Charles H. Clapp papers, 1907-1935

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Clapp, C. H. (Charles Horace), 1883-1935
Title
Charles H. Clapp papers
Dates
1907-1935 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.7 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 773
Summary
Charles Horace Clapp was a geologist, professor of geology and mining, third president of the Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana, and fifth president of the State University at Missoula (now the University of Montana Missoula). These papers include his personal, professional, and presidential correspondence, speeches, subject files, teaching notes, lantern slides, maps, publications, photos, reports, and various materials from other geological projects with which he was involved.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Charles H. Clapp was born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 5, 1883. He received his B.A. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1905 and five years later he received his doctorate from the same school before studying at Harvard University. He served as an instructor in geology and mining and assistant state geologist for the University of North Dakota from 1905 to 1907. From 1907 to 1910 he was an instructor of geology and mining at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Beginning in 1913 he served as a professor of geology at the University of Arizona until he accepted a similar position at the Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana in 1916. In 1918, Clapp became president of the Montana School of Mines where he then helped establish the Montana State Bureau of Mines and Metallurgy in 1919.

In 1921, Clapp was made president of the State University at Missoula (now the University of Montana). Accomplishments during Clapp’s term as president of the University of Montana included increased enrollment of upper classmen, increased number of graduate students, initiation of Freshman Week, the creation of the School of Religion, and successful efforts to obtain federal funds for a Student Union building, the first government-financed project of its kind on an American college campus. Other campus construction during his term included the library, South Hall (now Elrod Dormitory), North Hall (now Brantley Hall), Corbin Hall, Shreiber gymnasium, the heating plant, and the forestry building.

Clapp maintained his interest in geology. As late as the 1930s his accomplishments in the field included a study of the granite mass known as the Idaho batholith in the Bitter Root and Sapphire ranges and a geologic survey of several sites proposed for a Chain of Lakes dam project north of Havre, Montana.

Charles H. Clapp and Mary R. Brennan married in 1911. They had eight children: Daniel Brennan, Michael Manson, Mary Lincoln, Francis Coyle, Lucy Ford, Prudence, Paul, and Margaret.

Clapp was diagnosed with a rare bacillary infection in October of 1934. Clapp died on May 9, 1935, while in still holding the office of university president.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The first four series of the Charles H. Clapp papers include personal, university, community, and state related correspondence, speeches, subject files, and miscellaneous materials that were mostly generated during Clapp’s term as president of the University of Montana-Missoula (then the State University at Missoula) from 1921 to 1935. A second group of materials, which was added to the collection after the first group was organized, contains additional personal and professional materials including lantern slides and a series of papers compiled by Clapp's son, Michael Clapp.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana-Missoula.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Charles H. Clapp Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is divided into four series:

Series I: General Correspondence, 0.4 linear ft., 1907-1935

Series II: Speeches and Writings, 0.1 linear ft., 1922-1934

Series III: Subject Files, 0.6 linear ft., 1911-1934

Series IV: Miscellaneous, 0.1 linear ft., 1908-1934

Series V: Personal, 2 folders, 1914-1933

Series VI: Presidential, 8 folders, 1924-1930

Series VII: Teaching Materials, 0.2 linear feet, 1915-1933

Series VIII: VIII Professional, 2.2 linear feet, 1909- 1934

Subseries 1: British Columbia Geological Study, 0.15 linear feet, 1908-1913

Subseries 2: Consulting Work for Jib Consolidated Mining Company, 3 folders, 1922-1928

Subseries 3: Coopers Lake Geological Work, 1 folder, 1931-1934

Subseries 4: Flathead Lake Geological Study, 2 folders, undated

Subseries 5: General Geological Correspondence, 4 folders, 1911-1934

Subseries 6: Milk River Storage Project, 0.25 linear feet, 1933-1934

Subseries 7: Miscellaneous Geological Materials, 0.95 linear feet, 1914-1934

Subseries 8: Montana Natural Resources, 0.3 linear feet, 1917-1928

Subseries 9: Montana Society of Engineers, 2 folders, 1924-1926

Series IX: Publications, Manuscripts, and Reports, 0.7 linear feet, 1910-1930

Series X: Materials Collected as Consulting Engineer US Bureau of Reclamation, 6 folders, 1926-1934

Series XI: Michael Clapp’s Hellgate-Quartzite-Lake Limestone Problem Papers, 2 folders, 1935

Custodial History

Chain of ownership is unknown.

Acquisition Information

Donation information is unknown

Processing Note

The materials from this collection were received in two separate donations. The materials from the first donation make up Series I-IV and were processed in 2010 by Teresa Hamann and Dale Johnson. The materials from the second donation were added to the already existing collection in 2013 to become Series V-XI. These materials were refoldered and but labeled with the same folder titles.

Related Materials

RG 01, Office of the President Records, also contains some of Charles H. Clapp's correspondence and other materials from his term as president of The University of Montana-Missoula.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  General Correspondence, 1907-1935Return to Top

0.4 linear feet
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
1907, 1918, 1920-1922
1/2
1923-1924
1/3
1925-1926
1/4
1927-1931
1/5
1932-1933
1/6
1934-1935

Series II:  Speeches and Writings, 1922-1934Return to Top

0.1 linear feet
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/7
1922
1/8
1924
1/9
1925
1/10
1928
1/11
1929
1/12
1930
1/13
1932
1/14
1934
1/15
undated
1/16
Incomplete copies
undated

Series III:  Subject files, 1911-1934Return to Top

0.6 linear feet
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/1
Alumni talks and dinners
1927-1934
2/2
Athletics and physical education
1925-1932
2/3
Boy Scouts
1924-1929
2/4
Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club
1922-1929
2/5
Economic situation
1933
2/6
Education, general
1925-1932
2/7
Extension course, elementary geology
undated
2/8
Extension course, mining geology
1919-1920
2/9
Faculty interview summaries regarding coaches
undated
2/10
Freshman week
1927-1932
2/11
Inagural addresses
1911-1922
2/12
Montana demographics
1930
2/13
Public schools
1924-1932
2/14
Religion and philosophy
1920-1931
2/15
Science and natural resources
1927-1934
3/1
Student questions
undated
3/2
Student talks and information
1925-1928
3/3
University talks
1933
3/4
Vocational guidance
1922-1928
3/5
Welcomes and Toastmaster
1927

Series IV:  Miscellaneous, 1908-1934Return to Top

0.1 linear feet
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/6
Insurance
1920-1934
3/7
Miscellaneous financial records
1926
3/8
Legal summons
1933
3/9
Certificates
1908-1927
3/10
The Montana Wrangler
1929

Series V:  Personal, 1914-1933Return to Top

2 folders

This series contains personal correspondence and miscellaneous items including greeting cards and event programs.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/1
Personal Correspondence
1914-1934
4/2
Miscellaneous
1926-1933

Series VI:  Presidential, 1924-1930Return to Top

8 folders

This series includes addresses and commencement addresses given to various institutions, correspondence related to presidential issues, and miscellaneous materials that include pamphlets of addresses given by other people.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/3
Addresses Dealing with Vancouver Island, British Columbia
undated
4/4
Addresses given to Butte Chapter of Montana Society of Engineers
December 4, 1925
4/5
Address given to Sigma Si in Pullman Washington and Moscow, Idaho
April 5, 1927
4/6
Commencement Addresses to other Institutions
1925-1930
4/7
Commencement Addresses for the University of Montana
1930-1934
4/8
Commencement Addresses Unknown
undated
4/9
Correspondence
1924-1927
4/10
Miscellaneous Materials for Commencements
undated

Series VII:  Teaching Materials, 1915-1933Return to Top

0.2 linear feet

This series includes material used by Clapp while he was working as a professor at the University of Arizona and the Montana School of Mines. Some of the material does also come from when Clapp served as President of the Montana School of Mines and the University of Montana. The material includes essay questions, exams, lectures, materials for summer field expeditions, and notes. Items in the English 11a Bulletin folder probably belonged to Clapp’s wife, Mary Brennan, who taught English.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/11
English 11a Bulletin
1919-1920
4/12
Essay Questions for Economic Geology Course
undated
4/13
Exam for Economic Geology
1920
4/14
Figures of the Earth Address and Notes
1932
4/15
Itineraries for Clark Fork and Rock Creek Field Work
1932
4/16
List of equipment
1932-1933
4/17
Materials for class in Geography and Natural Resources in Montana
undated
4/18
Memoranda and Correspondence relating to Summer Field Expeditions
1932
4/19
Miscellaneous class materials
1915-1919
4/20
Notes for Part I of Economic Geology Course
1917-1920
4/21
Notes for Part II of Economic Geology Course
1918
4/22
Reports of the summer field expeditions
1932-1933

Series VIII :  Professional, 1909-1934Return to Top

2.2 linear feet

This series has been broken up into nine subseries and includes a variety of materials from Clapp’s professional geological work. Major projects that generated a significant amount of material have been placed into individual subseries. Other smaller projects and studies may be found in Subseries 5, General Geological Correspondence, or Subseries 7, Miscellaneous.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: British Columbia Geological Study
0.15 linear feet
Materials from this subseries include maps and notes related to the geological study of British Columbia conducted by Clapp.
1908-1913
Box/Folder
4/23
Duncan Sheet of Vancouver Island, British Columbia
undated
4/24
Expense Vouchers on Vancouver Islands, Summers
1911-1913
4/25
Kyuquat Sound Notes
1913
4/26
Notes
1908
4/27
Miscellaneous Notes
1908
4/28
Rocks collected from the Saanich and Victoria map areas British Columbia
1910
4/29
Rocks collected for laboratory use from Southeastern Vancouver Island
June 1913
4/30
Rocks collected from the Nanaimo map-area
1911
4/31
Rocks collected from Southern Vancouver Island for laboratory study by C.H. Clapp
1909
4/32
Rocks collected from Vancouver Island, British Columbia
1908-1913
4/33
Rock Location Lists
undated
4/34
Saltspring Island Notes by John A. Allan
1909
Subseries 2: Consulting Work for Jib Consolidated Mining Company
3 folders
This subseries includes correspondence, maps, notes, and reports related to consulting work done by Clapp for the Jib Consolidated Mining Company.
1922-1928
Box/Folder
5/1
Correspondence and Notes about Jib Consolidated Mining Company
1923-1928
5/2
Correspondence and Notes about Jib Consolidated Mining Company
1924
5/3
Reports on Jib Consolidated Mining Company, Basin, Montana
1922-1924
Subseries 3: Coopers Lake Geological Work
1 folder
This subseries includes field notes, maps, and reports related to the geology of Coopers Lake.
1931-1934
Box/Folder
5/4
Field notes, map, and report relating to Cooper's Lake
1931-1934
Subseries 4 : Flathead Lake Geological Study
2 folders
This subseries includes a report and maps.
undated
Box/Folder
5/5
Flathead Lake: Location and Geology Report
undated
5/6
Maps of Flathead with Notes
undated
Subseries 5: General Geological Correspondence,
4 folders
This subseries includes correspondence regarding a variety of geological topics. Some news clippings and photos relating to the correspondence can also be found in this subseries.
1911-1934
Box/Folder
5/7
Geological Correspondence
1911-1924
5/8
Geological Correspondence
1925-1926
5/9
Geological Correspondence
1926-1928
5/10
Geological Correspondence
1928-1934
Subseries 6: Milk River Storage Project
0.25 linear feet
This subseries includes correspondence, drawings, maps notes, prints, and reports all related to the Milk River Storage Project.
1933-1934
Box/Folder
6/1
Correspondence
1933-1934
6/2
Notes for Milk River Storage Project
undated
6/3
Photostat prints
1933
6/4
Project Expenses
1933-1934
6/5
Reports for the Geology of the Milk River Storage Project
1933
6/6
Reports for Milk River Storage Project
1934
6/7
Corresponding Drawings D-559, D-560, D-561, D-562, D-563, D-564-1, D-564-2, and D-564-3
1924
6/8
Corresponding Drawings D-544-4, D-564-5, D-564-6, D-564-7, D-564-8, D-566-1 D-566-2, D-566-2, D-567-1, and D-567-2
1934
6/9
Corresponding Drawings D-567-3, D-568, D-571, D-572, and D-573
1934
6/10
Topography Maps with Notes of Chouteau County Kremlin Quadrangle
undated
Subseries 7: Miscellaneous Geological Materials
0.95 linear feet
This subseries contains a bibliography, brochures, clippings, field note, government bulletins and memorandums, lantern slides, maps, photos, and publications.
1914-1934
Box/Folder
6/11
Bibliography of Western Montana
undated
6/12
Claude Maurice Langton's Thesis Geology of the Northeastern Part of the Idaho Batholith and Adjacent Region in Montana, Maps, and field notes
1934
6/13
Field Notes Judith Mountains
1918
6/14
Field Notes on Traverses East of Missoula
1934
Box
10
Lantern Slides
undated
Box/Folder
6/15
Lee Kennedy's field Notes on a Survey Conducted for Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology under the direction of C.H. Clapp
1934
6/16
Manuscript on Camping
undated
6/17
Materials from Board of Surveys and Maps of Federal Government
1928-1929
6/18
Material Presented at Montana Round Table Conference on Land Utilization
1932
7/1
Miscellaneous clippings, notes, and brochures
undated
7/2
Miscellaneous Government Bulletins
1930
7/3
Miscellaneous Maps from California and North Dakota
undated
7/4
Miscellaneous Memorandums from Department of Interior
1929-1932
7/5
Miscellaneous Notes from Bear Paw Mountains, Tapia Mining District and Castle Mountain
1917
7/6
Miscellaneous photos
undated
7/7
Miscellaneous Travel Expenses
undated
7/8
Montana Map with Notes
undated
7/9
Photos of Philipsburg Quad
undated
7/10
Photos taken near Sun River and White Ridge Montana
undated
7/11
Satirical Geological Brochures
1929-1931
7/12
State Geologists and Other Cooperating Staff, County, and City Officials
1931-1934
7/13
U.S. Geological Survey Loose-Leaf Field Notebook
Fall 1914
Subseries 8: Montana Natural Resources
0.3 linear feet
This series contains materials from an original folder labeled Montana Natural Resources. Items include clippings, correspondence, and reports all relating to Montana natural resources.
1917-1928
Box/Folder
7/14
Anaconda Copper Mining Company Correspondence and Report
1922
7/15
Bitterroot Valley Irrigation District
undated
7/16
Chromite Deposits on the Boulder river
1918-1922
7/17
Chromite Deposits in Cherry Peak Mineral Belt
undated
7/18
Clippings relating to Montana Natural Resources
undated
7/19
Montana Mineral Resources
1917-1926
7/20
Montana Oil Resources
undated
7/21
Preliminary Report on Placer Property Located on Hughes Creek Ravalli County Montana by I.S. Proctor
1919
7/22
Report of the Montana Power
1926
7/23
Report on the Ogden Group of Claims in Powell County, Montana by H.D. Morse
1926
7/24
The Kevin-Sunburst and other Oil and Gas Fields of the Sweetgrass Arch by Eugene S. Perry
1928
Subseries 9: Montana Society of Engineers,
2 folders
This subseries contains membership lists and reports of the Montana Society of Engineers.
1924-1926
Box/Folder
8/1
Member List and Program
1925-1926
8/2
Reports
1924-1926

Series IX :  Publications, Manuscripts, and Reports, 1910-1930Return to Top

0.7 linear feet

This series includes books, manuscripts, and reports all written by Clapp.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
8/3
A Comparison of the Contact Deposits of Vancouver Island, British Columbia and Arizona by C.H. Clapp
undated
8/4
A Comparison of the Contact Deposits of the Vancouver Island and Adjacent Islands, British Columbia and Arizona by C.H. Clapp
undated
8/5
Analcite Tunguaite
undated
8/6
Contact Deposits of Vancouver Island, British Columbia: Introduction and General Geology
undated
8/7
Copper Deposits of the Dorothy Group, Whitehall District, Montana
1919
8/8
Copper Deposits of the East Sooke Peninsula, Vancouver Island, British Columbia with special Reference to the Copper King Group
1917
8/9
Copper Deposits of the Tormey Group of Claims in Lemhi, Idaho Reports and Notes
1919
8/10
Geology of a Portion of the Rocky Mountains of Northwestern Montana
undated
8/11
Geology of the Igneous Rocks of Essex County, Massachusetts by C.H. Clapp
undated
8/12
Greendale Property in Butte, Montana
1917-1926
8/13
International Geological Congress Guidebook: Western Montana
undated
8/14
Mineral Resources of Castle District Montana
1917
8/15
Montana Peerless Mining Company in Rimini Montana Reports and Mine Exploration Notes
1917
8/16
Nabob Silver -Lead Company in Kellogg, Idaho Report and Notes
1924-1925
8/17
Report to East Butte Copper Company
1919
8/18
Report on the Combination Mine, Phillipsburg Area, Montana
1929
8/19
Report on Rose Mountain Mining Claims, Phillipsburg, Montana
1930
9/1
Sooke and Duncan Map-Areas, Vancouver Island by C.H. Clapp With Sections on the Sicker Series and the Gabbros of East Sooke and Rocky point by H.C. Cooke
1917
9/2
The Igneous Rocks of Essex County Massachusetts-Abstract of Thesis
1910
9/3
Vermilion Silver and lead Mining Company Reports
1922

Series X:  Materials Collected as Consulting Engineer US Bureau of Reclamation, 1926-1934Return to Top

6 folders

This series contains reports on a variety of geological topics that were originally in a folder labeled Work as a Consulting Engineer.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/4
The American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers Geology and Engineering for Dams and Reservoirs
undated
9/5
Geology of Reservoir and Dam Sites with a report on the Owyhee Irrigation Project, Oregon by Kirk Bryan
1929
9/6
Preliminary list of Reports on Water-Power Resources prepared by the United States Geological Survey by Benjamin Jones
1934
9/7
Reports to Bureau of Reclamation on Geology of Gibson Dam Site
1926
9/8
Results of Resistivity Measurements at Three Dam Sites in Oregon by E.E. Jones ,Conservative Branch, U.S. Geological Survey
April 1934
9/9
Supplemental Index to River Surveys made by the United states Geological Survey and Other Agencies by Benjamin Jones
May 1934

Series XI:  Michael Clapp’s Hellgate-Quartzite-Lake Limestone Problem Papers, 1935Return to Top

2 folders

The materials in this series include Michael Clapp’s, son of C.H. Clapp, drawings, field notes, photo negatives, and a rock specimen catalog all relating to the Hellgate Quartzite-Lake Limestone Problem.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/10
Hellgate Quartzite-Lake Limestone Problems measured and observed sections and rock specimen catalog
undated
9/11
Michael M. Clapp’s Field Notes on Hellgate Quartzite-Lake Limestone Problems
1935

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Clapp, C. H. (Charles Horace), 1883-1935--Archives

Corporate Names

  • State University of Montana (Missoula)--Presidents--Archives
  • University of Montana--Missoula--Presidents--Archives

Occupations

  • College presidents--Montana--Missoula
  • Geologists--Montana--Missoula