Missouri State University Libraries
Curtis F. Marbut Collection
Volume: 1.5 cubic feet
Dates: 1891-1989
Provenance
The collection was acquired prior to the formation of the department in 1997. A second accession was acquired in 2008. The collection was processed in 2007 by Shannon Western, with additional work was done in 2008 by Amanda Nichols.
Copyright
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).Access
The collection is unrestricted. Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be obtained from the Department of Special Collections and Archives. Citations should be as follows: Identification of the item, box and folder number, Curtis F. Marbut Collection [M014], Department of Special Collections and Archives, Missouri State University.
Biographical/Historical Sketch
Curtis Fletcher Marbut was born July 19, 1863, in Barry County, Missouri, where he was also raised. In 1889 he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri and in 1894 received a Master of Arts degree from Harvard. He also completed his thesis for the Doctor of Philosophy at Harvard in 1896. He taught physiography and geology at the University of Missouri from 1895 to 1910 and worked for the Missouri Geological Survey, directing the Missouri Soil Survey.
From 1910 to 1935, he worked as a soil scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Bureau of Soils. During this time he also lectured at universities, directed field trips all over the world, and won several awards for his work and publications. He passed away in 1935 of pneumonia, on a trip to China to advise the Chinese Geological Survey in organizing a Soil Survey.
Scope and Content
Box 1 contains photographs taken in South America between 1923 and 1924. Subjects include animals, vegetation, rivers, boats, towns and settlements, buildings, crops, land features, and people (including “Putamayo Indians” and “Peruvian Indians”). This box also contains memorabilia items that belonged to Dr. Marbut including a wallet, a stamp book, and pins.
Box 2 contains personal correspondence and receipts, drawings and plans for the house designed by Dr. Marbut, copies of his class lectures, photographs, and papers relating to his work and field of study.
The collection’s folders are organized alphabetically, and everything within each folder is organized chronologically.
Scope and Content
| Box 1 | ||
| Folder | ||
| 1 | Memorabilia 1 of 2 | n.d. |
| 2 | Memorabilia 2 of 2 | n.d. |
| 3 | Photos of South America - People - Dr. Marbut and colleagues | 1923-1924 |
| 4 | Photos of South America - Peopl e- Governor of Acre | 1923-1924 |
| 5 | Photos of South America - People - Miscellaneous/Unknown | 1923-1924 |
| 6 | Photos of South America - People - South American Natives | 1923-1924 |
| 7 | Photos of South America - Places - Acre River/Territory, Brazil | 1923-1924 |
| 8 | Photos of South America - Places - Amazon River | 1923-1924 |
| 9 | Photos of South America - Places - Bolivia | 1923-1924 |
| 10 | Photos of South America - Places - Brazil | 1923-1924 |
| 11 | Photos of South America - Places - Estado do Amazonas | 1923-1924 |
| 12 | Photos of South America-Places - Manaos, Brazil | 1923-1924 |
| 13 | Photos of South America-Places - Marajo Island | 1923-1924 |
| 14 | Photos of South America-Places - Miscellaneous | 1923-1924 |
| 15 | Photos of South America-Places - Para, Brazil | 1923-1924 |
| 16 | Photos of South America-Places - Peru | 1923-1924 |
| 17 | Photos of South America-Places - Purus River/Territory, Brazil | 1923-1924 |
| 18 | Photos of South America-Places - Tapajos River | 1923-1924 |
| 19 | Photos of South America-Places - Unknown | 1923-1924 |
| 20 | Photos of South America-Plants - Brazil Nuts and Nut Industry | 1923-1924 |
| 21 | Photos of South America-Plants - Cotton | 1923-1924 |
| 22 | Photos of South America-Plants - Miscellaneous | 1923-1924 |
| 23 | Photos of South America-Plants - Rubber Trees and Rubber Industry | 1923-1924 |
| 24 | Photos of South America-Plants - Strangle Figs | 1923-1924 |
| Box 2 | ||
| Folder | ||
| 1 | Correspondence and Receipts - Banks | 1912-1933, n.d. |
| 2 | Correspondence and Receipts - Colonial-Style House | 1932-1935, n.d. |
| 3 | Correspondence and Receipts - Insurance 1 of 2 | 1891-1922 |
| 4 | Correspondence and Receipts - Insurance 2 of 2 | 1923-1938, n.d. |
| 5 | Correspondence and Receipts - Miscellaneous | 1896-1947, n.d. |
| 6 | Correspondence and Receipts-Stocks and Bonds | 1919-1934, n.d. |
| 7 | Correspondence and Receipts - Taxes 1 of 2 | 1899-1919 |
| 8 | Correspondence and Receipts - Taxes 2 of 2 | 1920-1935, n.d. |
| 9 | Correspondence and Receipts - Travel 1 of 2 | 1919-1935 |
| 10 | Correspondence and Receipts - Travel 2 of 2 | n.d. |
| 11 | Lectures 1-5 | 1928 |
| 12 | Lectures 6-10 | 1928 |
| 13 | Lectures 11-15 | 1928 |
| 14 | Lectures 16-20 | 1928 |
| 15 | Lectures 21-25 | 1928 |
| 16 | Lectures 26-30 | 1928 |
| 17 | Miscellaneous | 1905-1947, n.d. |
| 18 | Personal Letters | 1922-1923, n.d. |
| 19 | Photographs | 1935, n.d. |
| 20 | Work Related - International Congress of Agriculture | 1927-1933, n.d. |
| 21 | Work Related - Papers, Studies, and Theses 1 of 2 | 1930-1933 |
| 22 | Work Related - Papers, Studies, and Theses 2 of 2 | n.d. |
| 23 | Work Related - Miscellaneous | 1932-1989, n.d. |
| 24 | Work Related - U.S. Department of Agriculture | 1910-1924, n.d. |