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University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

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Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2113, USA
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William Herbert Hobbs papers, 1880-1955 (majority within 1905-1951)

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Summary

Creator:
Hobbs, William Herbert, 1864-1952
Abstract:
Professor of Geology at the University of Michigan, also chairman of the Ann Arbor Branch of the National Security League during World War I. His papers contain correspondence and other materials concerning his activities with the National Security League, a dispute over the political views of Charles Lindbergh, polar expeditions, and his work in the fields of geology, seismology, and meteorology. The collection also includes manuscripts of published and unpublished books and articles, biographical material, scrapbooks and notebooks detailing the University of Michigan expeditions to the Pacific and Greenland, and travel notes of trips to the Near East, Spain, the West Indies, Switzerland, and Russia.
Extent:
13 linear feet (in 15 boxes)
13 scrapbooks (in 7 boxes)
Language:
English
German
French
Call Number:
851610 Aa 2
Authors:
Finding aid created by Amanda Carvell, October 2004. Updated by Lilly Carrel, July 2017.

Background

Scope and Content:

The William Herbert Hobbs papers, 1880-1955, is comprised of correspondence, scrapbooks, manuscripts, printed material, and photographs documenting Hobbs' professional, political, and personal activities. Correspondence and other materials concern his activities with the National Security League, a dispute over the political views of Charles Lindbergh, opinions and reviews of his writings and those of other scientists, communications with newspapers and colleagues regarding various expeditions, and his work in the fields of geology, polar exploration, seismology, and meteorology. The collection also includes manuscripts of published and unpublished books and articles, biographical material, scrapbooks and notebooks detailing the University of Michigan expeditions to the Pacific and Greenland, and travel notes of trips to the Near East, Spain, the West Indies, Switzerland, and Russia.

Biographical / Historical:

William Herbert Hobbs served as a professor of geology and director of the geology laboratory at the University of Michigan from 1906 to 1934. Born in Worchester, Massachusetts on July 2, 1864, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Worchester Polytechnical Institute in 1883. He completed both master's and doctoral degrees at Johns Hopkins University. Before coming to Michigan, he served as curator of the geology museum and professor of mineralogy, metallurgy, and petrology at the University of Wisconsin, 1889-1906.

Widely known for scientific expeditions to Greenland and worldwide geological research, Hobbs was also politically active, serving as chairman of the Ann Arbor branch of the National Security League during World War I. Many land formations have been named after Hobbs by explorer friends, such as Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, including a mountain, several glaciers, and a strip of coastline in Antarctica.

In 1921, Professor Hobbs charted little-known islands held by Japan with the help of the Japanese navy, information which became valuable to the U.S. government during World War II. For his scholarly and personal contributions, France awarded him the Chevalier Legion Honor in 1924. While at the University of Michigan, Hobbs led expeditions to Greenland in 1926, 1927, and 1928 to research his theories on the influence of the Greenland ice cap on weather. During the 1928 expedition, Hobbs participated in the rescue of two men whose plane had been forced down in Greenland during a trans-Atlantic flight.

In 1950, Hobbs donated his collection of approximately 750 publications on polar expeditions to the University Library. Hobbs himself had written 15 books and many articles on geological and political issues. He died in Ann Arbor, MI on January 1, 1953, at the age of 88.

Acquisition Information:
The papers were donated in several accessions by Professor Hobbs (donor no. 586 ); by the U-M Dept. of Geology (donor no. 1871 ); and by Herbert C. Crandell (donor no. 9508 ). In 2016, additional material was transferred from the University of Michigan Special Collections Library (donor no. 9776 ).
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into six series: Correspondence (1884-1952), Personal Materials (1880-1951), Political Materials (1915-1941), Professional Activities (1894-1948), Writings (1907-1955), and Visual Materials (1882-1950). Materials in Boxes 1-2 were processed in 2004 and materials in Boxes 3-22 were received in a 2016 accession and processed in 2017. This material (11 linear feet and 13 scrapbooks) is integrated into the existing six series and is listed in each series after the container listing of folders in Boxes 1-2. Materials from the 2016 addition are further arranged in alphabetical or chronological order.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open to research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright is held by the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.

Scrapbooks in this collection are fragile and should be handled with care. Please ask Bentley Historical Library reference staff for a bone folder to turn pages.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], folder, box, William Herbert Hobbs papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.

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Collection

William Herbert Hobbs papers, 1880-1955 (majority within 1905-1951)
Call Number 851610 Aa 2
Total components 548
Last indexed 2023-08-08