Charles S. Gwynne papers
Scope and Content
This collection (1892-1973, undated) contains biographical material, correspondence, and numerous reports on geology projects. Also included are conference material and geological photographs. In a map case are large maps and drawings of topography and geological surveys, along with road maps.
Dates
- 1892-1973, undated
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
Open for research.
Use/Re-use Restrictions
Consult Special Collections and University Archives
Biography/Profile
Charles Sumner Gwynne was born in New York City on December 23, 1885, to Alexander and Emily (Bishop) Gwynne. He received his A.B. (1907) in chemistry from Cornell University, his M.S. (1925) in geology from Syracuse University, and his Ph.D. (1927) in geology from Cornell University. Gwynne joined the Geology Department at Iowa State College (University) as Assistant Professor (1927-1931). He was promoted to Associate Professor (1931-1951) and Professor (1951-1970), serving for short periods as Acting Head (1931-1935) of the department. In the years immediately following World War II, he was the sole faculty member in the department.
Gwynne’s field of special interest was economic geology. He conducted research in a variety of fields such as the geology of coals and clay, structural geology, petrology, weathering, and glacial geology. His favorite object of study was a glacial erratic rock located about half a mile from campus. Students and faculty moved the boulder in 1956 to a permanent spot on the southeast corner of Science Hall. He conducted field summer courses in conservation for secondary teachers for many years. These courses were held in state parks in Iowa. Drawing from these experiences, he published a series of papers on the geology of more than 60 state parks in the “Iowa Conservation Review”.
Charles Gwynne married Elsie Wilson, a faculty colleague in Home Economics in 1933. He regularly attended the Geological Society of America Conventions and international geological conferences. He died on June 18, 1972 in Ames, Iowa, and is buried in the University Cemetery.
Extent
6.31 Linear Feet (5 document boxes, 1 half document box, 4 map case folders)
Arrangement
oversize materials are found in the Archives Map Case, in Drawer #2.
Processing Information
Released on 2018-11-01.
- Biographies (literary works) Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- College teachers--Iowa--20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Correspondence Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Geologists--Iowa--20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Geology--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Iowa State University. Department of Geology--Faculty--20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Maps (documents) Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Reports Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Title
- RS 13/8/12. Charles S. Gwynne papers, 1892-1973, undated
- Date
- January 23, 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Box: 1 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 2 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 3 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 4 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 5 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 6 (Mixed Materials)
- map-case: C410 D0. Folder 2 (Mixed Materials)
- map-case: C410 D02. Folder 1 (Mixed Materials)
- map-case: C410 D02. Folder 2 (Mixed Materials)
- map-case: C410 D02. Folder 3 (Mixed Materials)
- map-case: C410 D02. Folder 4 (Mixed Materials)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives Repository
403 Parks Library
701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames Iowa 50011-2102 United States
(515) 294-6672
archives@iastate.edu