John S. Shelton photographs for Geology Illustrated , circa 1940s-1960s

Overview of the Collection

Photographer
Shelton, John S.
Title
John S. Shelton photographs for Geology Illustrated
Dates
circa 1940s-1960s (inclusive)
Quantity
4.20 cubic feet (10 boxes) including 3 drawings, 1 map, 787 photographic prints (black and white) and 1 transparency
Collection Number
PH2010-024
Summary
Photographic prints of images used by John S. Shelton for his 1966 book, Geology Illustrated
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

John Sewall Shelton was a geologist, pilot and photographer. He was born Sept. 2, 1913, in Hanover, New Hampshire. He was the oldest of three boys born to Henry Wood Shelton and Dorothy Camp Shelton. In 1923, the family moved to La Jolla, California. He was home-schooled until he entered the seventh grade at Francis Parker School. He graduated from La Jolla High School and went on to Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he majored in math and music. He was president of the Pomona College Men's Glee Club when it won a national competition in St. Louis. He graduated in 1935 and went on to earn a doctorate degree in geology from Yale. Returning to Pomona, he became the second faculty member in the college's geology department, and taught there from 1945 to 1960. He went on to serve as a scientific adviser to the American Geological Institute from 1962 to 1974, and was particularly active in the development of educational films about geology and geological concepts.

He learned to fly in the early 1940s and started taking aerial photographs of the earth's surface while piloting his own plane. His large collection of photographs taken throughout western North America are still used to teach geology nationwide. In the 1960s, he was a consultant for Encyclopedia Britannica Films and traveled around the world helping to make educational films. John Shelton died on July 24, 2008, at the age of 94.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Shelton's original aerial photographs of geological features and his use of them in the teaching of geology were important contributions to his field. His book, "Geology Illustrated" (1966), is the chief example of this use of photography. The importance of Shelton's work endures to the present, as declining air quality has made it impossible in many cases to take new photographs at the same level of clarity and detail.

In 1993, Shelton received the American Geological Institute's Legendary Geologist Award for "Outstanding Contribution to Public Understanding of Geology." Shelton's contributions to the Earth Science Curriculum Project also led to his receiving the Neil Miner Award from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers in 2002.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of photographic prints of most of the images used in Shelton's textbook, "Geology Illustrated." The aerial photographs for this book are supplemented with airbrush drawings composed by John's brother, cartographer and artist Hal Shelton. Some photographs are attached to transparencies with printed identifications and/or diagrams.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries. Some photographs in the collection are copyrighted to other photographers; restrictions may exist on these images.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Custodial History

This collection was at Pomona College before being transferred to University of Washington Special Collections in 2010.

Acquisition Information

Source: John Shelton family, 2010

Processing Note

Minimally processed.

Related Materials

The John Shelton Photographs (PH Coll 859) contains all of Shelton's photographs, slides, and negatives.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description
Box
1 Figures 7-18, 41-49, 52-53, 75-77, 100-101 and 251-256
2 Frontispiece and Figures 1-6, 19-40, 50-51 and 54-60
Figure 56 is missing.
3 Figures 63-74, 78-99 and 102-110
Figure 64 is missing.
4 Figures 111-150
Figures 126A and 126B are missing.
5 Figures 151-190
Figure 174 is missing.
6 Figures 191-230
Figure 211 is missing.
7 Figures 231-250 and 257-280
Figure 269 is missing.
8 Figures 281-322
Figure 293 is missing.
9 Figures 323-360
10 Figures 361-382
Figures 370 and 377 are missing.
folder:oversize
HC751 Figure 294

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Titles within the Collection

  • Geology illustrated

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Shelton, Hal (illustrator)