Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
MS 13
Margaret J. Black
Papers, 1933-1972, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Black, Margaret J. |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1933-1972, undated |
| extent: | 1.88 linear feet (4 document boxes and one half document box) |
| collection number: | MS 13 |
| repository: | Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Margaret J. Black Papers, MS 13, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
Margaret J. Black graduated with a two-year Junior College Degree (1922) and then received her B.A. in education from the University of Northern Iowa (1926). She received her Master of Science degree from Drake University. Between 1922 and 1927 she taught school in College Springs, Clarinda and then Newton, Iowa. She later taught in the Des Moines Public Schools. In 1938 she became Assistant Professor of Education in Field Science at Drake University, where she remained until she retired in 1967. Throughout her career she taught students to value conservation. Her teaching was based "on the philosophy that life is of supreme importance, that plants, animals and mineral matter are closely interrelated and that man reaches his full height of development as he finds his place of responsibility in the over-all plan of life." Black was co-editor of Conservation Source Book, Iowa State University Press, 1962, and served on the State Preserves Advisory Board. For her contributions to conservation she has been the recipient of numerous awards. Among these awards is the Izaak Walton League's Conservation Award in 1960 for originating, planning, directing and fostering the Children's Forest Project in Des Moines. In 1967 she was named conservation educator of the year by the Iowa Wildlife Federation, Inc. In 1968 she was given the Drake Alumni Distinguished Service Award and during the same year was chosen for the Iowa Conservation Hall of Fame award by the Iowa Chapter of the Wildlife Society for outstanding contributions to conservation. |
Collection description
This collection (1938-1971) primarily documents Margaret Black’s career in science education and conservation. The collection contains correspondence, lecture notes, student term papers, her master's thesis, student conservation projects and newspaper clippings on Margaret Black and conservation. |
Organization
The collection is organized into four series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Correspondence | 1939-1971 |
| extent: | 0.3 linear feet | |
| description: | Includes correspondence with the Iowa Conservation Education Council, the Iowa Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, the Soil Conservation Service. Topics include Drake University summer radio show, Iowa State Teachers Association, Des Moines Department of Public Instruction, Elementary Science Conference, Plant Iowa Committee, Iowa Geological Survey, state preserves, the Izaak Walton League, awards, and congratulatory letters. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Outgoing correspondence |
1939-1966 |
1 |
2 |
Incoming correspondence, Iowa Conservation Education Council |
1959-1970 |
1 |
3 |
Incoming correspondence, Nature Conservancy (Iowa Chapter) |
1965-1970 |
1 |
4 |
Incoming correspondence, Soil Conservation service |
1941-1970 |
1 |
5 |
Incoming correspondence (includes correspondence related to Drake University summer radio show, Iowa State Teachers Association, Des Moines Department of Public Instruction, Elementary Science Conference, Plant Iowa Committee, and Iowa Geological Survey) |
1935-1969 |
1 |
6 |
Incoming correspondence, general (includes correspondence on State Preserves and Izaak Walton League) |
1960-1969 |
1 |
7 |
Incoming correspondence relating to awards |
1957-1968 |
1 |
8 |
Congratulatory letters |
1942-1971 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Biographical Material | 1948-1971 |
| extent: | 0.1 linear feet | |
| description: | This series contains materials about honors and awards given to Black as well as newspaper clippings. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
9 |
Honors and awards |
1955-1968 |
1 |
10 |
Clippings |
1948-1971, undated |
Description of series
| Series 3 | Course Materials | 1934-1966 |
| extent: | 0.5 linear feet | |
| description: | This series contains materials related to Black's teaching activities, including teaching notes, source materials, and evaluations. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
2 |
1 |
Education 139, teaching notes, data, references, and lectures |
1948-1965, undated |
2 |
2 |
Science 107, conservation course data |
1934-1966, undated |
2 |
3 |
Outdoor Education |
1950-1962, undated |
2 |
4 |
Outdoor Education - Springbrook |
1955 |
2 |
5 |
Outdoor Education - Children's Forest, Ewing Park, Des Moines, Iowa |
1963 |
2 |
6 |
Outdoor Education - Lake Ahquabi Field Trip workshop, Hooper area (13 3x3 b/w photographs) |
1954 |
2 |
7 |
Science 52 teaching materials |
undated |
3 |
6 |
Science course 51 and 52 |
undated |
2 |
8 |
Maps for study purposes: outline, topographical, tactical, hand drawn |
undated |
2 |
9 |
Student source materials (conservation articles) |
1949-1964 |
2 |
10 |
Evaluations (includes student expressions on values of outdoor education) |
undated |
3 |
1 |
Student term papers |
1952-1966, undated |
3 |
2 |
Conservation clippings |
1946-1965 |
Description of series
| Series 4 | Writings | 1933-1972 |
| extent: | 1 linear foot | |
| description: | This series contains writings by Margaret Black, her students, and others. The series includes Margaret Black’s Master’s thesis, curriculum materials and course materials. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
3 |
3 |
Des Moines Public Schools, General Science, Grades III to VI inclusive |
1933 |
3 |
4 |
Des Moines Public Schools Curriculum Bulletin, General Science, Grades VII-IX (Copy 1) |
1937 |
3 |
5 |
Des Moines Public Schols Curriculum Bulletin, General Science, Grades VII-IX (Copy 2) |
1937 |
3 |
7 |
Criticism by Margaret Black of Survey of Science, by Powers, Neuner, Bruner (text); Conservation Source Book by Iowa Conservation Education Council |
1965, undated |
3 |
8 |
Critical review of "Ding" Darling Article |
undated |
3 |
9 |
Science curriculum changes |
1936-1940 |
3 |
10 |
Report of work on conservation of Iowa resources as carried out by IX grade General Science class at Callanan Junior High, Des Moines |
1938 |
4 |
1 |
Master’s Thesis, Drake University |
1946 |
4 |
2 |
Thesis notes and rough draft |
undated |
5 |
1 |
Callanan School (Des Moines), conservation project material |
undated |
5 |
2 |
Callanan School (Des Moines), conservation project scrapbook clippings and pictures |
1938-1939, undated |
5 |
3 |
Recorded Conservation Program by IX graders |
1939 |
5 |
4 |
Notebook I: Report of Iowa Conservation: Callanen Junior High Grade IX (includes Ding Darling dedication) |
1938 |
5 |
5 |
Notebook II |
1938 |
5 |
6 |
Correspondence concerning notebooks |
1972 |