Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Preliminary Guide to the Willis B. Merriam and Florence Merriam Papers
1940-1983
MS.1987.17
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
- Creator
- Merriam, Willis Bungay
- Title
- Preliminary Guide to the Willis B. Merriam and Florence Merriam Papers
- ID
- MS.1987.17
- Date [inclusive]
- 1940-1983
- Extent
- 2 Linear feet of shelf space, 2 Boxes
- Location
- (MASC staff use) 2-14-24-1
- Language
- Collection materials are in English.
- Abstract
- This collection consists of papers of Willis B. Merriam and Florence Merriam of Pullman, Washington.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Preliminary Guide to the Willis B. Merriam and Florence Merriam Papers, 1940-1983 (Cage )
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Biography/History
Willis B. Merriam (1905-1986) was born in Spokane, Washington to Willis and Madge Bungay Merriam. He attended North Central High School followed by the State Normal School at Cheney (now Eastern Washington University), where he graduated in 1928. After two years in Alaska, Willis and his wife Florence Coardy Merriam moved to Seattle, where he earned advanced degrees in geography from the University of Washington. In 1936, Merriam began teaching geography at Eastern Washington College of Education (EWU) until 1940. While there, Merriam helped establish the Northwest Scientific Association. During World War II, he was head of the U.S. Army Specialized Training Program (map reading) at the University of Oregon.
In 1945, Willis and Florence Merriam settled in Pullman, where he taught at Washington State University until his retirement in 1970. He taught various aspects of geography, including economic geography, conservation of natural resources, and South American geography, but his specialty was European geography. Both Willis and Florence Merriam liked to travel, and he became well known for the slides he took on their travels. He was a popular professor during his tenure, and remained a popular speaker in Spokane and Pullman for his slides and frequent lectures. He was involved in numerous community groups, including the Pullman Kiwanis, Early Day Toastmasters, Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity, the Squires Male Choir, and Music Makers Mixed Choir. He was also an actor, and acted in multiple plays that Florence, produced. He helped to found the Pullman Community Theater. Willis Merriam died in 1986 after a bout with cancer.
Scope and Content
This collection includes correspondence, writings, publications, diaries, notes, news clippings, scrapbooks, programs, posters, and photographs. One noteworthy item is a description of a trip down Hells Canyon and the Snake River gorge in 1947.
Arrangement
This is an unprocessed collection. Any arrangement reflects either a pre-existing order from the records' creators or previous custodians, or preliminary sorting performed by staff.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2020
https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc/
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open and available for research use.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions apply.
Acquisition Information
Florence Coardy Merriam donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 1987 (MS.1987.17).
Related Materials
Related Material
Florence Coardy Merriam Papers, 1926-1993 (Cage 858).
Names and Subjects
Corporate Name(s)
Subject(s) :
- Washington State University -- Faculty -- Archives
Personal Name(s)
Subject(s) :
- Merriam, Willis Bungay -- Archives
- Merriam, Florence Coardy -- Archives
Creator(s) :
- Merriam, Florence Coardy
Subject(s)
- Colleges and Universities
- Science