urn:taro:utexas.cah.01343 A Guide to the Frederick Byron Plummer Papers, 1914-1946 Original EAD encoding by Lauren Algee according to TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. November 2009 Finding aid written in English. Descriptive Summary Plummer, Frederick Byron Frederick Byron Plummer Papers 1914-1946 Materials are written in English. 69-32; 73-110 2 ft. 7 in. Dolph Briscoe Center for American History,The University of Texas at Austin Frederick Byron Plummer (1885-1947) was a Geologist in the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology and Professor of Petroleum Engineering at the institution. Biographical Note

Frederick Byron Plummer (1885-1947) was a Geologist in the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology and Professor of Petroleum Engineering at the institution from 1928 until his death at the age of 61. Plummer received his education at Dartmouth College and the University of Chicago. He worked as a consultant for the Dutch Shell Group and lectured at Vassar College before coming to teach at Texas. Plummer was best known for his research on the recovery of salt water in oil wells. Plummer’s wife Helen Jeanne Plummer was a paleontologist and research scientist in the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology. She was considered an expert on core samples. Helen died in 1951.

Source: Briscoe Center for American History Vertical File: Plummer, Frederick Byron

 Scope and Contents

The papers include Plummer's field notes, reports, academic notes, photographs and negatives and other documents related to his geological research. Specific subjects include surveys of mineral deposits in McCulloch County and ways and means of developing them; a field excursion in the San Saba-Brady region to investigate the geological formations and their classification; the recovery of salt water in oil wells of East and Northeast Texas and disposal of salt water from oil; methods and techniques of drilling for oil; and the modern conception of the geological formation of North Texas.

Approximately 50 nitrate negatives from the collection are located in offsite storage due to the volatility of the format.

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 Index Terms Subjects (Persons) Plummer, Frederick Byron, 1886-1947—Archives. Subjects (Organizations) University of Texas at Austin. Bureau of Economic Geology Subjects Formations (Geology) -- Texas. Geological surveys -- Texas. Mines and mineral resources. Oil field brines. Oil well drilling. Petroleum engineering Preferred Citation

Frederick Byron Plummer Papers, 1914-1946, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

 Processing Information

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s "History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light" project, 2009-2011.

 Detailed Description of the Papers Inventory: 3F343 Field notes: 3F343 1922-1943 3F344 1944-1946 3F344 Undated 3F344 Traverse notes and levels, San Saba County, Texas 4M609 Geology courses, Geology 52 and 53, Ore Deposits and Metals, 1923-1924 3J296 Reports, "Petroleum Production Practice," Parts I and II 3F345 Reports: 3F345 Report on Ordovician of Upper Mississippi Valley, 1920-1921 3F345 New Light On Buried Structures of West Texas, 1928 3F345 Geology of Quitman Valley, August 21, 1943 3F345 General Lines Specifications For Portland Cement Concrete, And How It Is Manufactured 3F345 Oil Reservoirs and Salt Domes 3T81 Photographs and negatives: 3T81 Blanco County: 3T81 Blowout Cavern 3T81 Hamilton Pool 3T81 Burnet County: 3T81 Marble Falls limestone along fault escarpment 3T81 Near view of the limestone conglomerate 3T81 Close-up view of Indian Bluff Limestone 3T81 Bluff at Marble Falls Alexander Dam site 3T81 Large blocks of sandstone 3T81 Marble Falls formation 3T81 Nodular algal deposits 3T81 White’s Crossing fault showing steeply tilted strata on the downthrow side of fault 3T81 Section through White’s Crossing fault on Bee Creek 3T81 Map of the Bee Creek district showing geology and structure of the Carboniferous formations 3T81 [Sandstone formation] Gibbons ranch 3T81 Lentil of fine-grained sandstone in Smithwick formation 3T81 Block of hard fine grain sandstone 3T81 Abandoned general store and old Masonic Hall at Old Smithwick 3T81 Smithwick Bluff 3T81 Burnet Asphalt 3T81 Specimen of asphalt rock 3T81 Rock formations in Longhorn Cavern 3T81 Travertine formation 3T81 Travertine deposits 3T81 Sketch map showing Holland Spring Area 3T81 Map of Honey Creek district 3T81 Cross-section through the algal reef on Honey Creek 3T81 Caldwell County: 3T81 Calcareous tufa forming in water disposal streambed 3T81 Water flowing over concrete tank showing algae and calcareous tufa 3T81 Mad cracks in silt deposit 3T81 Water disposal fountain showing calcareous tufa covering the rock 3T81 Near view of rosettes of calcareous tufa covering rocks 3T81 Travertine covering rocks 3T81 Contact of the Midway and Navarro formations on new Lockhart-Austin road north of Lockhart 3T81 Gillespie County: 3T81 Crustaceans from Hickory sandstone 3T81 Lange Mill grotto northeast of Doss 3T81 Calcareous tufa forming in moss-like rosettes 3T81 Glen Rose limestone 3T81 Conglomerate beds beneath the Chappel crinoidal limestone 3T81 Ledges of boulder conglomerate 3T81 Marble Falls limestone along bluffs of Saline Creek 3T81 Marble Falls limestone along bluffs of Llano River 3T81 Chaetites bed in Marble Falls limestone 3T81 Near view of a single large boulder 3T81 Ledges of boulder conglomerate along bluff of Rocky Creek 3T81 Mabry Springs on Slater Ranch 3T81 Upper ledges of Marble Falls limestone 3T81 Section of carboniferous formations showing sub-divisions 3T81 Four miles west of Lampasas on Espey Creek contact with Ellenburger 3T81 Pillar Bluff 3T81 Wilsonoceras 3T81 Large boulder of Ellenburger Limestone deposited by floodwaters 3T81 Tripoli pit on the Wheeler ranch 3T81 Tripoli pit, close up outcrop 3T81 Kimble County 3T81 Lampasas County 3T81 Llano County: 3T81 Map of Llano uplift region showing areas of Carboniferous formations 3T81 Diagrammatic section across a sink developed in Ellenburger limestone 3T81 Generalized section of Carboniferous formations 3T81 Lower or main Barnett Falls 3T81 The uppermost spring on Barnett Creek 3T81 View of travertine limestone 3T81 Llano Field Trip Geology Party 3T81 Geologic section of Paleozoic and Cretaceous formations 3T81 Cascade-Wilburn’s Glen 3T81 McCulloch County: 3T81 Goniatite bed 3T81 Mississippian-Pennsylvanian Permian 3T81 Gonetidae from the Pennsylvanian and Permian Strata of North-Central Texas 3T81 Sponges of North-Central Texas 3T81 Single nodule deposit at base of Marble Falls formation 3T81 Marble Falls limestone 3T81 Falls Creek above the falls showing pool and calcareous tufa forming on limestone ledges 3T81 Peculiar erosion features of water flowing over limestone 3T81 View of waterfalls at Hamilton Pool 3T81 Overhanging resistant limestone ledge at Marble Falls 3T81 View of the Waterfalls at the mouth of Falls Creek 3T81 Close up view of the brink of the falls 3T81 Falls in Pedernales River 3T81 Marble Falls formation on Little Brady Creek 3T81 Marble Falls formation exposed in small branch 3T81 Marble Falls limestone exposed along head of small valley 3T81 Llano granite on highway between Brady and Mason 3T81 Section of rocks exposed on north side of small creek valley 3T81 Conglomerate, Rochelle near Onion Creek 3T81 Rochelle conglomerate along the roadside 3T81 Near view of Rochelle conglomerate in valley near Williams ranch 3T81 Basal conglomerate in stream valley near Williams ranch 3T81 Basal conglomerate overlying Bend in Valley of Onion Creek 3T81 Chappel limestone on branch of Brady Creek 3T81 Chappel limestone lying horizontal 3T81 Close-up view of the nodular fossiliferous limestone of Barnett formation in gravel pit 3T81 Contact of Marble Falls and Barnett formations 3T81 Thin bedded flaggy member of the Marble Falls formation 3T81 Near view of flaggy shale member of Marble Falls formation 3T81 Marble Falls formation exposed in small Branch 3T81 Marble Falls formation on Little Brady Creek 3T81 Map of Davis School District showing geological structure of the Carboniferous formations 3T81 Nodular algal deposit at base of Marble Falls formation 3T81 Mason County: 3T81 Oolite at White Ranch west of Mill Creek Road 3T81 Typical Crionid Coquina 3T81 Bat Cave grotto on the J. A. Eckert ranch 3T81 Outcrop of Massive Chappel limestone of Mississippian age 3T81 Ledge of Chappel Limestone 3T81 Barnett Shale exposed near head of small branch of Honey Creek 3T81 Typical slab of crinoidal limestone from the Chappel Formation 3T81 Near view of the conglomerate beds beneath the Chappel crinoidal limestone 3T81 Crinoidal limestone bed in Chappel formation 3T81 Smithwick shale overlain by terrace gravel 3T81 Generalized columnar section of Mason County 3T81 Chappel formation overlying Ellenburger limestone 3T81 Conglomerate in Ellenburger 3T81 Outcrop of Barnett formation 3T81 Basal Chappel (Mississippian) limestone beds 3T81 Algaeal reef in Ellenburger limestone 3T81 White’s Crossing on Llano River 3T81 Algaeal reef in Honey Creek 3T81 Algaeal reef in Ellenburger limestone 3T81 Conglomerate on south side of Algaeal reef in Ellenburger limestone 3T81 Fault on Llano River at White’s Crossing 3T82 Milam County: 3T82 Mr. Atkinson on Milam County peat bog 3T82 Peat drying on surface of Milam County peat bog 3T82 Indian artifact found in peat 3T82 Cut through peat showing peat profile and location of Indian artifact 3T82 San Saba County: 3T82 Smithwick shale 3T82 Marble falls formation of small branch 3T82 Slab of fossiliferous limestone from Smithwick formation 3T82 A Chaetites colony in lower limestone of the Smithwick formation 3T82 Close-up view of steeply tilted Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Steeply tilted Marble Falls limestone in contact with Barnett shale 3T82 Travertine deposits along Barnett Springs Creek 3T82 Water flowing over Travertine deposits 3T82 Out crop of Barnett shale exposed along highway 3T82 Spring arising from joint in Ellenburger dolomite 3T82 Travertine deposits on Barnett Springs Creek 3T82 Barnett shale with included concretionary limestone bed 3T82 Falls on Cherokee Creek 3T82 Bluff formed of chalcedony deposits 3T82 Upper falls and Thalcedony deposits 3T82 The upper chalcedony layer formed at the upper falls 3T82 Chalcedony deposits formed on the surface of Chalcedony Cliff 3T82 Travertine forming on the side of a chalcedony cliff 3T82 Simpson Creek during flood stage 3T82 Pioneer home 3T82 Reservoir on Holdman’s ranch 3T82 Artesian Well on the W. N. Neely ranch 3T82 Travertine deposits at Barnett Falls 3T82 Rattle snake resting quietly in a dry creek bed 3T82 McNalley Spring of Kirkpatrick Ranch 3T82 Brister Springs at Brister Ranch of Rough Creek 3T82 Concretion containing large nautaloid from Barnett Shale 3T82 Sciadiocrinus from the archiocadaris zone 3T82 Chappel conglomerate on Julian Mullican ranch 3T82 Cryptozooan structure in Ellenburger limestone 3T82 Algal like structure in upper massive ledge of Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Unconformity between the Marble Falls limestone and the lower Smithwick limestone 3T82 Bluff of Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Nearly complete section of Marble Falls limestone 3T82 The lower chert bearing beds of Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Steeply dipping Marble Falls limestone at fault 3T82 Cliff of Ellenburger limestone 3T82 Vertical ledges of Marble Falls limestone 3T82 McNalley Spring flowing out of joint fracture in Ellenburger limestone 3T82 Travertine bluff at Wilberna Glen 3T82 Quarry in Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Close-up view of the algal markings in the mottled limestone bed 3T82 Richland Springs Cavern 3T82 Falls on Barnett Creek, Dalton Ranch 3T82 Part of the herd of cattle on the Ben Lively ranch 3T82 Outcrop of massive Chappel limestone 3T82 Smithwick shale 3T82 Barnett shale 3T82 Lower or main Barnett Falls 3T82 Uppermost Spring on Barnett Creek 3T82 Cryptozooan like structure in travertine 3T82 Pillar Bluff 3T82 Espey Creek four miles west of Lampasas Contact with Ellenburger 3T82 Chappel on Julian Millican ranch 3T82 Pennsylvanian on Mr. Kelly’s farm 3T82 Conglomerate in the bluff north of King Spring 3T82 Smithwick – Pennsylvanian 3T82 Asphalt 3T82 Branch north of Barnett Springs 3T82 Marble Falls, Pennsylvanian 3T82 Neoglyphioceras caneyanum on Homan Ranch 3T82 Contact of Barnett shale and Marble Falls formation 3T82 From China Creek west of China Knob 3T82 Tracks on slab in Smithwick flagstone from China Creek 3T82 Outcrop of Barnett shale 3T82 Close-up of contact of Barnett Shale and Marble Falls formation 3T82 Marble Falls formation on San Saba-Chappel road 3T82 Marble Falls formation East side of Cherokee Creek 3T82 Lower member of Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Basal Marble Falls limestone cliff 3T82 Wallace Spring bend of Wallace Creek 3T82 Tilted ledge of Marble Falls limestone in small branch of Creek on Harkey ranch 3T82 Monument at Walnut Springs 3T82 View of Gorman Falls 3T82 Ellenburger limestone 3T82 Close-up view of Wallace Spring 3T82 Lower chert member of Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Shale layer containing crinoids in lower Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Kitchen midden on the W bank of Cherokee Creek 3T82 Small reservoir 3T82 McNalley homestead on Site of McNalley Springs 3T82 Structure on Harkey ranch 3T82 Distant view of Gorman Falls 3T82 Upper Cascade at Gorman Falls 3T82 View of Gorman Falls 3T82 Pool between cascades and lower Cascade at Gorman Falls 3T82 Miles Harris 2nd Spring on Cherokee Creek 3T82 Gorman Spring 3T82 Cottonwood Spring 3T82 Travertine dam on creek below Cottonwood Spring 3T82 Cascade over travertine Cliff on Rough Creek 3T82 Sketch map showing Geology of Barnett Spring Area 3T82 Sketch mat showing Geology of Gorman Spring Area 3T82 Map of Llano uplift in Central Texas 3T82 Waterfalls in the Creek below Barnett Springs 3T82 Another view of upper cascade at Gorman Falls 3T82 Travertine deposits below cliff at Gorman Falls 3T82 Near view of some of the spray deposits 3T82 Travertine and Stalactite deposits at Gorman Falls 3T82 View of top of upper Cascade at Gorman Falls 3T82 Creek Valley above Blue Pool 3T82 Falls on Pool branch at Blue pool 3T82 Travertine on Creek 3T82 Barnett Falls 3T82 Road crossing on Simpson Creek 3T82 Cottonwood Spring on McCoury Ranch 3T82 Mile Harris Spring on Cherokee Creek 3T82 Spring at Richland Springs 3T82 Gorman Spring 3T82 Massive limestone outcrops 3T82 Pool at Pool Ranch 3T82 Monument commemorating Indian Battle 3T82 Marble Falls on East side of Cherokee Creek 3T82 Sheep around old homestead at head of Pool Branch 3T82 Walnut Springs 3T82 San Saba Spring 3T82 Waterfalls on Rough Creek produced by deposits of travertine 3T82 Marriage Oak, San Saba, County, Texas 3T82 Travertine deposits on Rough Creek 3T82 Blue-green algae in creek on Wm. Keeney ranch 3T82 Lower travertine falls on a spring branch 3T82 Chappel Chert conglomerate on the Dofflemyer ranch 3T82 Cryptozooan like structure in Travertine 3T82 Small anticline in a bluff of Marble Falls limestone 3T82 Smithwick outcrop along the W bank of Colorado River 3T82 Slabs of Siltstone showing trails and marking of mollusks 3T83 Travis County: 3T83 Hamilton Pool 3T83 Water Falls at Hamilton Pool 3T83 Uvalde County: 3T83 Asphalt from Uvalde County 3T83 Asphalt P-1546 3T83 Asphalt rock, Uvalde quarries 3T83 Asphalt. Upper cretaceous. Plant quarry, Anachicio Limestone 3T83 Uvalde County asphalt from main quarry at bottom 3T83 Plant Quarry (Anacachio limestone) 3T83 Asphalt from Plant Quarry 3T83 Boone County, Kentucky: 3T83 Cincinnatian Formation, Ordovician 3T83 Correlation Chart—Principal countries of world 3T83 Correlation Chart—Glass Mountains, North Central Texas 3T83 Diagrammatic section across the Capital reef to show relation of the reef to related facies 3T83 Evolution of the horse 3T83 R. H. King’s fossils: 3T83 Sections of Bend, Strawn, and Canyon groups showing fossil zones 3T83 Sections of Double Mt, Clear Fork, and Wichita groups showing fossil zones 3T83 Idealized stratigraphic section showing the relation of the Phosphoria Formation in Wyoming 3T83 Map of Mexia, Powell Area, Midway outcrop, Limestone County 3T83 Map of Midway outcrop, Kaufman - Hunt counties 3T83 Map of Wilcox outcrop, Central Texas 3T83 Petroleum Engineering: 3T83 Denoi tensionometer for measuring surface tensions 3T83 Oil Sand cores showing effect of capillary action on water-oil contact 3T83 Plates and slides: 3T83 Choyelids 3T83 Pachylocrinus uddeni Moore and Plummer 3T83 Smithwick Ammonites 3T83 Barnett Fauna 3T83 Chappel Fauna 3T83 Marble Falls Fauna 3T83 Plummer collection 3T83 Pew Disposal System showing Skimming Pit 3T83 Ramey Water Disposal System, East Texas Oil Field 3T83 Suman Salt Water Disposal System, East Texas Oil Field 3T83 Section of Cisco, Canyon and Strawn Formation showing ammonite zones 3T83 Shale and Limestone, Fayettevill, Arkansas 3T83 Shales: 3T83 Smithwick shale in contact with Marble Falls limestone 3T83 Smithwick shale on the south bank of the Colorado River 3T83 Barnett Shale 3T83 Barnett Shale exposed at pit 3T83 Cross-section of a nodule of limestone 3T83 Barnett Shale exposed along Pillar Bluff Creek 3T83 Cryptazoon proliferum 3T83 Structure of the Carboniferous Formation: 3T83 Map of Saline Cree District 3T83 Generalized section of Carboniferous and Permian strata 3T83 Sections of Carboniferous rocks in the Llano uplift 3T83 Generalized section of the Carboniferous rocks in the Llano mountains 3T83 Water Disposal Fountain showing calcareous tufa covering rock: 3T83 Close up view of tufa showing characteristic algae markings on tufa 3F347 B. F. Shumard's letter and signature 3F347 Unidentified 3F347 Bibliography 3F347 Printed material, 1914-1915, undated 3F347 Charts and graphs, Marble Falls, Texas 3F347 Miscellany