urn:taro:rice.wrc.00030 Guide to Carey Croneis Personal Papers, 1929-1971 Guide written by Lee Pecht Woodson Research Center August 22, 2000 Text converted by SPI Content Sciences Inc., March 2003. Finding aid written in English. 20030428 Edited with XMetal3 by Mandy York, according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. Descriptive Summary Carey Croneis personal papers, 1929-1971 Croneis, Carey, 1901- 8.75 linear feet MS 402 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX Materials are in English. The Carey Croneis Personal Papers chronicle Dr. Croneis' professional career as a geologist, educator, and administrator in various academic settings including Rice University, in museums, and in civic and personal interests. The collection totals 18 Hollinger boxes and includes correspondence, speeches, photos, plans, clippings, and printed matter.

Processed by Nancy Boothe Jan. 27, 1987.

 Preferred Citation

Carey Croneis Personal Papers, 1929-1971, MS 402, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University

 Index Terms Subjects (Organizations) Rice University. Faculty. Rice University. Dept. of Geology. Rice University. Office of the Provost. Subjects (Persons) Croneis, Carey, 1901- - Published works. Croneis, Carey, 1901 - - Down to Earth Formats Correspondence. Reports. Photographs. Diaries. Speeches. Manuscripts. Biographical Note

Carey Gardiner Croneis was born on March 14, 1901 in Bucyrus, Ohio, the son of Frederick William and Nell Garner Croneis. He received a B.S. degree from Denison University, Granville, Ohio in 1922, an M.S. degree from the University of Kansas in 1923, and a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1928. He was an instructor in geology at the University of Kansas (1922-1923), the University of Arkansas (1923-1925), and Harvard, Radcliffe, and Wellesley (1925-1928), and worked on geological surveys in Arkansas, Kansas, and Illinois.

In 1928 Croneis went to the University of Chicago, where he was assistant professor of geology, then associate professor (1931-41) and professor (1941-44). He organized the geology section of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and was curator of paleontology at the Walker Museum, University of Chicago (1928-44). At the Century of Progress World's Fair he was in charge of the geology section (1933) and chief of basic sciences (1934). He also produced films on geology for the University of Chicago and the National Park Service.

During World War II Croneis was a consultant for the National Defense Research Committee and in this capacity helped plan coastal defenses for the Brownsville, Texas area. He also helped select the proving grounds for the United States Chemical Warfare Service in the Republic of Panama. In 1944 he was named president of Beloit College in Wisconsin.

In 1953 Croneis designed the geology department at Rice University, and in January 1954 became provost there and the first Harry C. Wiess professor of geology. He was named acting president of Rice in 1960, and in 1961 became the university's first chancellor. He maintained a teaching load along with administrative responsibilities and was also involved in Houston civic affairs. He was chairman of the Houston City Charter Committee and is credited with influencing the decision to establish the Manned Spacecraft Center (now the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center) near Houston. Croneis was founding president of the Houston Council on World Affairs, a charter member of the Texas Academy of Sciences, and a member of the Centennial Committee of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He was editor of Harper and Row's Geosciences Series (from 1941), associate editor of the Journal of Geology (1920-45), and author of Geology of the Arkansas Paleozoic Area (1930) and numerous scientific articles. He coauthored Down to Earth with W. C. Krumbein (1936).

Croneis, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, was awarded nine honorary doctorates during his career; in 1967 he received the highest honor in professional geology, the Sidney Powers Memorial Medal, from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the same year was presented a gold medal by the Association of Rice Alumni for distinguished service to the university. He was elected a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, and in 1970 the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies established in his honor five two-year scholarships for graduate study in earth sciences. Croneis was president of the Philosophical Society of Texas in 1971.

Croneis retired as chancellor emeritus of Rice University on Aug. 31, 1971; he died in Houston on Jan. 22, 1972, and was cremated. He was married to Grace Williams and had two daughters.

Excerpted from The New Handbook of Texas, 1996.

 Scope and Contents

The Carey Croneis Personal Papers chronicle his professional career in various academic settings, museums, and civic interests, and his personal involvement through speeches and correspondence. The collection totals 18 Hollinger boxes and houses photos, plans, clippings, and printed matter. The series include Correspondence; Organizational/ Professional Involvement; Manuscript; Speeches, Introductions, Commentary; and Personal.

 Arrangement

The Carey Croneis Personal Papers are arranged in five series:

Series I: Correspondence, 1929-1960 Series II: Organizational/Professional Involvement, 1930-1971 Series III: Manuscript: Down to Earth Series IV: Speeches, Introductions, Commentary Series V: Personal Acquisition Information

The papers were originally located in the Geology Department of Rice University and were moved to Fondren Library prior to 1986.

 Access Restrictions

No access restrictions; this material is open for research.

 Use Restrictions

Permission to publish materials from the Carey Croneis Personal Papers must be obtained from Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

 Related Material

See also university archives record group, Provost/Acting President/Chancellor, 1954-1970 (Carey Croneis); and also the information file for Carey Croneis.

 Detailed Description of the Collection 1 1-17 Series I: Correspondence 1 1 Jones, Daniel J.; 1937-43 1 2 Krumbein, W. C.; 1941-51 1 3 Leighton, M. M.; 1929-43 1 4 Loeblich, Alfred R.; 1938-52 1 5 MacKnight, Franklin C.; 1938-42 1 6 Mather, Kirtley 1 7 Romer, Alfred S.; 1936-44 1 8 Shrock, Robert R.; 1930-41 1 9 Sloss, Laurence L.; 1934-44 1 10 Speed, Carleton Jr.; 1937, 1950s 1 11 Trumbo, Donald; 1930s 1 12 Wasson, Theron; 1935-41 1 13 Weller, J. Marvin; 1939-51 1 14 1953 1 15 1954-57 1 16 1957-60 1 17 Recommendations, 1954-55 2-11 Series II: Organizational/Professional Involvement 2 1 1965 AAPG Convention, New Orleans, LA 2 2 1966 AAPG Convention, St. Louis, MO 2 3 1967 AAPG Convention, Los Angeles, CA 2 4 1968 AAPG Convention, Oklahoma City, OK 2 5 1969 AAPG Convention, Dallas TX 2 6 1970 AAPG Convention, Calgary, Alberta 2 7 1971 AAPG Convention, Houston, TX 2 8 AAPG Sidney Powers Medal, 1942-44 2 9 AAPG Sidney Powers Award, 1967 2 10 AAPG, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1966-72 2 13 AAPG-GSA Joint Cooperative Committee, 1967-70 3 1 American Geological Institute, 1963, 1968-69 3 2 American Geophysical Union, 1963-64, 67-68, 70 3 3 Beloit College: Correspondence, 1940s-53 3 4 Beloit College: correspondence, 1954-57 3 5 Beloit College: Academic information 3 6 Beloit College: Presidency acceptance 1944 and resignation 1953 3 7 Beloit College: Resolutions, 1953-54 3 8 Beloit College: Clippings 3 9 Beloit College: Photographs 3 10 Beloit College: Representative for 3 11 Beloit College: Athletics, 1950-53 4 1 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Geological time clock, 1932-33 4 2 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Exhibition plan, 1931 4 3 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Exhibits correspondence and planning progress 4 4 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Correspondence, 1933-35 4 5 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Noah's Ark research 4 6 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Exhibit hall floor plans 4 7 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Diorama sketches/plans 4 8 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Exhibit text 4 9 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Published articles 4 10 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Newsclips 5 1 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Maps and diagrams used for exhibit preparation 5 2 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Photos used for exhibit preparation 5 3 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Photo of exhibit opening 5 4 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Photo of exhibits staff 5 5 Century of Progress 1922 World's Fair: Exhibits photos 5 6 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Exhibits photos 5 7 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Science exhibits guidebooks 5 8 Century of Progress 1933 World's Fair: Official guidebooks 6 1 Geological Society of America, 1931-47 6 2 Geological Society of America, 1954-56 6 3 Geological Society of America 1962 convention, Houston, TX 6 4 Geological Society of America 1962 convention, Houston, TX Committee reports 6 5 Houston City Charter Study Committee drafting of report, 1967 6 6 Houston City Charter Study Committee summary/synopsis of recommendations, 1966-67 7 1 Houston City Charter Study Committee newsclips 7 2 Houston City Charter Study Committee notes, minutes, 1965-67 7 3 Houston City Charter Study Committee minutes, 1966 7 4 Houston City Charter Study Committee minutes, 1971 7 5 Houston City Charter Study Committee League of Women Voters of Houston presentation, Dec. 1966 7 6 Houston City Charter Study Committee reactivation, 1971 7 7 Houston City Charter Study Committee correspondence, 1965 7 8 Houston City Charter Study Committee correspondence, 1966 7 9 Houston City Charter Study Committee correspondence, 1967 7 10 Houston City Charter Study Committee correspondence, 1971 7 11 Houston City Charter Study Committee, Corporate Policies and Powers Subcommittee, 1966 7 12 Houston City Charter Study Committee; Elections and Personnel Subcommittee, 1966 8 1 Houston City Charter Study Committee; Elections and Personnel Subcommittee, 1971 8 2 Houston City Charter Study Committee; Report Drafting Subcommittee, 1971 8 3 Houston City Charter Study Committee; Rules and Procedures Subcommittee, 1966 8 4 Houston City Charter Study Committee; Rules and Procedures Subcommittee, 1971 8 5 Houston City Charter Study Committee; Taxation and Financial Affairs Subcommittee, 1966 8 6 Houston City Charter Study Committee; Taxation and Financial Affairs Subcommittee, 1971 8 7 Houston City Charter Study Committee, final report, July 5, 1967 8 8 Houston City Charter Study Committee final report, 1971 8 9 Houston Council on World Affairs correspondence, 1963-64 8 10 Houston Council on World Affairs NBC panel dinner, 1-7-63 8 11 Houston Museum of Natural Science exhibits materials, 1962 8 12 Houston Museum of Natural Science trustees materials and correspondence, 1962-72 8 13 Houston Museum of Natural Science Wiess Hall of Petroleum Exhibits committee, 1971 8 14 International Geological Congress, 1968-69 8 15 Kemp Gold Medal Award 1969, Columbia University 9 1 Manpower Panel correspondence, 1962 9 2 Manpower Panel correspondence, 1963 9 3 Manpower Panel correspondence, 1964 9 4 Manpower Panel correspondence, 1965 9 5 Manpower Panel report, 1962, 1965 9 6 Missouri Camp correspondence, 1930-35 9 7 Missouri Camp correspondence, 1936-39 9 8 Missouri Camp correspondence, 1940-41 9 9 Missouri Camp correspondence, 1942-44 9 10 Missouri Camp photos 10 1 Museum of Science and Industry plans, correspondence, 1930-44 10 2 National Science Foundation correspondence, 1963-65, 68-69, 71 10 3 National Space Hall of Fame awards, correspondence, planning, 1965-68-69 10 4 Panama research trip photos 10 5 Phi Delta Theta and Founder's Day address, 1963, 68-69 10 6 University of Chicago correspondence, 1930s, 40s 10 7 University of Chicago departmental materials, publications 10 8 University of Chicago Houston group correspondence, 1941 10 9 University of Chicago lectures, 1943 11 1 Walker Museum articles, plans 11 2 Walker Museum budget, correspondence, 1939-43 11 3 Walker Museum correspondence, plans, budget, 1930-38 11 4-11 Series III: Manuscript: Down to Earth 11 4 Publicity, reviews 11 5 Excerpts, additions, introduction 11 6 Publisher's edited and marked chapters 26-28, 31-32 11 7 Correspondence, 1944-51 11 8 Correspondence, 1955-61 11 9 Correspondence, University of Chicago Press, 1962-68 11 10 Textbook correspondence, 1934-41 11 11 Revisions, 1948-52 12-16 Series IV: Speeches, Introductions, Commentary 12 1 American Alumni Council, 7-14-48; The Alumni - Balm or Bane? 12 2 American City Bureau, 8-1-45, The Sound and Justifying Worth of the Liberal Arts College 12 3 American Geological Assoc., 4-10-43; preliminary statement - organizational meeting 12 4 American Geological Assoc., 4-10-43; Geological `Union Now' 12 5 American Institute of Architects, 3-30-66; panel moderator 12 6 American Society for Oceanography, 12-8-65; introduction of Scott Carpenter 12 7 American Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists, 3-24-53; Geology, Geologists and Man 12 8 American Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists, 4-2-46; Science, Legislation and Geology 12 9 American Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists, 3-25-63; Geological Researchers and Scientific Manpower 12 10 AAPG Convention (St. Louis), 4-26-66; Geology and the AAPG - Reconsidered 12 11 AAPG Convention (Oklahoma City), 4-23-68; master of ceremonies for awards luncheon 12 12 AAPG Dist. Lecture Tour, 3-9/4-7-47; Geological Crossroads 12 13 AAPG Sidney Powers Memorial Medal acceptance, 4-11-67 12 14 AAPG Sidney Powers Memorial Medalist presentation, 1950 12 15 ARCS Foundation, 4-6-68; Scientific Successes and Social Sequels 12 16 Association of Colleges and Schools of Architecture, 10-2-70; welcome to Southwest Regional meeting 12 17 Autry House, 12-12-62; The University and Its Work 12 18 Beloit [WI] Association of Commerce, 2-5-48, 2-4-47 12 19 Beloit College Faculty meetings, 1944, 1948 12 20 Beloit College convocations 12 21 Beloit College homecoming chapels 12 22 Beloit College misc. 12 23 Beloit College Oceanography symposium, 5-17/5-18-68 12 24 Beloit [WI] Rotary Club, 9-45; This Atomic Age 12 25 Ben Taub Hospital, 3-7-66; Ladies in Yellow 12 26 Boy Scouts Houston, 3-8-57, 1-22-59 12 27 Brazilian National War College visit to Rice, 8-27-70 12 28 Carroll College [WI], 5-21-46, 5-17-47 12 29 Chicago Literary Club, 3-22-48; Galapagan Galavant 13 1 Chicago Teachers Union Conf., 4-2-60; Proudly Teach 13 2 Clay Minerals Conf., 10-28-54; Mankind in Geological Perspective 13 3 College of Life Underwriters, 9-11-63; Insurance and Education in a World of Friction 13 4 Colorado College, 10-17-63; Mankind vs. Science and Technology 13 5 Colorado School of Mines, 9-29-49; Men of Mettle 13 6 Columbia University [NY], 11-7-69; Kemp Medal Award 13 7 Commencements 13 8 Congregation Beth Israel [Houston], 3-31-68; A View of Southeast Asia 13 9 Corpus Christi [TX] Chamber of Commerce, 1-17-67; Higher Education - Key to the Future 13 10 Croneis' 70th birthday celebration, 3-31-71 13 11 Dallas [TX] Baptist College, 11-25-67; Administrative Freedom 13 12 Denison [OH] University, 1937, 1945, 1946 13 13 Educational TV and Radio Center/NBC/IGY, 11-18-57; The Face of the Land 13 14 English Speaking Union, 10-17-61; national council keynote address 13 15 First Congregational Church [Beloit, WI], 5-30-45; Assume the Fallen Weight 13 16 First Presbyterian Church [Freeport, IL], 11-16-47; Drawn Swords 13 17 Garden Club of America, 3-24-66; Beauty and the Beast 13 18 Geology papers 13 19 Great Southern Life Insurance, Houston, 3-25-65; Great Southern Growth and Insurance History 13 20 GSA annual dinner, New Orleans [LA], 11-8-55 13 21 GSA annual meeting, El Paso [TX], 11-11-49 13 22 GSA convention, Cincinnati [OH]; Geographic Environment and Geological Leadership 13 23 GSA annual meeting, Pittsburgh [PA], 1946 13 24 GSA 75th annual banquet, Houston [TX], 11-13-62 14 1 Gulf Coast Assoc. of Geological Societies, 11-5-54; Problems of Geological Education and of Educating Geologists 14 2 [Norman] Hackerman Dinner, 5-13-71 14 3 Headmasters of Private Schools of the South and Southwest, 3-19-65; Role of the Private School in the Great Society 14 4 Hinsdale Women's Club, 3-6-45; Education in the Post-War World 14 5 Honor Societies 14 6 Houston [TX] City Employees awards, 12-14-60 14 7 Houston [TX] Committee on Foreign Relations, 9-21-65; Some Aspects of Asian Conflicts 14 8 Houston [TX] Council on World Affairs, 3-11-65; Some Problems of Southern Asia 14 9 Houston [TX] Rotary Club; 5-20-65, 12-16-54 14 10 Houston [TX] Variety Club, 2-11-65; tribute to Mrs. W. W. Fondren 14 11 Humanities and Industry Conf., Baton Rouge [LA], 4-8-54; The Liberal Humanities, Sciences and Industries 14 12 Illinois Bankers Assoc.- Chicago District, 10-17-46; Let's Be Reactionary 14 13 ICUT luncheon, 12-7-70; Public Enrichment through Private Endowment 14 14 Institute for Career Science Executives, Bethesda [MD], 10-24-62; National Manpower Requirements in Science and Technology 14 15 International Educational Exchange Conf., Houston [TX], 10-19-62; Latin American Backgrounds 14 16 Kinkaid School [Houston, TX] 50th anniversary, 1-17-57; Private Schools, Public Assets 14 17 Kiwanis clubs, 1960, 1966 14 18 Lawrence College [WI] centennial, 6-6-47 14 19 Lions Club Convention, Houston [TX], 5-16-65; Friendship Around the World 14 20 [W.W.] Lynch luncheon, 10-23-63; Mankind vs. Science and Technology 14 21 Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, Houston [TX], 2-8-67 14 22 Milwaukee-Downer College, 11-27-45; Foundations 14 23 National Acoustical Society convention, Houston [TX], 3-21-66; Catch the World 14 24 National Association of Geology Teachers, 11-2-60, 11-20-64 14 25 Pan American Round Table Texas convention, Houston [TX], 4-3-63; The Other Americas 14 26 Phi Delta Theta Houston Alumni Club, 3-12-65; The Fraternity in a Changing World 14 27 Philosophical Society of Texas, 12-11-65, 12-12-70 14 28 Prehistoric Man in the New World symposium, 11-9-62; Geoanthropology 14 29 Private Schools Assoc. of Central States, 4-5-52; The Private Schools - Extinction, Survival or Growth 14 30 "R" Association, Rice Institute/Univ., 1960, 1963 14 31 [American] Red Cross Houston chapter, 4-13-64; The Red Cross and Scientific Change 14 32 Rice Alumni 14 33 Rice Alumni 14 34 Rice Associates, 1960, 1961 14 35 Rice Institute Dept. of Geology, 10-21-54; progress report 15 1 Rice University, 1950s, 1960s 15 2 Ripon College, 12-5-45; Reconstruction or Destruction 15 3 River Oaks Women's Assoc., Houston [TX], 4-2-70 15 4 Rockford College Jewett Laboratory, 10-28-50; The Springs of Human Existence 15 5 Role and Scope Subcommittee, Governor's Committee on Education, 1963; preliminary report of consultants. 15 6 Rotary Clubs, 1945, 1950s, 1960s 15 7 Sigma Xi, 5-9-70 15 8 Southwest Placement Assoc., 9-22-66; The Business of Education and the Education of Business 15 9 Southwestern Legal Foundation, 3-8-67; Oil, Gas and Education 15 10 Southwestern University [TX], 11-8-61, 5-6-71 15 11 Stanford Univ. [CA], 2-1-60, Mankind in Scientific Perspective 15 12 Texas A&M University, 10-31-64; Success and Failure 15 13 Texas Assoc. of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 11-9-65 15 14 Texas Bankers Convention, Houston [TX], 3-9-68; Background for Asiatic Conflicts 15 15 Texas Bill of Rights Foundation, Houston [TX], 9-16-65; introduction of Charles Evans Whittaker 15 16 Texas Chemical Council, 3-17-55; What the Chemical Industry Can Do for Education 15 17 Texas Christian University, 1965, 1970 15 18 Texas Foundations and Trust Funds Conf., Austin [TX], 4-6-54; Money at Work in Geology 15 19 Texas Industry Conf., Houston [TX], 10-27-67; Scientific Successes and Social Failures: 15 20 Texas Manufacturers Assoc. Conf., Houston [TX], 11-22-63; The Population and Technological Explosions 15 21 Texas Society of Architects convention, San Antonio [TX], 10-9-63; Fruition of Success and the Greater Struggle 15 22 Texas Technological College, 1960, 1966, 1967 15 23 [Albert] Thomas Appreciation Dinner, 11-21-68 15 24 Trans World Airlines, Inc., Houston [TX], 2-21-68 15 25 Trinity University [TX], 5-29-64; Graduate Education and Other Explosions 15 26 United Educators Boca Raton [FL] Club, 2-26-66; Aaron John Brumbaugh - A Tribute 15 27 University-Federal Agency Conf., Nacogdoches [TX], 8-30-63; Education - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 15 28 University of Chattanooga [TX], 11-4-66; inauguration of William Masterson as President 15 29 University of Chicago 15 30 University of Dallas, 5-21-67; Inner Serenity and Divine Discontent 15 31 University of Houston, 1959, 1963 16 1 University of North Dakota, 10-8-65; The Future of Geology in Education 16 2 University of Tampa, 1958, 1964 16 3 University of Texas, 11-16-67; dedication of Geology building 16 4 Urban Land Institute, 1-28-65; Space Age Research and Industry 16 5 VE Day, 5-8-45; Victory - True or False 16 6 Vocational Rehabilitation and Education of Veterans Conf., 1-20-45; What the Liberal Arts College Offers the Veteran: Pre-Professional Training 16 7 Washington University, 5-3-46; The Sciences and the Humanities in the Future 16 8 Honorable James E. Webb, 1963, 1967 16 9 Winnetka [IL] Congregational Church, 4-16-50; Fearful and Wonderful 16 10 Wisconsin Society of CPAs, 12-8-47; Private Education and Public Money 16 11 WNBQ Educational Television, 11-2-52; Time and Life 16 12 YWCA annual dinner, 1-23-45; The Times Demand 16 13 Miscellaneous speeches 16 14-17 Series V: Personal 16 14 Newsclips 16 15 Passports 16 16 Diaries - travel 16 17 Day/year calendars