Utah, 1915-1917

File — Box: 7, Volume: 33

Identifier: II

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Douglass worked at the dinosaur quarry in Jensen, Utah.

25 October 1915--"I had surmised that we might find 'a nest' of skeletons here and it still looks favorable.
"I am agreeably surprised to find the bones in such good shape. They are better than I had thought that they were--in fact it looks as if they would leave little to be wished. And when we realize how rare they are! So rare that if we get a complete skeleton it will be the only one in ex-instance, though the Field Museum has the greater part of a skeleton except the limbs. After finding so many skulls and so little skeletal material it is refreshing and exhilarating to find such things."
28 October 1915--"It is reported in the papers that our Dinosaur Quarry has been proclaimed a National Monument. I do not know what the outcome will be but it will effect the Museum and us personally. . . . Here is one of the greatest curiosities in the world--a burying ground of the huge prehistoric beasts of a long distant age. It is a combination of fortunate circumstances that they have been buried, preserved and again unveiled to us.
"How appropriate that they or part of them be exposed in relief as they were buried, to show the tragedy of their death and to reveal something of their lives and surroundings.
"How appropriate to build a fair sized building over them to protect them, to have this a thing of substantial beauty modeled after nature, to have this large enough to contain related fossils and other curiosities, geological sections, explanatory descriptions, pictures, paintings to represent scenes in the age in which they lived, a library with books throwing light on the geology of the region etc. etc. Anything to attract in the right direction, to interest, to help to appreciate nature and her wonderful ways!
"I cannot think that this means any ill to us though there may be a limit to taking out bones. It may be just what we long have wished."
10 November 1915--"It seems that the sandstone [at dinosaur quarry] in which we find the bones rests in an old river channel worn in the lighter colored bedded[?] deposits underneath. The latter must be lake or swamp deposits. Part of them seem to be pretty evenly stratified--harder thicker compact layers with softer thinner layers between.
"The river deposits are thicker bedded[?] below. The rock cleans away easily above and below the bone layer. The first skeleton was in one thickened layer. The second is somewhat different--a thinner layer on top breaking into some of the bone. There are apparently more dark noduler substances around the latter. The latter seems more disturbed also. The layer or layers above the bones swell--thickening upward in places."
17 November 1915--"I think it is the best find [dinosaur skeleton] of the kind ever found in the Uinta. I am certainly glad to get these specimens and Carnegie Museum is fortunate."
21 November 1915--"I do not 'stick to' things until I complete them. I am great at beginning, to be as great at completing!"
27 July 1917--"Went by where Si Perkins lives. Ragged unloved, degraded in a way. Yet in some things half envy him, living alone and all time to himself. But I would not leave loved ones long. Wish we all could have a rest, and not have to struggle and worry all the time."
30 July 1917--"Stopped to see wonderful view of Uinta Bad Land.
"A wilderness of bold cyclopean forms. High square faced mesas, perhaps sloped on one side.
Huge uneven walls as of Vast city in ruins. Seems no life now.
"Innumerable buttresses, square towers, dizzy shadowed lights."

Dates

1915-1917

Language of Materials

From the Collection: Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.