The collection consists mostly of an unpublished manuscript of hers entitled Roles of Topography, Vorticity, and Aerodynamics in the Creation of Eolian Systems, and the accompanying photographs, slides, 1968, and other visual materials, manuscript reviews, and related correspondence, 1995, 1998. Other parts of the collection include some Biographical Information, 1998, Communications (correspondence and emails) about her manuscripts and rock collections after her death, 1998-1999, her published articles. Additional, related photographs were added to the collection in 2010 and, again, in 2013.
Some of her research papers were sent to the Smithsonian.
Biography:
Marion Isabella Whitney was born on April 23, 1911. She earned her B.A., with a major in Geology and a minor in Botany, her M.A. in Geology, with a minor in Botany and Zoology, and her Ph.D. in Geology, all from the University of Texas.
In September 1961, Marion was hired as a geologist in the Biology Department of Central Michigan University (CMU). During the 1970-1971 academic year, she earned the status of full professor.
Besides Prof. Whitney’s papers, the Clarke also has a copy of her children’s book, Juan of Paricutin, documenting the 1953 volcanic eruption in Paricutin, Mexico. Before writing the book, Prof. Whitney traveled to Mexico, where she witnessed and photographed the eruption and resulting destruction.
Prof. Whitney taught at CMU until she retired on May 9, 1981. While working at CMU, she lived in Shepherd, Michigan. Professor Whitney died on September 16, 1998 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
