George L. Collie collection

Collection

Identifier: MC 37

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains letters, diaries, and manuscripts from George L. Collie and his peers. There is a large collection of his diaries ranging from 1874-1954. Well documented is his "Great Trip" from 1910-1911. The letters and diary entries from this trip and photocopied, and transcribed. There are a few photographs in the collection. There are various newspaper clippings and memorabilia from and about Collie. His scrapbook is very fragile and contains mostly newspaper clippings. The covers of the scrapbook were removed for storage purposes.

Correspondents include Frank Logan, W. Bradley Tyrrell, Myron T. Herrick, Benjamin Muse, Irving Maurer, Alonzo Pond, J. Theodore Marriner, G. Howland Shaw, Joseph Collie, M. A. Debruge, Arthur Henderson Smith, John Pitt Deane, Melvin Brannon, James A. Blaisdell, Carey Croneis, Edward S. Merrill, Jay N. (“Ding”) Darling, Katie Collie, and Lucius C. Porter, among others.

Dates

1874-1954

Creator

Collie, George L. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

George Lucius Collie, class of 1881, was the son of Joseph Collie, the first student to graduate Beloit College. In 1883, George Collie was hired as chair of the department of geology, after getting his Ph.D. from Harvard. He subsequently became curator of the Logan Museum of Anthropology's Rust Collection. In 1910-11, Collie went on one of his many trips abroad and traveled the world, visiting China, Japan, India, Africa, Europe, and many other places. Upon his return to the U.S. he continued working for Beloit College, and when the Logan Museum curator Ira M. Buell left his job in 1917, Collie jumped at the opportunity and was hired.

Collie was extremely committed to the Logan Museum. He believed that it would serve as a first-rate laboratory with its extensive collection of Native American artifacts and materials representing cultures from around the world. In fact, he played a part in obtaining hundreds of artifacts for the museum. After WWI (in which Collie served overseas with the YMCA), George Collie and Alonzo Pond, another Beloit College alumnus, made a three-week whirlwind tour of Europe and Algeria. Meeting with curators, dignitaries, counts, and governors, they sent packages home every few days.

Eventually Collie retired, with his last effort being organizing the first ever undergraduate field school which was an archaeological school that excavated southwestern Native American remains. Collie passed away in Beloit on January 7, 1955 at the age of 97.

Extent

4 Linear Feet (7 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains photocopies, originals, and transcription of diaries and letters George L. Collie kept. It also contains manuscripts from his memoirs and books, particularly "The Great Trip of 1910-1911". There is a large collection of his personal diaries, ranging from the years 1874-1954. One of Mrs. Collie's diaries is also present in the collection. The collection also contains letters to and from President Irving Maurer and Frank G. Logan as well as correspondence from the North African exhibition. There is also Collie's personal scrapbook filled with news clippings.