilities Grant 88-420-916; Purchase Orders and
Requisitions, 1977
Folder 06
NSF Facilities Grant GB-3220
Folder 07
NSF GB-1266 Research Grant (Inactive), 1964-1965
Folder 08
NSF GB-4089 Research Grant, 1966-1968
Folder 09
NSF GB-7801, 1968-1971
Folder 10
NSF GB-30840x, 1971-1975
Folder 11
NSF GB-30840x, 1970-1976
Folder 12
NSF 88-420-914 Research Grant, 1976
Folder 13
NSF GB-78011 and GB-30840x; includes final report, “Continued
Studies on Eocene and Oligocene Mammals,” 1968
Folder 14
NSF GB-1266 and GB-4089, Research Grants,1968-1976
Folder 15
NSF G-14254, 1960-1961
Subseries 2. Permits
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Institutions wishing to collect fossils on U.S. public land must first apply for a permit
from the Bureau of Land Management. This section contains requests and permission
forms for government-issued fossil collection and survey permits, as well as information
on fossil collecting legislation. For further information on collecting regulations, see
Series III, Subseries 4, “Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.”
Folder 16-22
Folder 23-25
Folder 26
Folder 27
BLM Permits, 1969-1999
Collecting Legislation,
Antiquities Act Permits, 1966-1976
CITES Permit, 1989
Subseries 3. Fossil Collecting Localities
This section contains information relating to fossil collecting localities in the United
States where CMNH paleontologists have worked. Most information relates to the
museum’s access to sites or specimens, but the Agate and Florissant Fossil Beds files also
concern the transformation of these areas into National Parks.
Folder 28
Folder 29
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 1961-1973, 1994
Bear Gulch, Montana; fieldwork by Richard Lund, 1976-1979
Box 9 Folder 01
Bedford and York Counties, Pennsylvania (Sink Holes), 1950;
includes “Identification of Skeletal Material Taken from Sinkhole #2, A.C.L. on the
Property of Oskar Miller, Two Miles East of New Paris, Bedford County Pa” by John
Guilday, 1950 and “The Bone Breccia of Bootlegger Sink, York County, Pa” by John
Guilday, Harold W. Hamilton, and Allen D. McCrady
Folder 02
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado, 1969
Folder 03
Ghost Ranch, New Mexico (Coelophysis Quarry); ownership
disputes, 1983-1997
Folder 04
Hosterman’s Pit bone deposit, Pennsylvania, 1996
Folder 05
Kinney Brick Quarry, New Mexico, 1990-1993
Folder 06
Linton Fossil Quarry, Linton, Ohio, 1969-1973
Folder 07
Robinson Cave, Tennessee (ground sloth Megalonyx), 1962-1970
Folder 08
San Juan Basin, New Mexico, 1977
Folder 09
Uinta Basin, Utah; maps, n.d.
Subseries 4. Early Field Notes and Packing Lists, 1894-1956
This subseries contains field notes and packing lists from some of the museum’s fossil
prospecting and collection expeditions, primarily in western states such as Wyoming,
Utah, and Montana. Most of the field notes follow a format consisting of an accession
number, principle field collector, and year followed by a list of the individual specimens
collected during the expedition. Entries for each specimen include year of discovery,
department number, possible species name or genus, horizon, locality, and a short
description. Some field notes contain further information; for example, John Clark’s
notes take the form of a diary and include his experiences traveling and cooking in the
field.
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Folder 10
Folder 11
Folder 12
Folder 13
Folder 14-16
Folder 17
Folder 18
Folder 19
Folder 20-23
Folder 24
Folder 25-26
Folder 27
1900-1923
Folder 28
Folder 29
Folder 30
Folder 31
numbers, 1900-1937
Folder 32
Burke, John with William Moran, 1929-1936
Clark, John, 1937-1947
Cook, H.J., 1905
Door, J.A., 1952-1953
Douglass, Earl, 1894-1923
Fales, Ed, 1900
Gilmore, Charles W., 1900-1903
Hatcher, J.B., 1900-1905
Kay, J. Leroy, 1927-1956
Lloyd, A.C., 1950
Peterson, O.A. (also see H.J. Cook file), 1869-1927
Utterback, W.H., (includes Walter Kennedy and P.E. Raymond),
Van Kirk, A.W., 1902
Waring, G.A., 1918
Types as Taken from Card Files
Incomplete Field Notes - missing collection or department
Correspondence Accompanying Accessions, 1927-1971
Subseries 5. Donations and Purchases
Folder 33
Germain Collection – Acquisition Information, 1985-1987
Folder 34
Donation of Mastodon and Other Mammal Fossils by Alejandro
Olivares Jr., Bogota, Columbia, 1935
Subseries 6. Casts
The production and exchange of casts is a vital, but often underrepresented, activity of
natural history museums. Preparators at CMNH create casts of specimens for scientific
study within the department, for exchange with other museums, and for display in
exhibits. The production of casts is one of the few sources of revenue available to a
natural history museum, and CMNH has offered catalogs of specimens available for sale.
Since arrangements for casting are often carried out in person between paleontologists
and preparators, little documentation on the activity survives. This section includes
information on the dispersal of full casts of Diplodocus carnegii to museums in Europe
during the early twentieth century, as well as catalogs and information on specific
projects, notably that of the juvenile Camerasaurus cast created in 1984 - one of the
largest completed by the museum.
Folder 35
Diplodocus Cast – Dispersal of Casts to Foreign Countries, 1921-
Folder 36
Folder 37
Folder 38
Folder 39
Camarasaurus Cast, 1984
Cast Orders, 1987-1997
Cast Referrals, 1989-1999
Lists of Available Casts and Molds, 1975, 1992
1935
Subseries 7. Dispersal of Dinosaur National Monument Specimens, c. 1950.
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This section documents the deaccessioning and dispersal of unprepared dinosaur bones in
matrix collected from Dinosaur National Monument during the early twentieth century.
Deemed surplus and of little scientific value at the time, the blocks were offered to
smaller museums for exhibit. Files are arranged by recipient museum and contain lists of
which specimens were available and where they were sent.
Box 10 Folder 01
Folder 02
Folder 03
Pennsylvania
Folder 04
Folder 05
Folder 06
Folder 07
Folder 08
Folder 09
Folder 10
Folder 11
Folder 12
Folder 13
Arts and Science Museum, Statesville, North Carolina
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science, and Art, Scranton,
Fort Worth Children’s Museum, Fort Worth, Texas
Kansas City Museum, Kansas City, Missouri
North Museum and Planetarium, Franklin and Marshall College
Old Museum of Smith’s Clove, Monroe, New York
Paleontological Research Institute, Ithaca, New York
Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery, Reading Pennsylvania
Rocky Mount Children’s Museum, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Science Museum and Planetarium, West Palm Beach, Florida
Texas Memorial Museum, Austin, Texas
Dispersal of Casts, Multiple Institutions
Subseries 8. Loans and Exchanges
This section includes information regarding loans and exchanges of casts and specimens
between CMNH and other institutions. Official loan forms and more detailed
information can be found in the preparators’ files.
Folder 14
Folder 15
Folder 16
Specimen Exchanges between Museums, ca. 1935
Specimen Loans, Correspondence, 1974-1984
Specimen Loans from Other Institutions, 1985-1999
Subseries 9. Microprobe Data
Specimen data collected by Ricard Lund, 1988-1989.
Folder 17-24 Microprobe Date Collected from Specimens, 1988-1989
Subseries 10. Catalog Information
Includes inventories of specimens and information on the computerization of the
catalog.
Folder 25
Inventory of Cases by Al Teplitz, 1976
Folder 26
John McIntosh – Evaluation of Sauropod Material in Dinosaur
Hall; Composition of “Dippy” Mount, 1969
Folder 27
“Annotated Catalogue of the Dinosaurs (Reptilia, Archosauria) in
the Collections of CMNH” compiled by John S. McIntosh. Draft,
n.d.
Folder 28
“Standards for Computerization of the Vertebrate Paleontological
Collections of Carnegie Museum of Natural History” master copy,
n.d.
15
Folder 29
Folder 30
Folder 31
Computerized Catalog; Dictionaries and Instructions, 1980-1989
Computerized Catalog; Problems
Re-curated Collections Information - Inventory of Missing
Specimens, n.d.
Series III. Individual Research and Publication
This series contains the papers of Craig Black and Mary Dawson, as well information on
the publications, professional contributions, and other activities of CMNH staff.
Subseries 1. Papers of Craig Black
A mammal specialist with a special interest in lagomorphs and rodents, Craig Black was
also a co-curator of the department with Mary Dawson from 1964 to 1970 and Director
from 1975 to 1982.
Craig Black Correspondence, 1958-1972
The first group of correspondence in this section comes from Black’s time as curator and
is similar in type to that found in Series I, containing many requests for specimens and
casts as well as correspondence with the public. It is arranged alphabetically by name of
correspondent. The last three folders contain copies of outgoing mail sent from Black’s
office at the University of Kansas, where he took at position in 1970. Black must have
brought these files when he returned to CMNH to serve as Director in 1975.
Folder 32-43 Craig Black Correspondence, A-M
Folder 44-47
Folder 48
Folder 49
Folder 50
Folder 51-52
Folder 53
Folder 54
Correspondence, Mc-P
Correspondence, R
Correspondence, W
Correspondence between Craig Black and Mary Dawson
Outgoing Letters, 1970
Outgoing Letters, 1971
Outgoing Letters, 1972
Craig Black Manuscripts and Research Material, 1958-1973
Each manuscript folder contains a draft as well as supporting materials such as notes,
data, calculations, and drawings and photographs of specimens. All draft titles have been
included.
Box 11 Folder 01-02 Biology 248 Student Papers, Authors A-E, 1958
Folder 03
Maps and Stratigraphy of South Dakota from a Conference, 1969
Folder 04
Aerial Photos of Utah, 1970
Folder 05
Aerial Photography Information and Maps, 1970
Folder 06
Craig Black’s reviews of Fossil Vertebrates of Africa, Notes and
Comments on Vertebrate Paleontology, and The Day of the Dinosaur, c. 1970
Folder 07
“Adaptive Radiations in Rodents as Exemplified by Scurius,
Neotoma, and Geomys,” no author, c.1959
16
Folder 08-10 Polish Squirrels, including “Pliocene and Pleistocene Sciuridae
from Poland,” by Craig Black and Kazimierz Kowalski, 1973
Folder 11-13 Badwater Ischyromyids, including drafts of “Paleontology and
Geology of the Badwater Creek Area, Central Wyoming, Part 7. Rodents of the Family
Ischyromyidae,” by Craig Black, c.1971
Folder 14
Badwater Oligocene, including “Late Oligocene Vertebrates from
the Northeastern Wind River Basin”, Craig Black, c. 1968, and “Small Mammals from
the Colter Formation, Jackson Hole Wyoming”, by Craig Black, ca. 1968, and
“Preliminary Account of Arikareean Mammals from High-Level Tertiary Sediments,
Bighorn Mountains”, Malcom C. McKenna (copy), 1968.
Folder 15
Badwater Cylindrodonts, including “Paleontology and Geology of
the Badwater Creek Area, Central Wyoming, Part 5. Cylindrodont Rodents”and “Pt. 9. A
New Cylindrodont Rodent from the Late Eocene”, Craig Black, ca. 1970.
Folder 16
“Vertebrate Faunas from the Neogene of Tunisia” by Peter
Robinson and Craig Black, ca. 1971
Folder 17
Craig Black’s Review of Vertebrate Paleontology by E.C. Olson,
1971
Folder 18
“Carnivores and Artiodactyls from the Miocene Split Rock Local
Fauna, Wyoming” by Craig Black (?), ca. 1960
Folder 19
lecture notes, n.d.
Cricetine Zoogeography and Evolution Rats, research notes, data,
Folder 20
Guanajuatomys MS - “Rodents from the Paleogene at Guanajuato,
Mexico”, by Craig Black and John J. Stephens, c. 1972.
Folder 21
Heteroxerus MS – “New Species of Heteroxerus (Rodentia,
Sciuridae) in the French Tertiary” by Craig Black, n.d. and “Tertiary Scuridiae from
Bavaria”, no author, n.d.
Folder 22
“The Fossil Rodent Genera Palustrimus and Horatiomys –
Juvenile Geomyoid Rodents” by Craig Black, 1969
Folder 23
Folder 24
Notes and Dentition Measurements, ca. 1963
Dentition Measurements Forms of Genus Titanotheriomys, 1962-
Folder 25
Folder 26
Best Fit Graphs, Ischyromys, n.d.
Horse Feet - Data, n.d.
1963
17
Folder 27
Ms. Later Ecocene Correlations, including “A New Pareumys
(Rodentia: Cylindorodontidae) and a Discussion of the Duchesnean Age”by Craig Black,
n.d.
Folder 28
McCarty’s Mountain Montana – Pseudocylindrodon, n.d.
Folder 29
McCarty’s Mountain, Riel’s – plates and photographs for a
publication, n.d.
Folder 30
“A New Owl from the Eocene of Wyoming” by Craig Black, 1971
Folder 31
“Paleontology and Geology of the Badwater Creek Area, Central
Wyoming, Part 1: History of Fieldwork and Geological Setting” by Craig Black and
Mary Dawson, “Part 3: Late Eocene Apatemyidae (Mammalia: Insectivora) from the
Badwater Area” by Peter Robinson,
Folder 32
“A New Pareumys (Rodentia: Cylindrodontidae) from the
Duquesne River Formation, Utah” by Craig Black, ca. 1969
Folder 33
“A Review of Late Eocene Mammalian Faunas from North
America” by Craig Black and Mary Dawson, 1965
Folder 34
Squirrel Distribution, including “Holarctic Evolution and Dispersal
of Squirrels (Rodentia: Sciuridae)” by Craig Black, 1971
Folder 35
Antracothere Ms and Cairo Abstract, including “Vertebrate Faunas
from the Neogene of Tunisia” by Craig Black and Peter Robinson and “A New Species
of Merycopotamus (Artiodactyla: Anthracotheriidae) from the Late Miocene of Tunisia”
by Craig Black, n.d.
Folder 36
Tunisian Anthracothere data and notes, n.d.
Folder 37
Scurius notes, n.d.
Folder 38-39 “A Review of Fossil Rodents from the Siwalik Beds of India and
Pakistan”by Craig Black, 1971
Subseries 2. Papers of Mary Dawson
Mary Dawson specializes in mammal species, particularly lagomorphs and rodents.
These materials represent only a portion of her scientific work.
Mary Dawson Manuscripts, 1959-1970
Most of Mary Dawson’s research relates to fossil lagomorphs and rodents. Each
manuscript folder contains a draft as well as supporting materials such as notes, data,
calculations, and drawings and photographs of specimens.
Folder 40
1960
Early Proposals for Research and Related Correspondence, 1958-
18
Folder 41
“Paleontology and Geology of the Badwater Creek Area, Central
Wyoming, Part 6: The Leporid Mytonolagus (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)” by Mary
Dawson, n.d.
Folder 42
Powder Wash Data and Drafts, including “Chadronian Emerald
Faunule, Late Basin Breccia (Wiggins Formation) Teton County, Wyoming” by
J.D. Love, Mary Dawson, and M.C. McKenna, 1965-1967
Box 12 Folder 01
Hulgana and Friends, including “Oligocene Rodents (Mammalia)
from East Mesa, Inner Mongolia” by Mary Dawson
Folder 02 Fish Lake Valley Research, including “Fossil Mammals from the
Lower Pliocene of Fish Lake Valley, Nevada” by John B. Clark, Mary Dawson,
and Albert E. Wood, 1959-1963
Folder 03
AMNH 12118 Study, including “A Sciuravid Rodent From the
Middle Eocene of Wyoming” by Mary Dawson, 1961
Folder 04
“Lagomorph History and the Stratigraphic Record” by Mary
Dawson, 1965-1966
Folder 05
Baccinello, 1957-1959
Folder 06
Split Rock, Wyoming Research including “Oreolagus and other
Lagomorpha (Mammalia) from the Miocene of Colorado, Wyoming, and Oregon”
by Mary Dawson, 1963-1964
Folder 07
MCZ Specimen – notes on pikas and lagomorph evolution, 1959
Folder 08
“A Register of the Tertiary Mammal-Bearing Localities of
Switzerland” by Mary Dawson, 1967
Folder 09
Artwork for Figures 1-27 (6 plates), Badwater No. 6 Article
Printed in Vol. 41, article 7 of the Annals of Carnegie Museum
Folder 10
Nanomys Research, including “A Unique Cricetid (Rodentia,
Mammalia) from the Early Oligocene of Natrona County, Wyoming” by Robert J.
Emry and Mary Dawson, 1971-1972
Folder 11
“Middle Eocene Rodents (Mammalia) from Notheastern Utah” by
Mary Dawson, 1960
Folder 12
“Rabbits and Allies” by Mary Dawson, 1970
19
Folder 13
Sangiran, Java Research, including “Notes on Quaternary
Leporidae (Mammalia, Lagomorpha) from Central Java” by Mary Dawson, 19691970
Folder 14
Paracricetodon Research, including “The North American Cricetid
Rodent “Eumys” exiguous, Once More” by Mary Dawson and Craig Black, 1970
Folder 15
Kamu Valley, New Guinea, List of Mammal Specimens, n.d.
Folder 16-17 Prolagus Research, including “Osteology of Prolagus sardus, a
Quaternary Ochotonid (Mammalia, Lagomorpha), 1966-1969
Folder 18
Archaeolagus Research, Ms Material, and Plates, 1964-1968
Folder 19
Rhodes Lagomorphs Research and Ms Material, 1969-1970
Folder 20
Notes on “Review of Some Rodent Genera from the Bridger
Eocene” by Robert Wilson, n.d.
Mary Dawson, Professional Involvement, 1973-1977
Folder 21
American Association of University Women Fellowship Award,
1957-1958
Folder 22
Special Interest Group on Rodent Phylogeny at the International
Congress of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology, 1973
Folder 23
Geological Society of America, Committee on Committees, 1977
Folder 24
Paleontological Society Nominating Committee, 1977
Reviews by Mary Dawson
Well respected for her expertise as a paleontologist and curator, Mary Dawson was often
called upon to write reviews of manuscripts and grant proposals, as well as
recommendations for people she had worked with.
Folder 25-32 Reviews of Grant Proposals and Manuscripts, 1963-1970s
Box 13
Bound Proposal Reviewed by Dawson
Folder 01-07 Reviews of Grant Proposals, 1970s-1999
Folder 08
Reference Letters for Individuals by Mary Dawson, 1976-1984
Folder 09
Reference Letters for Individuals by Mary Dawson, 1985-1990
Folder 10
Reference Letters for Individuals by Mary Dawson, 1990-1995
Folder 11
Review request by Dawson on behalf of Peter Wellnhofer;
includes draft of “Campylognathoides liasicus (Quenstedt), an Upper Liassic Pterosaur
from Holzmaden – The Pittsburgh Specimen” by Peter Wellnhofer, 1972
Subseries 3. Staff Publications
Folder 12
Dinosaur Book – McGinnis; partial draft, no title, n.d.
20
Folder 13
Folder 14
Folder 15
Folder 16-18
Folder 19
Folder 20
Folder 21
Folder 22
Staff Bibliographies, 1950-1970
Staff Bibliographies – Honorary and Emeritus Staff, 1951-1980
Staff Contributions to the A.E. Wood Festschrift, 1985-1987
CMNH Scientific Publication Price Lists, 1935,1989
Publication Lists from Other Institutions, 1969-1978
Publications Committee, 1966-1974
Educational Materials – Suggested Reading Lists, 1970-1975
Educational Materials—Brochures
Subseries 4. Professional Involvement
This subseries documents the involvement of CMNH paleontologists with professional
societies. Several of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s annual meetings have been
hosted in Pittsburgh. The society is especially concerned with the problem of amateur
fossil collecting and fossil sales, which destroy valuable contextual information, and has
worked to change legislation to keep fossils in the hands of professionals.
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP)
Folder 23
SVP Meetings, 1953-1962
Folder 24
SVP Executive Committee, 1972-1975
Folder 25
Fossil Collecting Legislation, 1958-1975
Folder 26
Review of Permit System, 1977-1978
SVP Conventions in Pittsburgh, 1979 and 1995
Folder 27
General Meeting Information, 1979
Folder 28
Financial, 1979
Box 14 Folder 01
Folder 02-03
Folder 04
Folder 05
Geological Societies
Folder 06
Folder 07
Folder 08
Folder 09
Registration Letters, 1979
Pre-Registration Forms, 1979
General Meeting Information, 1995
Correspondence, 1995
Geological Society of America, Member Lists, ca. 1965
International Geological Congress, 1964
International Geological Congress, 1968
Pittsburgh Geological Society, Member Lists, 1945-1952
Subseries 5. Department and Individual Reports
While the sections of the museum have always been required to submit annual reports,
some directors have chosen to require additional section or individual reports at more
frequent intervals. These documents recount the research activities of members of the
department and the department as a whole.
Folder 10
Folder 11
Folder 12-13
Folder 14
Folder 15
Staff Research Reports, 1962-1979
Section and Individual Quarterly Reports, 1982-1987
Section and Individual Quarterly Reports, 1993-1996
Section Reports, 1985-1987
Section Annual Report, 1993
21
Folder 16
Section Reports by External Reviewers, 1984
Subseries 6. Employees and Volunteers
Information in this subseries relates primarily to hiring and salary information, but also
outlines the duties and job descriptions of volunteers, interns, high school apprentices,
and other temporary museum workers who contribute much to the museum but leave
little in the way of documentation.
Folder 17
Folder 18
Folder 19
Folder 20
Folder 21
Folder 22
Folder 23
Folder 24
Folder 25
Folder 26
Scientific Staff, 1971-1975
Curriculum Vitae for Staff; Carter, Berman, Krishtalka, Stucky,
Visiting Scientists Program, 1985-1998
Research Associates, 1997-2000
Field Crews, 1966-1975
Part-Time and Temporary Employees, 1968-1985
CETA Summer Youth Employment Program, 1977-1980
Interns and Apprentices, 1999
School-to-Work Apprenticeship in Paleontology, 1995-1996
Volunteers, 1987-1992
Series IV. Interdepartmental Files
This series documents the interaction between Vertebrate Paleontology and other parts of
the museum.
Subseries 1. Exhibits
Although the Exhibits Department plans and builds the public face of the museum, input
from the scientific staff is vital for accurate and up-to-date exhibits. This subseries
contains notes on the goals, layout, and purpose of proposed exhibits, occasionally
accompanied by sketches and photographs. It also includes drafts of exhibit labels
annotated for accuracy by the scientific staff, the original script for the former panaroll
exhibit, and the initial design goals for the “Dippy” statue, installed in 1999.
Folder 27
Folder 28
Folder 29
Folder 30-31
Folder 32
Folder 33
Folder 34
Folder 35
Folder 36
Folder 37
Folder 38
Box 15 Folder 01
Folder 02
Folder 03
Exhibit Planning, 1949-1950
Exhibit Committee, 1977
Exhibit Planning, 1996-1999
Exhibit Labels, 1969-1972
Andrew Carnegie 150th Birthday, 1984-1985
Benedum Hall, 1985-1989
Brochures and Fliers, 1995-1999
Dinosaur Hall Renovation
Dinosaur Hall, Dinosaur Day, 1979
Dinosaurs Past and Present, 1991
Dippy Statue – Planning, 1998
Mesozoic Hall, 1966
Paleozoic Hall, 1961-1965
Paleozoic Hall, n.d.
22
Folder 04
Folder 05
Folder 06
Folder 07
Folder 08
Folder 09-10
Folder 11
Panaroll, Script and Photos, n.d.
Polar World, 1983
Our Changing Earth – General, 1978-1979
Our Changing Earth – Mountain Building, 1978-1979
Our Changing Earth – Moving Continents, 1978-1979
Our Changing Earth – Seismograph, 1978-1979
Our Changing Earth – Surface Processes, 1978-1979
Subseries 2. Related Departments
Folder 12
Earth Sciences Division, 1973-1978
Folder 13
Earth Sciences Division, 1985-1989
Folder 14
Section of Minerals, 1981-1989
Folder 15
Section of Minerals, 1990-1999
Folder 16
Section of Minerals - Grant Proposal to the Hillman Foundation,
n.d.
Folder 17
Section of Minerals, Report to Hillman Foundation, 1995
Folder 18
Paleobotany, n.d.
Subseries 3. Interdepartmental Meetings, Committees, and Events
Folder 19
Administration Advisory Committee; includes Code of Ethics,
1997
Folder 20
Coordination Committee, 1975
Folder 21
Curatorial Meetings, 1988
Folder 22
Leadership Minutes, 1995-1999
Folder 23
Library Committee, 1970-1995
Folder 24
Management Committee Minutes, Staff Meeting Minutes, 19951996
Folder 25
Member Lists – Committee for CMNH of the Carnegie Institute
Board of Trustees; Council for CMNH, 1986
Folder 26
Miscellaneous
Series IV. Purchase Files
These files contain information on materials purchased by the department for use in
collections care, exhibition, and fieldwork.
Box 16 Folder 01
Folder 02
Folder 03
Folder 04
Folder 05
Folder 06
Folder 07
Folder 08
Folder 09
Folder 10
Folder 11
Acid – Materials for Preparation
Alcohol
Basement Storeroom – Construction and Repairs
Bone Room Supplies
Storage Cases
Computer Repairs and Maintenance
Construction Orders
Crew Requests
Electrical Repairs
Exhibits, Construction
Exhibits, Repairs
23
Folder 12
Folder 13
Folder 14
Folder 15
Folder 15
Folder 16
Folder 17
Folder 18
Folder 19
Folder 20
Folder 21
Folder 22
Folder 23
Folder 24
Folder 25
Folder 26
Folder 27
Folder 28
Folder 29
Folder 30
Folder 31
Folder 33
Field Equipment
Filing Equipment
Flotation Equipment
Freight Disputes
Furniture for Office
Glass
Keys
Illustration Supplies and Service
Invoices for Sales to Others (Casts, Supplies, photos)
Laboratory Supplies
Nordair
Plastic Tooling and Supplies
Latex, Casting Material
Lumber
Microscope Supplies
Maps
Misc
Office Supplies
Office Supplies
Photolab
Paint Brushes
Paint and Shellac
Box 17Folder 01-23 Purchase Files
Box 18 Folder 01-15 Financial Information
Folder 16-23 Personnel Files