Fritiof Melvin Fryxell papers
Scope and Contents
The Fritiof Melvin Fryxell papers, 1890-1987 and undated, are organized into ten series: Personal, Grand Tetons, Philippines and World War II, Hayden Geological Survey, Augustana College, Organizations, Correspondence, Audiovisual, Oversize, and Addendums.
Personal Series, 1890-1987 and undated, is arranged into fourteen subseries: Family History, Education, Health Records, Awards, Correspondence, Articles, Biographical Notes, Scrapbooks, Photographs, Regina Holmen Fryxell, John Birger Fryxell, Roald Hilding Fryxell, Redwood Fryxell, and Extended Family.
Grand Tetons, 1928-1985 and undated, is arranged into ten subseries: National Park, Research, Geological Information, Climbs, Miscellaneous Teton Information, Articles, Speaking Engagement, Organizations, and Photographs. Included in this series are items from Fryxell’s work for the National Park Service and the establishment of the Grand Teton National Park.
Philippines and World War II, 1935-1986 and undated, contains eight subseries: Geological Information, National Parks, Information, Photographs, Scrapbooks, Military Geology Unit, Japan, and Artifacts.
Hayden Geological Survey, 1914-1968 and undated, includes eight subseries: Biographical, Writings, Correspondence, Awards, Research, Moran Manuscript, Peale Manuscript, and Hayden Manuscript.
Augustana College, 1914-1986 and undated, documents Fryxell's career at Augustana and consists of ten subseries: Correspondence, Geology Department, Geography Department, Geology Museum, Faculty and Students, Campus Buildings, Augustana Historical Society, Augustana Art Association, and Miscellaneous.
Organizations, 1932-1983 and undated, contains items related to Fryxell’s involvement in local, national, and international organizations. In particular, the series consists of two subseries: NAGT (National Association of Geology Teachers) and the American Geological Institute.
Correspondence, 1897-1987 and undated, includes personal and professional letters to Fryxell.
Audiovisual, 12 October 1984 and undated, includes recordings about Fryxell’s career in geology.
Oversize, 1923-1979, includes World War II aerial photographs, an award, geological maps, and diplomas from various institutions.
Addendums, 1870-1986, is a compilation of additions to the Fryxell papers.
Dates
- Creation: 1870-1987 and undated
Creator
- Fryxell, Fritiof, 1900-1986 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
For the unprocessed boxes (U1-U26), please contact Special Collections well in advance before any planned research visit. Be advised that preparing unprocessed collections for research may take several days or weeks.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from Augustana College Special Collections and the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Fritiof Melvin Fryxell was a geology professor at Augustana College from 1929 to 1968. Fryxell was born in Moline, Illinois in 1900. He attended Augustana College, and graduated in 1922 with degrees in biology and English. He obtained his M. A. in English at the University of Illinois in 1923. He later returned to Augustana College as a teaching assistant for biology and English. He took a leave of absence from the college to earn his doctorate in geology and returned to the school in 1929 as the founder and chair of the geology department.
From 1929 to 1934, Fryxell was a naturalist in the Grand Teton mountain range of Wyoming. While there, his job included making geological observations, supervising the laying of trails in the developing park, planning a museum, and preparing literature describing the Tetons. Fryxell completed the work during the summers in order to continue teaching at Augustana College during the school year.
From 1935 to 1937, Fryxell served as a geologist and museum consultant for the National Park Service (NPS) and relocated to the University of California. Through his work as a geologist for the NPS, Fryxell developed plans for eight museums in various national parks.
In 1939, Fryxell joined a group of geologists assigned to make a petroleum survey of the Philippine Islands. Fryxell later became a research supervisor and then assistant chief of the Military Geology Unit. In the fall of 1944, Fryxell traveled to London to study British methods of intelligence. After returning from the Philippines, Fryxell became the first president of the National Association of Geology Teachers. In 1953, Fryxell won the Neil A. Miner Award given by the Association of Geology Teachers. Fryxell received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1954.
Fryxell retired from Augustana College after the spring term of 1968 and was named professor emeritus in April 1968. The Fryxell Geology Museum was named in his honor in 1969. In 1979, he received the University of Wyoming’s highest honor, the Doctor of Laws degree. He authored numerous books, including several on the Teton and Jackson Hole regions of Wyoming. In 1985, Augustana College created the Fryxell Chair in Geology. Fryxell passed away on December 19, 1986.
Extent
35.00 Cubic Feet (/ 93 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 1 AV box, and 4 oversize folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Fritiof Melvin Fryxell was a geology professor at Augustana College from 1929 to 1968. Materials in the collection include educational records (including report cards, diplomas, transcripts, etc.), genealogical materials, biographical materials, correspondence, articles, photographs, research notes, field notes, research data, maps, financial records, published materials (by Fryxell and other family members), manuscripts, Augustana College teaching materials (notes, assignments, field trip materials, etc.), speeches, and materials concerning his membership in various professional organizations (membership documents, notes, correspondence, constitutions, reports, etc.).
Arrangement
Arrangement maintained from legacy finding aid.
Other Finding Aids
This finding aid is based on the original typewritten inventory. Legacy inventories are available upon request.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Received from Fritiof Melvin Fryxell in 1979 and 1984. Later additions donated by Mel Peterson (2003), Anne Boaden (2015), and William Speth (2017).
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff. Revised by Taylor Waugh and Micaela Terronez, 2024.
Topical
- Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.) -- faculty
- Augustana College and Theological Seminary (Rock Island, Ill.) -- faculty
- Geologists -- United States
- Geology -- Study and teaching
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyo.)
- Science -- Study and teaching
- Swedish Americans
- World War, 1939-1945
Uniform Title
- Title
- Fryxell (Fritiof Melvin) papers, 1870-1987 and undated.
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Taylor Waugh
- Date
- June 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Augustana College Special Collections Repository
639 38th Street
Thomas Tredway Library
Rock Island Illinois 61201 United States
specialcollections@augustana.edu