Guide to the Alonzo Quinn Geological Survey Notebooks, 1943-1964

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI, 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2019

Collection Overview

Title:	Alonzo Quinn Geological Survey Notebooks
Date range:	1943-1964
Creator:	Quinn, Alonzo W. (Alonzo Wallace), 1899-1977
Extent:	0.5 linear feet
Abstract:	Twelve loose leaf Field Notebooks containing geological research notes and drawings by Alonzo Quinn.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	AMS-1UF-2019-003

Scope & content

The notebooks contain notes and drawings made by Alonzo Quinn at a variety of locations around Rhode Island over the span of thirty years. The books are labeled by year and subject. Subjects include: Provdience, North Scituate, Quinn, Corwin, Newport, Woonsocket, Portsmouth, and Cranston.

Access Points

Subject Topics

• Geology--United States

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged in a single series.

• Series 1. Survey Notebooks

Biographical/Historical Note

Alonzo Wallace Quinn (1899-1977), professor of geology, was born in Halltown, Missouri, on May 28, 1899. As a child he moved to Colorado with his parents in a covered wagon and grew up in Longmont, Colorado. He graduated from Denison University in 1924, then did graduate work at Kansas University and the State University of Iowa, where he received a master of science degree in 1926. He was instructor at Williams College from 1926 to 1928, when he began study for his Ph.D. degree at Harvard, which he earned in 1931. Meanwhile, he became instructor in geology at Brown in 1929. He was appointed assistant professor in 1936, associate professor in 1942, and professor in 1951. He was chairman of the Department of Geology from 1940 to 1961. He can be credited with keeping geology at Brown alive during the years of the Second World War and for some years thereafter. With the help of a National Science Foundation grant in 1957 the department expanded, and at the time of Quinn’s retirement in 1968 had a staff of ten. He was the chairman of Rhode Island’s Water Resources Board, and the author of Rhode Island Geology for the Non-Geologist and Bedrock Geology of Rhode Island. He died on April 8, 1977.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Alonzo Quinn Geological Survey Notebooks, AMS-1UF-2019-003, Brown University Library
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI, 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Paul Jordan
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the RIAMCO EAD spreadsheet, 2019 July 22
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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