Marbut, Curtis Fletcher (1863-1935), Papers, 1901-1943, 1981-1983 (C3721)

.5 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

The personal and professional papers of C. F. Marbut, a geology professor at University of Missouri, 1895-1910, and soil scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1910-1935, include correspondence, estate and financial records, photographs, notes, architectural drawings and specifications, and ephemeral materials. See also collection 3720, the Curtis Fletcher Marbut Papers, 1852-1963.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Marbut Papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Philip Marbut Moomaw on 12 October 1984 (Accession No. 4589).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Born and raised in the rural poverty of an Ozark farming family, C.F. Marbut rose to become an eminent scientist, a cofounder of modern soil science. He received his initial education in a one room school, but later obtained a B.S. degree from the University of Missouri in 1889 and did graduate work in geology at Harvard from 1893 to 1895. From 1895 to 1910 Marbut taught geology and physiography at the University of Missouri, meanwhile finding time also to work for the Missouri Geological Survey and to direct the Missouri Soil Survey.

In 1910 he left Missouri to serve as a soil scientist for the U.S. Bureau of Soils, remaining at the bureau for the rest of his life. Constantly on the move attending conferences, lecturing at universities, directing field trips all over the globe, and serving on countless committees and commissions, Marbut steadily grew in stature among his colleagues, winning honors and awards from scientific organizations for his brilliant work and numerous publications. Marbut's mandatory retirement from the civil service after age seventy was twice waived by President Franklin D. Roosevelt due to his exceptional service, and the scientist was still in harness when he died during a field trip to China in August 1935.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

These materials supplement collection 3720, a larger group of Marbut's papers. Arranged by form of materials and then chronologically, the collection consists mostly of correspondence regarding Marbut's personal business concerns. These include the management of his southwest Missouri farm and the building of his house there, as well as the settling of his father's estate from 1910 through 1912, and the renting of his former home in Columbia, Missouri. Papers pertaining to Marbut's family life or career appear only occasionally.

Marbut's efforts to manage his farm in Barry County, Missouri, from afar resulted in frequent and detailed correspondence about the farm between himself, his brother Ethel Marbut, hired hands, sharecroppers, and tenants. From selling fruit to maintaining farm equipment, the rigors of Ozark farming in the first third of the twentieth century are clear in this series of letters. Other topics include the construction of Marbut's cape cod-style house on his farm during 1934 and 1935, his activity as executor of his father's estate from 1910 to 1912, the renting and upkeep of his former home in Columbia, Missouri, stock and bond investments in the 1920s and 1930s, and the general impact of the Great Depression on southwest Missouri. There are also a few comments intermixed concerning Marbut's family; particularly interesting are a series of letters discussing his sister's bout with mental illness in 1932 and 1933.

The financial papers consist of Marbut's federal income tax returns for 1924, 1927, 1932, and 1933, as well as a handwritten statement by him, "Property owned and indebtedness at present time," 17 April 1926. The real estate folder includes a 1901 contract to buy land in Columbia, Missouri, and various house, farm, and apartment leases. The Nathan T. Marbut estate records consist of correspondence, wills, settlement papers and related documents.

Field notes are typed on 5" x 8" cards and describe soil types at various midwestern locations. The cards are arranged alphabetically by state. The miscellaneous notes include a list of field operations by area and state for 1919-1921; Marbut's travel agenda in 1922; notes for Marbut's 1935 speech at the Third International Congress of Soil Science; and notes for an unidentified speech of lecture.

The programs are for various professional meetings and events. Oceanic travel miscellanea consists of passenger lists, menus, programs, and brochures from ocean liners that Marbut traveled on. Drawings and specifications for construction of Marbut's house in Barry County, Missouri, are in the papers as well as maps, flyers, brochures, photographs, and publications. A 1983 "Curriculum Vitae of Curtis Fletcher Marbut" and a 1983 letter from Frederick B. Marbut to Helen Marbut discussing family concerns and the conference held that year on C.F. Marbut complete the papers.

FOLDER LIST

f. 1-26	Correspondence, 1901, 1910-1935
f. 1	1901, 1910-1912
f. 2	1912-1915
f. 3	1915-1918
f. 4	1918-1919
f. 5	1919-1920
f. 6	1920-1922
f. 7	1922-1925
f. 8	1925-1926
f. 9	1926-1928
f. 10	1928-1930
f. 11	1930
f. 12	1931-1932
f. 13	1932
f. 14	1932-1933
f. 15-17	1933
f. 18	1933-1934
f. 19-23	1934
f. 24	1934-1935
f. 25-26	1935
f. 27	Financial papers, 1924-1933
f. 28	Real estate, 1901, 1919-1929
f. 29	Nathan T. Marbut estate records, 1910-1912
f. 30	Field notes, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio, c. 1917
f. 31	Miscellaneous notes, 1919-1922, 1935, n.d.
f. 32	Programs, 1914-1928
f. 33	Passports and entry visas, 1922-1923
f. 34-36	Oceanic travel miscellanea, 1922-1932
f. 37	House plans, 1934-1935
f. 38	Miscellaneous, 1905-1943, 1981-1983

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

• Agricultural laborers--Missouri
• Agriculture--Missouri, 1910s
• Agriculture--Missouri, 1920s
• Agriculture--Missouri, 1930s
• American Geographical Society
• Anti-Catholicism, 1930s
• Architecture--Designs and plans, 1930s
• Bank buildings, Missouri
• Cemetery Associations, Missouri
• Depressions, Economic, 1930s--Missouri
• Divorce
• Estate settlements, 1910s
• Factories--Indiana, 1930s
• First National Bank, Purdy, MO
• Fly Hardware & Implement Company, Monett, MO
• Hardware, 1930s
• Horticulture--Missouri
• Hotels, Kansas, 1930s
• Houses, 1930s
• Hughey, E. Marshall
• Intermarriage, Religious, 1930s
• Investments, 1920s
• Investments, 1930s
• Islam, Public Opinion, 1920s
• Lamport, L.A.
• Livestock, Missouri, 1910s
• Livestock, Missouri, 1930s
• Maps, China, 1905
• Marbut, Curtis Fletcher (1863-1935)
• Marbut, Edward Ethel
• Marbut, Frederick B. (1905- )
• Marbut, Helen (1899- )
• Marbut, Julian
• Marbut, Mollie
• Marbut, Nathan T.
• Marbut, Philip
• Marbut, Thomas Fiske (1894- )
• Marbut, Veronica
• Marbut, William Martin (1898- )
• Missouri, Barry County
• Missouri, Columbia, 1910s
• Missouri, Lawrence County
• Morlan, T.G.
• National Geological Survey of China, 1930s
• Neill, E.B. "Chester"
• Ocean travel, 1920s
• Ocean travel, 1930s
• Ozark Fruit Grower's Association
• Pesticides
• Pulverized Manure Company, Kansas City, MO
• Race relations, 1920s
• Real Estate, Missouri, 1910s
• Real Estate, Missouri, 1920s
• Real Estate, Missouri, 1930s
• Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, Fayette, MO
• Smith, Emma O.
• Smith-Catron-Evans Realty Company, Columbia, MO
• Soils, Illinois
• Soils, Indiana
• Soils, Kansas
• Soils, Missouri
• Soils, Ohio
• Soils, Research
• Soviet Union, 1930s
• Springfield Seed Company, Springfield, MO
• Thomas, D. Webster
• Wages--Agricultural
• Wages--Construction
• Walters, C.L.
• Watson Baptist Church, Watson, MO
• Weddings, 1930s