Roald Fryxell papers

Roald H. Fryxell was born in Moline, Illinois, to Dr. Fritiof M. Fryxell and Regina Holmen Fryxell. He attended Rock Island High School before entering Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, where he graduated with a degree in geology in 1956. He received his doctorate in geology from the University of Idaho, and became a professor of anthropology at Washington State University. Fryxell was involved in many groundbreaking projects, including examining moon rocks that the Apollo 11 expedition brought back. He took part in a Seminar of Space Exploration at Augustana College in 1972, along with Neil Armstrong. Fryxell is perhaps known best for his discovery of the then-oldest human remains in the Western Hemisphere, known as "Marmes Man." Augustana College honored him for that discovery by awarding him an honorary doctorate in 1972. Fryxell was married to Helen Broberg, and had two children with her. He died in a car crash in 1974. Materials in this collection include a plaque, an explanation of the plaque, a bulletin, lab manuals, seminar papers, syllabuses, bibliographies, reports, maps, notes, photographs, and news clippings.