Arthur R. Marshall, Jr. Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS Group 073

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Marshall Papers consist of manuscripts and printed texts of his writings, correspondence, documents from numerous government and private organizations, and secondary material documenting his own efforts and his interest in protecting and restoring Florida's environment. Although there are papers from all three phases of Marshall's career, the bulk are from the periods when he was at the University of Miami and his nominal retirement years. It appears that Marshall was planning a book on general ecology for which he had saved sources, often marking them with subject descriptors and sometimes with the term "Book." Some brief manuscript fragments for such a book are preserved.

In addition to the areas already noted, other subjects with significant involvement include papers relating to the South Florida, particularly the problem of water-flow restoration, the Everglades Jetport, Big Cypress Swamp, the Cross Florida Barge Canal, details of his involvement with the two water management districts, state government, and environmental organizations, especially the Florida Defenders of the Environment and the Florida Wildlife Federation, his appointment with the University of Miami, awards received, and consultation for Florida Power and Light and others. Nat Reed, one time assistant secretary of the Interior, is extensively represented, especially with regards to south Florida, in the papers. Marjory Stoneman Douglas is represented through a group of letters. Hydrologist Garald G. Parker, ecologists George Cornwell, folk singer Jessie Freeling, and writer Polly Redford, are among others whose work is included in the papers. Also included is a copy of a typed manuscript, Florida's Land Crisis, by Luther Carter, an early version of his Florida Experience (1972). Documents from several conferences in which Marshall participated, including the 1975 Earth Care Conference in New York, may be found. Marshall apparently kept almost no copies of his own correspondence, so most of the letters are ones received by him.

Dates

Creation: 1943-2014
Creation: Majority of material found within 1954 - 1985

Creator

Marshall, Arthur R., Jr., 1919-1985. (Person)

Access

The collection is open for research.

Biographical/Historical Note

Art Marshall was born March 2, 1919, in Charleston, S.C., but grew up in South Florida. He served in the Florida National Guard and the U.S. Army during World War II. Marshall received a B.S. degree from the University of Florida in 1953, and a M.S. from the University of Miami in 1956. Following the completion of his formal education he worked for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for fifteen years as a biologist and an administrator. Upon retirement from Fish and Wildlife, he joined the faculty of the University of Miami as Director of the Division of Applied Ecology and Professor (1970-73). He moved to Interlachen, Fl., in 1974. He served as visiting faculty at the University of Florida, worked as an environmental consultant, and was an environmental activist. He died Feb. 18, 1985, in Gainesville. During his career, Marshall served as a member of the Governing Board of the Central and South Florida Flood Control District and as chairman of the St. Johns River Water Management District board. He received numerous awards for his environmental activities, which as a private citizen were concentrated upon restoration of natural water flow in South Florida, from the Kissimmee River basin to the Everglades.

An endowed chair, the Arthur R. Marshall, Jr. Professor of Ecological Sciences, was created in his honor at the University of Florida and the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, near Palm Beach, was renamed for Marshall. A file pertaining to the endowed chair may be found in the Archie Carr Papers.

1919 Born Charleston, South Carolina
1925 Moved with family to Palm Beach
1946 Honorably discharged, U.S. Army
1953 B.S., University of Florida
1956 M.S. University of Miami
1955-1969 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biologist and Administrator
1970-1973 Director of the Division of Applied Ecology and Professor, University of Miami
1972-1973 Governing Board, Central and South Florida Flood Control District
1973-1974 Urban and Regional Development Center, University of Florida
1974-1975 Chairman, Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District
1985 Died, Feb. 18

1919
: Born Charleston, South Carolina
1925
: Moved with family to Palm Beach
1946
: Honorably discharged, U.S. Army
1953
: B.S., University of Florida
1956
: M.S. University of Miami
1955-1969
: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biologist and Administrator
1970-1973
: Director of the Division of Applied Ecology and Professor, University of Miami
1972-1973
: Governing Board, Central and South Florida Flood Control District
1973-1974
: Urban and Regional Development Center, University of Florida
1974-1975
: Chairman, Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District
1985
: Died, Feb. 18

Extent

5.5 Linear feet (11 Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Manuscripts, correspondence, and other papers of a biologist/ecologist regarding the restoration of water flow in South Florida and other environmental issues.

Arrangement

The Papers are organized in the following manner: published and unpublished writings, correspondence, papers regarding awards received by Marshall, South Florida Papers regarding the Kissimmee River basis, Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades, including the Holey Land and Rotenberger Tract, the south Florida water conservation areas and canals, the Everglades National Park, and the proposed Everglades Jetport. The remainder are organized alphabetically, either by personal, corporate, or place name, or by subjects.

Physical Location

University of Florida Smathers Library Building

Acquisition Information

The Papers were donated to the University of Florida Foundation for the use of the University Libraries by Marshall's wife, Kathlene A. Eppen Marshall, in 1991. The 1998 Addendum materials were sent to the Department of Special Collections in May, 1998, by Mike Marshall who received them from an unknown source. The 2016 addition was donated by Robert D. Holt from the Arthur R. Marshall, Jr. Foundation for the Everglades after it closed its operations.

Related Material

The University of Florida Smathers Libraries holds several other collections related to Florida environmental issues, including the papers of Archie Carr, Nathaniel P. Reed, and the Florida Defenders of the Environment.

Processing Notes

For the most part, the folder headings and contents are as Marshall maintained them. However, most of the papers relating to the south Florida ecosystem were received in an unorganized state. Secondary materials which did not reflect Marshall's own participation, or did not relate significantly to issues on the Florida environment were weeded from the Papers.

Finding aid was updated in March 2019 to include a 2016 addition from the Arthur R. Marshall Jr. Foundation for the Everglades.