Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

MS 351
Katharine Kniskern Mather (1916-1991)
Papers, 1942-1997


Descriptive summary

creator:

Mather, Katharine Kniskern (1916-1991)

title:

Papers

dates:

1942-1997

extent:

0.84 linear ft. (2 document boxes)

collection number:

MS 351

repository:

Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Katharine Kniskern Mather Papers, MS 351, Archives of Women in Science and Engineering, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note

Katharine Mather received her A.B. (1937) in Geology from Bryn Mawr College and was a doctoral student in Geology (1937-1940) at John Hopkins. She was employed as a research assistant (1939) at John Hopkins; research associate (1940-1941) at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History; and a geologist (1942-1982) for the Army Corps of Engineers at the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi. There she served as the chief (1947-1976) of the petrography and x-ray branch in the Engineering and Science division of the Concrete Laboratory; chief (1976-1980) of the Engineering and Science division; and special technical assistant (1980-1982) in the Structures Laboratory. She received several recognitions of her work, including the Exceptional Service Award (1962); the Federal Woman's Award (1963); Distinguished Civilian Award (1964); and an award (1986) for her contributions to science from the Mississippi Academy of the Sciences. She is a fellow of the Mineral Society of America, the American Concrete Institute, the Clay Minerals Society, and Sigma Xi.

She also participated in the International Symposia on Chemistry Cement (1960-1986); co-authored Butterflies of Mississippi (1958); and was the editor (1960-1966) of the Journal of the Mississippi Academy of the Sciences. Katharine Mather married Bryant Mather, also a geologist with the Army Corps of Engineers in 1940 and she resided in Clinton, Mississippi with him until her death in 1991.

 

Collection description

This collection (1942-1997) contains correspondence, memorandum, job descriptions, military records (from the Army Corps of Engineers), biographical information, award nominations, publications, and passports.

A number of these papers pertain to Mather's nomination and receipt of the Federal Woman's Award and the Department of Army Decoration for Exceptional Service and includes her applications and references. Of special interest in the collection is a memorandum dated 1966 that discusses Katharine Mather being supervised by her husband Bryant Mather, and how this should be an exception to nepotism rules. The remainder of the collection records Mather's committee and programming work with the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc.

Also included in the collection are Mather's passports documenting her extensive travel, publications concerning her research on butterflies in Mississippi, and a draft copy of her article "Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete."

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical information, job descriptions, military records

1942-1956

1

2

Correspondence and memorandum

1952-1966

1

3

Federal Woman's Award nomination

1960-1963

1

4

Department of the Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service nomination

1960-1964

1

5

Publications: Butterflies of Mississippi, Butterflies of Mississippi: A Checklist (dedicated to Mather), Ex Libris

1958-1997

1

6

Passports

1964-1994

2

1

Professional correspondence, memoranda, reports

1950-1965

2

2

Correspondence and notes: "Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete"

1954-1963, n.d.

2

3

Edited draft: "Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete"

n.d.

2

4

Photographs (6- 5x7 b/w, 2- 5x9 b/w): "Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete" (see also negatives)

1954

2

5-7

Article review

1955-1959

2

8-11

Committee records (includes correspondence and program notes): American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc.

1952-1960