The slides of this collection primarily cover Michigan landscape associated with natural fauna, wildlife, and Michigan’s Great Lakes. The collection includes a substantial number of slides from Beaver Island, dated 1963. Slides of the Whitney family are also incorporated within the collection. A special note should be given to the unique slides of the Gainesville Circus located in Gainesville, Texas, which first performed in May of 1930. (Information on the Gainesville Community Circus in Gainesville, Texas was found at http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTe xasTales/258-Circus.htm, accessed December 17, 2010).
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 a separate collection of Professor 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 and lived in Shepherd, Michigan. She died on September 16, 1998 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. (This information is from her papers.)
