DACS

urn:taro:smu.00006 Ellis W. Shuler papers A Guide to the Collection Finding aid prepared by Lara Corazalla, 2005 DeGolyer Library

P. O. Box 750396 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275-0396

Finding aid encoded by Lara Corazalla 2005 Finding aid written inEnglish. Description based on DACS Overview Southern Methodist University Archives, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University Shuler, Ellis W. (Ellis William), b. 1881 Ellis W. Shuler papers 1900-1955 10 boxes, including 1 oversize box (4.5 linear feet) Ellis William Shuler (1881-1954) was one of the original 35 members of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) faculty and taught at SMU from 1915 until 1952. He was the first Geology professor and as such, contributed greatly to the development of the Geology department. His papers consist of biographical data, correspondence, professional material, essays, articles, reports, and manuscripts covering the years between 1900 and 1955, with the bulk of materials from 1912 to 1954. Included is the manuscript of Rocks and Rivers and correspondence between Shuler and fellow geologists William Morris Davis, Robert Hill, and Richard Field. There is also a large collection of correspondence between British journalist Gilbert Floyd and many of his friends in Texas around the time of World War II including Dr. Shuler, Henry E. Elrod, Willie-Mabel Taylor Ritter, and Mrs. Tom Smith. Additionally, a large amount of the correspondence deals with Shuler’s role as head of the Geology Department at Southern Methodist University and Dean of the Graduate School. SMU 2005.0357 Material is in English Biographical Note

Ellis William Shuler was born on Oct. 15, 1881, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia near the small settlement of Corners Rock. He was the son of Rev. James Alexander Hamilton Shuler and Amanda Harrington Shuler. Ellis W. Shuler’s father entered the Methodist ministry in the Holston Conference of the Southern Methodist Church in 1886 and from then until his death in 1932, Rev. Shuler was active in pulpits and circuits in Southwest Virginia and parts of the contiguous states.

Ellis Shuler became interested in geology as a child after a series of tremors known as the Giles County Earthquake that shook the Southwest Virginia region in May 1897. After the earthquake, Shuler’s father made an urgent request of the United States Geological Survey that these phenomena be studied, and Marius R. Campbell was sent to investigate. After completing his field studies, Campbell joined the Shuler family for several days at Mountain Lake on nearby Salt Pond Mountain. Young Shuler became well acquainted with the great geologist and undoubtedly decided to follow in his footsteps.

In 1899, Shuler entered Emory & Henry College at Emory, Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from there in Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1904, a Master of Arts degree in English from Vanderbilt University in 1907, a Master of Arts degree in geology from Harvard in 1914, and a PhD from Harvard in 1915.

In 1915, he was hired as one of the first members of the faculty at Southern Methodist University as an Associate Professor of Geology. He was given the title of Professor in 1918. He was made Dean of the Graduate School in 1926 and retired in 1952. He was the last of the original 35 professors to leave SMU. He died at the age of 72 in 1954.

Throughout his career, Shuler was a member of many professional organizations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Geographers, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the National Parks Association. In 1922, he was made a fellow in the Geological Society of America. He also authored technical bulletins and articles related to his field of study. He was a contributor to a number of scientific publications, as well as religious and secular periodicals. He was one of the early proponents of the Dallas Museum of Natural History and he helped establish SMU’s first two science libraries.

In 1945, Dr. Shuler’s book, Rocks and Rivers, was published. In this volume, Shuler explored the geology of the United States through description, photographs, and diagrams. Other significant works of his include a survey of the geology of Dallas County and many essays on a wide variety of subjects ranging from geology to the history of Southwest Virginia.

Sources:

Dean Shuler of SMU Dies at Age of 72. Dallas Morning News, Jan. 2, 1954, Page 1, Part I.

Foscue, Edwin J. Memorial to Ellis William Shuler (1881-1954). Proceedings Volume of the Geological Society of America Annual Report for 1954 (1955): 133-136.

Plaque in Memory. Dallas Morning News, May 24, 1962, Page 2, Section 4.

SMU News Digest. Dec. 1953/Jan. 1954.

Thomas, Mary Martha Hosford. Southern Methodist University: Founding and Early Years. Dallas: SMU Press, 1974.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Shuler papers consist of biographical data, correspondence, professional material, essays, articles, reports, manuscripts, and degrees covering the years between 1900 and 1955, with the bulk of materials from 1912 to 1954. The collection illustrates the career of a prominent geologist and professor at Southern Methodist University.

Included is correspondence between Shuler and fellow geologists William Morris Davis, Robert Hill, and Richard Field. There is also a large collection of correspondence between British journalist Gilbert Floyd and many of his friends in Texas around the time of World War II. Additionally, a large amount of the correspondence deals with Shuler’s role as head of the Geology Department at Southern Methodist University and Dean of the Graduate School.

Along with the manuscript of Shuler's book, Rocks and Rivers, there is correspondence with the publisher, advertisements, and corrections.

Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is organized into eight series:

Series I: Biographical Data Series II: Correspondence Series III: Gilbert Floyd Correspondence Series IV: Professional Organizations and Material Series V: Notes and Writings by Shuler Series VI: SMU Geology Department / Administrative Series VII: Rocks and Rivers Manuscripts and Publication Correspondence Series VIII: Degrees Access to Collection:

Collection is open for research use.

Publication Rights:

Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following terms in the Southern Methodist University Libraries' online catalog. Researchers desiring related materials may search the catalog using these terms.

Shuler, Ellis W. (Ellis William), b. 1881 Geologists--Texas. Southern Methodist University--Faculty. Southern Methodist University. Dept. of Geology. Preferred Citation

Ellis W. Shuler papers, Southern Methodist University Archives, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

Processing Note

The papers of Ellis W. Shuler were sorted into folders by subject, but in no discernable order within each folder. During their processing, the collection was divided into separate, more accessible files depending on subject and date. Folded documents were flattened and paperclips and staples were removed whenever possible. The papers were arranged chronologically, placed in acid-free folders, with acid-free paper dividing relevant documents and stored in acid-free boxes.

Processed and Encoded by

Lara Corazalla, 2005

Detailed Description of the Collection Series I: Biographical Data 1 folder

This series (one file folder) contains biographical data about Ellis W. Shuler including a bibliography, a memorial, a personal history, notes, and newspaper clippings. The documents are arranged chronologically within the folder. Especially noteworthy are a memorial written by Edwin J. Foscue (an SMU colleague) for the Geological Society of America and an unpublished article about Shuler's work at SMU.

11Biographical Data Series II: Correspondence 1.5 boxes

This series contains correspondence between Shuler and various other people including geologists William Morris Davis of Harvard, Robert Hill the Dean of Texas Geology of Cornell University and Richard Field of Princeton. It also contains correspondence related to an Electrolysis Patent filed by Shuler in 1929. In 1933, Shuler was named as one of the Honorary Scientific Staff for the Byrd Antarctic Expedition II, and a folder of information about this is included in this series. In addition, this series contains personal correspondence and correspondence with colleagues at Southern Methodist University. The documents are arranged into folders by person or subject and then arranged chronologically.

12Personal Correspondence, 1913-1942 13William Morris Davis Correspondence, 1915-1933 14Coral reefs, 1916-1921 15Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1919-1935 16Misc. Correspondence and Clippings, 1920s 17Robert Hill Correspondence, 1920-1924 18Jack Frost Lease Assignment to Shuler 1922; 1944-1953 19Correspondence, writings on Texas oil, gas and coal, 1923 110Water and wells around the SMU campus, 1924 111Richard Field Correspondence, 1928-1930 112Emory & Henry College - programs, correspondence, clippings, etc., 1943-1949 113Electrolysis Patent Correspondence, 1929 114Trinity River, 1932-1935 115Byrd Antarctic Expedition II, 1933-1934 116Misc. Correspondence on Dinosaur Fossils, 1933-1947 117Justina Hill Correspondence, 1941-1947 21Misc. Correspondence, 1943 22John Kay Correspondence, 1943-1945 23Letters from friends about The Spirit of the Wilderness Road,1944-1945 24Shuler’s Book Collection, 1948 25Correspondence with SMU people, 1950-1952 Series III: Gilbert Floyd Correspondence 3 boxes

Shuler called this series the Gilbert Floyd Collection of American and English Letters. This series contains correspondence between Gilbert Floyd and several of his friends including Dr. Shuler, Henry E. Elrod, Willie-Mabel Taylor Ritter, and Mrs. Tom Smith.

All of the material was compiled after Gilbert Floyd’s death in 1935 when many of his Texas friends sent their letters to Shuler for safekeeping and for a possible exhibition/library acquisition.

Gilbert Floyd was a prominent journalist and editor living in England. He was a London correspondent for the Dallas Morning News for several years prior to his death. The documents are arranged into folders by person and then arranged chronologically.

26Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Henry E. Elrod, 1930 27Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Henry E. Elrod, 1931 28Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Henry E. Elrod, 1932-1933 29Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Henry E. Elrod, 1934-1935 210Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Willie-Mabel Taylor Ritter, 1932-1933 211Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Willie-Mabel Taylor Ritter, 1933-1935 31Gilbert Floyd misc. letters, clippings, pamphlets, 1933-1934 32Gilbert Floyd misc. letters, clippings, pamphlets, 1934-1935 33Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Dr. Shuler, 1933-1934 34Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Dr. Shuler, 1934-1935 35Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Mrs. Tom Smith, 1934-1935 36Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Mrs. Tom Smith, folder 1 of 2, 1935 41Gilbert Floyd correspondence with Mrs. Tom Smith, folder 2 of 2,1935 42Correspondence with members of the Gilbert Floyd Friends Club about collecting Gilbert Floyd’s letters after his death 1935; 1940-1941 43Gilbert Floyd Obituary and Photographs 44Gilbert Floyd Collection of Books sent to Shuler Series IV: Professional Organizations and Material 1 box

This series contains correspondence and documents related to Shuler’s memberships in professional organizations including the Geological Society of America, the National Parks Association (and its predecessor the National Parks Education Committee), the Texas Mineralogical Society, the Dallas Petroleum Geologists and others. This series also contains information illustrating Shuler’s role in the development of the Dallas Museum of Natural History. The documents are arranged into folders by subject and then arranged chronologically.

45National Parks Literature, 1918-1922 46Southwestern Geological Society (forerunner to Dallas Petroleum Geologists) 1919-1924; 1944 47Geologists in Dallas, 1928-1934 48Dallas Petroleum Geologists and Dallas Geological Society, 1930-1948 49Texas Mineralogical Society, 1943-1947 410Dallas Museum of Natural History 411Texas Academy of Sciences, folder 1 of 2 412Texas Academy of Sciences, folder 2 of 2 413Geological Society of America Series V: Notes and Writings by Shuler 3 boxes

This series contains essays and articles written by Shuler and his related research notes. Shuler wrote about geology as well as education, history and religion.

Significant works in this series include a survey of the geology of Dallas County, a report on Ellis County, Shuler’s Harvard thesis, Walker’s Mountain, and a commencement address given by Shuler at Emory & Henry College titled The Spirit of the Wilderness Road.

There are also a variety of book reviews written by Shuler. The documents are arranged into folders by subject and then arranged chronologically.

51Field Notes, 1910-1911 52Yellowstone Park Notes, 1911 53Spanish Peaks - summer field trip with Professor William Morris Davis, 1911 54Harvard paper, 1914, A Preliminary Report on the Proofs of Elevation Along the North Shore, June 12, 1914 551915 Harvard University Thesis Walker’s Mountain 56Walker’s Mountain and correspondence, 1916-1925 57Dallas County Survey, folder 1 of 2, 1917 58Dallas County Survey, folder 2 of 2, 1917 59Ellis County Report, 1919 510Prospects for Oil in Dallas County, 1919 511Reprints of articles by Dr. Shuler, 1900-1923 61Reprints of articles by Dr. Shuler, 1929-1950 62Windgaps in the Appalachian Ridges, 1931 63Divining Rods and the Doodle-bug case, 1936 64“The Spirit of the Wilderness Road” manuscripts and notes/drafts 65Professor Judd & the Science of Geology 66Various papers by Shuler and others Recent Fossil Find Around Dallas A Seven Foot Rise Down Limpia Reunion - brief synopsis/summary and county park proposal La Reunion an essay by SMU student Miss Eloise Santerre, great-grand-daughter of Francois Santerre, an original member of the French colony, La Reunion (1855-1857), which was located on the south bank of the Trinity River in central Dallas County, Jan. 12, 1933 The Southern Ute Indians at Boulder’s Semi-Centennial by Eben G. Fine, Boulder, CO The Mesa Verde National Park by Eben G. Fine, Boulder, CO The Tennessee Valley Authority Regional Physiography: a review of The Physiographic Provinces of North America by Wallace W. Atwood by Shuler, 1940 The Contribution of Physics to Modern Civilization by Shuler Group Research within a University Advertisement for lecture by Shuler Christian Education report to Dr. Selecman from Shuler, 1932 67Notes on Thomas Jefferson 68Book Review: Our Mobile Earth R. A. Daly 69Williamsburg’s Contribution to Monticello by Shuler 610Shuler’s notes for review of Regional Physiography by Wallace Atwood 611Articles on fossils 612Davis Mountains 71Elephant fossils Texas 72Texas Landscape 73American Highways 74Soil: geological notes, writings and correspondence Series VI: SMU Geology Department / Administrative 1 box

This series contains correspondence, documentation and reports related to the operation of the Geology Department at Southern Methodist University from 1916 to 1952. It includes correspondence with members of the faculty and presidents of SMU Umphrey Lee and Charles Selecman. The documents are arranged into folders by person or subject and then arranged chronologically.

75Directory of Graduates, 1916-1952 76Survey of Science Graduates, 1919-1945 77Selecman Correspondence, 1923-1932 78Letter to Dr. Selecman and Board of Trustees on need for science Labs, 1927 79Field Course in Geology, 1928 710Geology Department gifts, 1940-1946 711Correspondence about cabinets given to the Geology Department, 1941 712Department of Geology Alumni and Labs, 1931-1942 713Memorial Gift, E. F. Blakemore, Jr., 1942 714Geology newsletters, 1942-1943 715Need for scientific instruction, 1942-1946 716Umphrey Lee Correspondence, 1942-1949 717Department of Geology Budgets, 1943-1946 718On the State of Graduate Education in the South 719Undergraduate Preparation for the Geologist 720Shuler’s Contribution to the Geology library 721Geology Department student help and faculty Series VII: Rocks and Rivers Manuscripts and Publication Correspondence 2 boxes

These records contain manuscripts of Shuler’s book, Rocks and Rivers, published in 1945. They also include correspondence with publishers about the book leading up to its publication as well as book reviews, readers’ comments, corrections and criticism after the book was published. This series also contains an early draft of the manuscript with the title The Sculptured Lands which was later changed to Rocks and Rivers. In this work, Shuler describes the geological landscape for the general reader. The documents are arranged into folders by person or subject and then arranged chronologically. The manuscripts are divided as needed into folders and arranged in page number order.

81Correspondence with publishers 82Rocks and Rivers mailing list 83Rocks and Rivers publicity clippings 84Correspondence with Jaques Cattel Press about Rocks and Rivers, folder 1 of 2 85Correspondence with Jaques Cattel Press about Rocks and Rivers, folder 2 of 2 86Rocks and Rivers Corrections and Criticisms 87Readers' comments about Rocks and Rivers 1941; 1945-1949 88Book Reviews and Correspondence about Rocks and Rivers, 1945-1952 89Correspondence with John Rosser, 1946-1947 810The Sculptured Lands manuscript, folder 1 of 2 811The Sculptured Lands manuscript, folder 2 of 2 812Legends of pictures for Rocks and Rivers 91Manuscripts and Rough Drafts of Rocks and Rivers, folder 1 of 5 92Manuscripts and Rough Drafts of Rocks and Rivers, folder 2 of 5 93Manuscripts and Rough Drafts of Rocks and Rivers, folder 3 of 5 94Manuscripts and Rough Drafts of Rocks and Rivers, folder 4 of 5 95Manuscripts and Rough Drafts of Rocks and Rivers, folder 5 of 5 96Key Series VIII: Degrees 1 oversize box

This series contains degrees and certificates awarded to Shuler and his son, Ellis William Shuler, Jr.

OversizeDegrees and certificates received by Shuler : Emory & Henry - Bachelor of Arts Vanderbilt - Master of Arts Harvard - Master of Arts Harvard PhD Membership in the Texas Academy of Sciences Fellow of the Texas Academy of Science Emory & Henry - honorary Doctor of Laws OversizeDegrees and certificates received by Shuler's son, Ellis William Shuler, Jr. : Cradle Roll Certificate of the Polytechnic Methodist Bible School Southern Methodist University - Bachelor of Science