Preliminary Inventory of the Elizabeth A. McMahan Papers, 1926-2008
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleElizabeth A. McMahan Papers,
1926-2008
Creator
McMahan, Elizabeth A.
Extent
16.2 Linear Feet
9074 Items
Repository
9074 Items
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
Language
English.
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Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have
not been transferred to Duke University. For more
information, consult the copyright section of the
Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript,
and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Elizabeth A. McMahan
Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections
Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Elizabeth A. McMahan Papers were received by
the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
as a gift in 2003-2009.
Processing Information
Processed by Stacey Clark
Completed September 30, 2003
Encoded by Stacey Clark, Elizabeth Arnold
Finding aid updated by Meghan Lyon, 2008 and 2009
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
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Biographical Note
Entomologist (termite biology), psychologist, cartoonist, writer of children's books, and ocean traveler. McMahan is credited with 59 publications, many under the name E. A. McMahan, including 11 children's books.
| 1924 | Born, Davie County, N.C. |
| 1946 | A.B., Duke University, Major in Psychology |
| 1948 | M.A. in Psychology, Duke University |
| 1943-1954 | Research Assistant, Parapsychology Laboratory, Duke University. Close friend of Rhine family. |
| 1960 | Ph.D, Entomology, University of Hawaii |
| 1960-1961 | Post-doctoral work, Zoology, University of Chicago |
| 1961-1987 | Professor, Department of Biology, UNC-Chapel Hill. Received outstanding teaching award in 1970. |
| 1987-1988 | Peace Corps, College of Agriculture, Port Antonio, Jamaica |
| 1989 | Received North Carolina Entomological Society's Award of Excellence for contributions to entomology. |
| 1989-2009 | Retired to Carolina Meadows, a retirement community in Chapel Hill, N.C. |
Collection Overview
The collection contains primarily correspondence
and greeting cards, including correspondence with John Craig Wheeler
(considered the father of
"black holes"
) on parapsychology
and its intersection with theoretical physics. Also
includes news clippings and scrapbooks documenting
McMahan's life; illustrations she made describing her
travels aboard Pacific-traveling cargo ships; several of
her self-published children's books; and compilations of
her cartoons from
"The Meadowlark, "
a newsletter published by Carolina Meadows, a retirement community in Chapel Hill, N.C. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's
History and Culture.
Subsequent additions include materials relating to McMahan's termite research; book illustrations; her early life, including school materials and World War II ephemera; and personal correspondence with friends and relatives.
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Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- McMahan, Elizabeth A.
- McMahan, Elizabeth A.--Travel.
- Wheeler, J. Craig.
- Rhine, J. B. (Joseph Banks).
- Duke University--Alumni and alumnae.
- Entomologists--North Carolina.
- Termites.
- Psychometry (Parapsychology).
- Parapsychology and science.
- Self-publishing--United States.
- Children's literature.
- Books and reading.
- Caricatures and cartoons.
- Cargo ships--Passenger traffic.
- Ocean travel.
- Pacific Ocean--Description and travel.
- Clippings.
- Scrapbooks.
- Cartoons.
Related Material
Parapsychology Laboratory Records, 1893-1984
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
Louisa E. Rhine Papers, 1890-1983
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
Preliminary Description of Unprocessed Collection
Accession 2003-0128
Contents of Box 1:
[Technical Services staff may need to
reformat brittle paper before use.]
[Attention: Contains rusty fasteners.]
Correspondence, 1957-1980
Clippings, 1980-2002
Box 2
Contents of Box 2:
[Technical Services staff may need to reformat newsprint and brittle paper before use.]
[Technical Services staff need to format for use copies of video tape before use.]
[Attention: Contains pictorial material.]
Rhine Correspondence, 1946-1975
Includes letters and hand-made birthday cards to J.B. Rhine. Also contains letters to family from Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.
Big Book of Animal Behavior
Loose material removed from scrapbook in box 4, 1960-1978
Includes original artwork, newspaper, and magazine clippings.
Videotape: Wall Cartoons (Vic and Jim Smith Video)
Box 3
Contents of Box 3:
[Technical Services staff may need to process materials in envelopes before use.]
Correspondence with John Wheeler, 1986
Writings
"Life at Carolina Meadows"
series
Children's books
"The Meadowlark "
newsletter
Curriculum vitae
Artwork, cartoon illustrations
Clippings and greeting cards, [1964-2001]
Box 4
Contents of Box 4:
Scrapbook, 1941-1962
Includes clippings, correspondence and photographs.
Accession (2003-0270), 1926-2008
3 Boxes
Addition consists of McMahan's artwork, correspondence (including with friend and colleague Howard T. Odum), photographs, journals, diplomas, and other ephemera.
Accession (2004-0334), 1972-2004
1 Box, 1 Oversize Folder
Addition comprises correspondence, field notes, journals, and sketch books related to McMahan's termite research. Also includes newsletters, photographs, certificates, and awards.
Accession (2006-0012), 1940-2006
8 Boxes
Addition comprises primarily original illustrations by McMahan. Also includes correspondence, children's stories, cartoons, a sketchbook, postcards, poetry, lecture notes, travel journals, clippings and one VHS tape containing an interview with McMahan held in 2004.
Accession (2006-0034), 1967-2005
4 Boxes
Addition comprises primarily correspondence written by McMahan to Burke Smith; 6 photographs; clippings; and sketches of cartoons by the donor.
Accession (2007-0016), 1999-2006
2 Boxes
Box 1
Miscellaneous emails and clippings
Email correspondence, 1999-2003
Box 2
Email correspondence, 2003-2005
Correspondence with sister, Mary Lee Doyle, 2006
Accession (2007-0076), 1934-2006
4 Boxes
Box 1
Correspondence
Clippings
Sketches
Box 2
Journal
Ephemera from a European trip, 1950s
Correspondence 1950
Postcards
War ration books, 1942
Student handbook, 1960-1961
Senior diary, 1935
Record of payments for work in Parapsychology lab, 1943-1945
Research notebook, 1975
Autograph book, 1936-1939
School treasures book, 1934
Wood engraving
Name cards
Autograph book
Postcards
Diary, 1936
Autographed wooden spoons, 1940
Address book
Box 3
Correspondence
Drawings for Camie book
Plaque from the Entomological Society for support, 1993
Clippings
Materials from elementary school
Box 4
Scrapbook
Clippings
Sketches for Camie
Accession (2007-0203), 1950-2007
1 Box
Box 1
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1980s-2007 (4 folders)
Hoyle correspondence, 2007
Correspondence and photographs, 1950s
Rhine Center correspondence
Carolina Meadows material
Public Health Service Research Fellowship Application, 1959
Miscellaneous photographs
Accession (2008-0264), 2007-2008
1 Box
Box 1
Carolina Meadows publications
Email correspondence, 2007-2008 (5 folders)
Miscellaneous email correspondence, 2008 (3 folders)
Accessions (2009-0203 and 2009-0206)
(1 box)
Addition (2009-0203) (100 items; 0.4 lin. ft.; dated 1946-1987) includes a Thematic Apperception Test, Duke parapsychology lab communications, color slides of Duke's campus (1957), UNC Department of Zoology correspondence, materials on Donald Costello and Burke Smith, and miscellaneous materials from McMahan's retirement in 1987. Addition (2009-0206) (1 item; 0.2 lin. ft.; dated 1950s-1960s) consists of a photo album with unlabelled photographs of the J.B. Rhine family and the Duke parapsychology laboratory.
Box 1
16 color slides from Duke's West Campus, 1957
8 color slides of the K.M. Wilbur family, including children Gretchen and Louise; Dr. J.R. Bailey; Dr. Horn and Kathy, 1957
Thematic Apperception Test, 1946
Includes cards, manuals, and interpretation guide.
Duke materials
Includes Department of Zoology correspondence, 1960s, and Nixon Library correspondence, 1981.
Donald Costello, 1970s
Burke Smith correspondence, 1984-1986
Parapscyhology
Retirement, 1987
Voices: the Literary Magazine of Carolina Meadows, Spring 2009
Photo album
Includes unlabelled photographs of J.B. Rhine, his family, and the Duke Parapscyhology Laboratory, 1950s-1960s.
Accession (2009-0222)
(2 boxes)
Addition (2009-0222) (700 items; 1.2 lin. ft.) includes subject files, correspondence, and other materials from McMahan's retirement. Subjects include Jamaica, freighter travel, UNC's Zoology Department, etc.
Box 1
Society of Woman Geographers
Australia
Professional correspondence, 2002
General mail and email, 2002
References
India
Lin Frye: CMSW UNC/Vance Co., July 1994
Zukeran
Peace Corps (Jamaica), 1987-1988
Jamaica, 1991
Freighter travel (talks)
Arm-chair travel (freightering), 2002
La Selva (and LTER), 1985-1986
Talks (extras)
Sigma Xi
Unlabelled folder (miscellaneous)
Rowland, 2002
Greenes
Capt. Chris Blake and Capt. Cook
NC State
Christy Lehrer (Nalepa)
Duke Library (Bingham Center)
Box 2
UNC Zoology
Correspondence, 1986
JB Rhine
Parapsychology Abstracts International, 1986
ESP tests, 1940s
Printouts of 2 photos of JB Rhine and the parapsychology lab, 1970s
