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Earl L. Packard Papers, 1913-1980

By Finding aid prepared by Tiah Edmunson-Morton.

Collection Overview

Title: Earl L. Packard Papers, 1913-1980

ID: MSS Packard

Primary Creator: Packard, Earl L. (Earl Leroy) (1885-1983)

Extent: 0.5 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Earl L. Packard Papers consist of Packard's notes, reference materials, maps, correspondence, and a student paper. Packard came to Oregon State College in 1932 to teach paleontology in the Geology Department; he served as the chair of the department from 1932 to 1950 and the Dean of the School of Science from 1932 to 1938.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection consists of materials generated and collected by Earl L. Packard and includes notes, reference materials, maps, correspondence, and a student paper. The handwritten and typed notes reflect paleontological field work by Packard and others in the Mitchell, Suplee, and Beavercreek areas of Oregon. Research notations can also be found on hand-drawn and mass-produced maps, some of which document work at summer field camps in Dayville and Beavercreek, Oregon; the maps date from 1915 through the late 1940s. Primarily consisting of studies on the fossil remains of ammonites, mollusca, and pelecypods, the reference materials also include articles on ancient Mesoamerican culture and Alaskan geology; primarily, these materials date from the 1930s, 1960s, and 1970s. The student paper, Fossiliferous Cretaceous Areas on the Northern Flank of the Ochoco Range, Oregon State, was written by Jules DuBar in 1950; it documents research from one of the college summer field camps coordinated by Packard.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Dr. Earl Leroy Packard was known for his study of the fossil records of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic periods along the Pacific coast, as well as his summer geology field camps in Eastern Oregon. He attended the University of Washington from 1907 to 1912, receiving his BA and MA degrees in geology; three years later, in 1915, he received his PhD in paleontology from the University of California at Berkeley.

Packard taught geology at the University of Oregon from 1918 through 1932; it was there that he began to offer summer field camps in geology. In 1932, the Oregon State System of Higher Education was reorganized; as a consequence, the School of Science was established at Oregon State College. With this reorganization, Packard began his tenure at OSC as Dean of the new School of Science, Chairman of the Department of Geology, and Director of the Research Council. He resigned as Dean in 1938, but continued to head the research council until 1946. He retired in 1950 and moved to Palo Alto, where he was named research associate at Stanford University. Packard died January 20, 1983, in Palo Alto, California.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 2 boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: Transferred from the History Department in 2007.

Related Materials: Materials pertaining to Packard's professional activities are available in the College of Science Records (RG 024). The F. A. Gilfillan Papers (MSS Gilfillan) include correspondence with Packard from 1938; Gilfillan was the Dean of the College of Science immediately following Packard.

Preferred Citation: Earl L. Packard Papers (MSS Packard), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Packard, Earl L. (Earl Leroy) (1885-1983)
DuBar, Jules R.

People, Places, and Topics

Geology--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon.
History of Science
Oregon State College. Department of Geology
Oregon State College. School of Science
Packard, Earl L. (Earl Leroy), 1885-1983
Paleontology--Oregon.
University History

Forms of Material

Maps (documents)


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.