Caroline Heminway Kierstead Papers, 1923-1985
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Smith College Archives Northampton, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Deborah A. Richards. 2006-08-21
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Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Caroline Heminway Kierstead Papers
Creation of Caroline Heminway Kierstead Papers
Time of Creation of Caroline Heminway Kierstead Papers
Kierstead, Caroline Heminway
Biographical History for: Caroline Heminway Kierstead Papers
Biographical Note Caroline Heminway Kierstead was born in Corning, New York on July 12, 1904. Her parents were Herbert A. and Ella May (Daley) Heminway. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1925 with a major in Philosophy and Psychology, and a minor in Geology. After working in her father's law office for a year, she returned to school to earned a master's degree from Cornell University (1928) and later a Ph.D. from Indiana University (1941). She also studied over the years at Syracuse University, the University of Colorado, and the University of Wyoming. Heminway married Friend H. Kierstead, an electrical engineer from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1947. He died around 1970. Kierstead joined the faculty of the Geology Department in 1928 and retired after a long teaching career in 1969. She was promoted steadily through the department, from instructor when she began in 1928, to assistant professor (1932), associate professor (1940) and finally full professor in 1964. Elected chairman of the Geology Department in February 1946, Kierstead served in that capacity until January 1952. She also acted for a short time as the Dean of the Class of 1944. From 1943 to 1945 she took a leave of absence to work for Shell Oil Company, bringing along two Smith graduates. This experience gave her a useful understanding of the oil industry. Keirstead was interested in many fields of geology, and was especially partial to topological and geological maps. Her field of research was micropaleontology, specifically the study of foraminifera, or unicellular shelled microorganisms. Her publications include many articles for scientific journals, one book, and a textbook; she also edited and contributed to several other publications. Her geological research led her to travel all over the world, including Antarctica and New Zealand. Additionally, she held memberships in many prestigious professional associations. In her private life, Kierstead was an internationally known breeder and exhibitor of Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs. Her dogs won several American Kennel Club champions. She served as president of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America for a period of time, and belonged to several other dog clubs as well. Also, she published Pembroke Pictures and Pedigree, an annotated index of the history of the breed. Kierstead died on June 17, 1985 at the age of 80.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Caroline Heminway Kierstead Papers, 1923-1985, contain materials relating to the professional and personal life of a long-time member of the Smith College Geology Department. Types of materials include correspondence, publications, handwritten and typescript lecture and research notes, diaries, and photographs. These items not only document her teaching career at Smith and her research interests, but also provide insight into her personal life and pastimes. Her detailed lecture notes and course material give researchers an informative look at the Geology Department curriculum and methods in the middle of the twentieth century. The Caroline Heminway Kierstead Papers are housed in 2 large boxes and cover approximately 2.5 linear feet.
Geology
lcsh
Geology-Curriculum
Geology-Study and Teaching (Higher)
Micropaleontology
Science-History
Women Geologists
Shell Oil
lcnaf
series
SERIES I: BIOGRAPHY
Scope and Contents of the Collection Provides background information on Caroline Kierstead's life and overall academic and professional careers.
Biography 1928-1985
Geology Courses - Cornell 1926-28
Geology Courses - Indiana University 1938
Geology Courses - Mount Holyoke 1923
Geology Courses - University of Wyoming 1934
SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE
Scope and Contents of the Collection Contains both personal and professional letters to and from Kierstead. She appears to have had a close relationship with her father, who wrote nearly every week in her early years at Smith.
Family 1928-51
Friends 1961
Personal - Dogs 1973
Personal - Investments 1961
Professional 1931-68
Professional - Geology Department 1950-69
Professional - Sale of Library 1985
Professional - Shell Oil 1943-48
Professional - Students 1946-69
Professional - Field Geology 1942
SERIES III: COURSE MATERIALS
Scope and Contents of the Collection Holds materials related to the geology courses she taught at Smith and includes teaching outlines, exams, and student papers. These materials provide a useful glimpse into the department's curriculum.
Micropaleontology 1939-65
Micropaleontology - Student Papers 1949-66
Paleontology 1929-68
Senior Review Essay 1961
Strategraphy 1934-63
Structural Geology 1941-62
Exercises Upon Geological Maps 1937-53
Senior Field Trip 1946, 1948
Student Papers 1952-64
Student Papers - Master's Thesis 1952
SERIES IV: LECTURE NOTES
Scope and Contents of the Collection Contain handwritten and typed notes and guidelines for lectures and personal research on a wide array of geological topics. (see also SERIES V: NOTES)
Caribbean n.d.
Connecticut River Valley Climate 1967
English Jurassic 1951
Evolution 1940
Lesser Autilles 1938
Nature of Species n.d.
New Zealand n.d.
Use of Forams 1954
SERIES V: NOTES
Scope and Contents of the Collection Contain handwritten and typed notes and guidelines for lectures and personal research on a wide array of geological topics. (see also SERIES IV: LECTURE NOTES)
Age of the Earth 1948-62
Correlation of Formations 1958
Crust of the Earth n.d.
Faults n.d.
Folding n.d.
Geological Maps of New Zealand 1962
Jointing n.d.
Jurassic n.d.
Miocene Pelecypods 1966
North Wind Forams Project 1963
Ostracods n.d.
Physical Characteristics of Rocks 1951, 1956
Porifera 1956
Radiolaria n.d.
Rock Structures n.d.
Species Problem n.d.
Stromatoporoidea 1956
Structural Geology 1957-59
Tertiary n.d.
Thickness of Beds n.d.
Triassic n.d.
Unconformities n.d.
Photographs 1927, n.d.
SERIES VI: WRITINGS
Scope and Contents of the Collection Collects Kierstead's publications, edited books drafts, and a diary.
"The Cambrian Stratigraphy of Eastern New York and Western New England 1935
Diary 1961
Field Report 1934
"Foraminifera Manuscript" n.d.
Kierstead Revision of Galloway Manual of Foraminifera 1961
Kierstead Revision of Galloway Manual of Foraminifera - Draft n.d.
Kierstead Revision of Galloway Manual of Foraminifera n.d.
Manual of Foraminifera Index 1964
Master's Thesis 1928
Miscellaneous Notes 1926, 1943
New England Geological Conference Guidebook n.d.
Planktonic Conference 1967
"Tertiary Foraminifera of Porto Rico" 1941