Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
David T. Mason Papers
Mason, David T., -- 1937-2015.
XOE_CPNWS0045mason
7 linear feet
1865-1999
1950-1999
The collection is comprised of notebooks, journals,
photographs, posters, programs, correspondence, reports, speeches and writings, clippings,
original scores of music, and publications documenting the academic work, research, and
interests of Fairhaven College professor David T. Mason.
English .
David T. Mason was born January 7, 1937 in Berkeley, California. His parents, Lucile
(Roush) Mason and Herbert Mason were renowned botanical scientists and longtime faculty at
the University of California, Berkeley and Davis. David T. Mason earned his Bachelor of Arts
in biology at Reed College in 1958. In 1961, David received a Master of Arts degree in
zoology at the University of California, at Davis, where he went on to complete a PhD in
Limnology in 1966. Soon after receiving his doctorate, David became an associate professor
of Biology at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
David integrated teaching and research with theatrical productions and creative writing.
He was actively involved in producing and directing plays, and creating musical scores for
countless Friends of Fairhaven Theater productions. He became especially well known for his
performance art piece, "Blue Baroque."
As a much beloved professor at Fairhaven College, Mason taught a wide variety of
inter-disciplinary classes including basic biology and ecology theory and practice. Among
the very few publicly 'out' gay male teachers in the mid 1960s, David also created one of
the first gay and lesbian studies classes in the Pacific Northwest. He was also well known
for his theater courses and performances. Of particular note are his "Orpheo," "Dictionary"
and "Opera" classes. David emphasized experiential learning. Classes such as the 'Lynden
Recycling Project' helped increase awareness about the importance of recycling. Students in
his gay studies class were invited to learn about gay culture by touring the local gay bar.
'The Course of the Stream' encouraged students to study natural habitats along rivers and
streams in Whatcom County.
During the late 1960s through 1980s, David pursued various research and activist projects,
and was awarded a Fulbright fellowship in 1973, which took him to Uruguay to pursue his
environmental research. The Uruguay experience culminated in a series of traveling lectures
and multimedia slideshows on environmental concerns which David presented to audiences as
varied as learned biology scholars and school children. His sabbaticals and research trips
took him mainly to the Alaskan arctic to study the effects of crude oil on natural habitats.
His major research interests ranged from limnology studies of Mono Lake in California, and
Antarctica, the impacts of sewage treatment and heavy metals on natural bodies of water in
the arctic and the Pacific Northwest, and habitat studies along the lower Stehekin River, to
ecological effects on plants and animals along the Nooksack River and Lake Abert in Oregon.
He also studied the release of chemicals in Bellingham Bay by Georgia-Pacific mill. David
produced numerous articles and research papers both published and unpublished for
educational presentations and traveling multi-media slideshows.
The David T. Mason Papers reflect the varied interests and research pursuits of this
beloved Fairhaven professor and include a small portion of materials relating to the lives
of his parents, Lucille (Roush) and Herbert Mason.
Family and Personal papers contains correspondence, photographs and background information
about Mason and his immediate family. The Mason and Roush family photographs date from
approximately 1865 to the middle of the 1900s and document Herbert Mason's research
expeditions to the arctic during the early 1900s, Yosemite National Park field school,
Stanford and Berkeley, California, as well as a host of botanical and geological locations.
This series documents his school and formative years, including his experimentation with LSD
in the mid 1960s, teaching and scholarly pursuits, and ongoing contact with family, male and
female lovers, and friends.
Records pertaining to Mason's education and career comprise the core of his collection,
including samples of course materials (lectures and notes) from classes he taught at Western
Washington University and at Fairhaven College from the 1970s through the 1990s. Course
materials include a clippings file from Mason's Gay Studies class from the early 1970s, as
well as handwritten lectures from popular and well-attended biology and ecology classes.
Education and Career records also contains project notes, data, published, and unpublished
research papers about various sites Mason explored including the Alaskan Arctic, Mono Lake
and other sites in California, the Stehekin River in Whatcom County, Washington, and
Georgia-Pacific mill among others as well as correspondence and reports from Mason's
sabbaticals and Fulbright travels.
This collection also contains speeches, lectures, publications and letters of appreciation
regarding Mason's popular and dynamic traveling multi-media slideshows. The collection
contains scripts and musical compositions from Friends of Fairhaven Theater productions in
which Mason played the vital roles of producer, director, actor and musician. Writings and
Art contain samples of Mason's creative writing, drawings, musings, and include several
one-of-a-kind local gay publications.
The David T. Mason Papers are organized according to the following series:
- Series 1: Family and Personal Records, 1865-1998
- Series 2: Education and Career, 1960-1999
- Series 3: Theatre, 1970-1998
- Series 4: Writings and Art, 1960-1997
The collection is open to the public.
David T. Mason Papers, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives
& Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.
David T. Mason donated his papers to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in 2001.
Lisa Cohen processed the David Mason Papers for the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in
2002. The collection was re-engineered by Patrice Davis and Victor Burgett in 2005, and by
Caitlan Maxwell in 2006. Robyn Adcox merged in additional material in 2015.
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Mason, David
T.,--1967-2015--Archives.
Mason, David T.,--1937-2015.--Blue
baroque.
Fairhaven
College--History--Sources.
Stehekin River
(Wash.)--History--Sources.
Alaska--History--Sources.
Uruguay--Environmental conditions--Study and
teaching--History--Sources.
Education, Higher--Washington
(State)--Bellingham--History--Sources.
Community education--Washington
(State)--Bellingham--History--Sources.
Gay and lesbian studies--Washington
(State)--Bellingham--History--Sources.
Environmentalism--Study and teaching--Washington
(State)--Bellingham--History--Sources.
Recycling centers--Washington
(State)--Lynden--History--Sources.
Theater--Study and teaching--Washington
(State)--Bellingham--History--Sources.
Limnology--California--Mono Lake
(Calif.)--History--Sources.
Arts and Humanities
Sexuality
Fisheries and Wildlife
Science
Environmental Conditions
Colleges and Universities
Performing arts
Records (Documents)
Personal and Family Papers
Series I
circa
1865-2004
Personal Papers
1937-2004
Transcripts, resumes, vitae
1961-1980s
1
1
Correspondence
Incoming
Loline Hathaway to David T. Mason
1956-1967
1
2
M.S. to David T. Mason
1957-1960
1
3
Jonathan Hough to David T. Mason
1957-1968
1
4
Bernie Oordt to David T. Mason
1968-1969
English.
1
5-6
Chuck ___ to David T. Mason
1973-1977
1
7
Thomas Belfield to David T. Mason
1975
1
8
Various
1955-1998
1
9
Outgoing
David T. Mason to Loline Hathaway
1956-1961
1
10
David T. Mason to Jonathan Hough
1957-1967
1
11
David T. Mason to Bernie Oordt
1968-1969
1
12
David T. Mason to Lucile Mason and Herbert
Mason
1972-1974
1
13
Various
1956-1977
1
14
Notes and clippings concerning LSD
use
1966-1969
1
15
Chuckanut Village and other
properties
1970-1972, 1986
1
16
Berkely High School Yearbook
1954
1
17
UC Berkely High School Reunion
1979
1
18
Photographs
Baby album
1937-1939
1
19
Loose baby photos
1937-1939
1
20
Childhood
circa 1939-1950
1
21
Childhood
undated
1
College
1954-1956; circa 1958-1966
English.
1
22-23
Adult
circa 1963-1991
1
24
Friends
circa 1960s-1990s
1
25
Seattle Gay Pride Parade
circa 1980
1
26
Nature photographs
undated
1
27
Trip to Japan
undated
1
28
Family Papers
circa
1865-1990s
Correspondence
1939-1955
1A
1
Clippings Herbert and Lucile Mason
1931-1932;, 1946; 1972; 1989
1A
2
Notebooks
circa 1940; 1970; 1971; 1974; 1975
1A
3
Family datebooks
1970, 1971, 1975, undated
1A
4
Childhood music notebook
1944
1A
5
Herbert and Lucile Mason
1931-1969
1A
6
Family and friends
circa 1919-1960s
1A
7
"In Memoriam: Herbert Mason"
1994
1A
8
Photographs
Adult
circa 1920s-1990s
2
1
Family and friends
circa 1920s-1963
2
2
World War I
circa 1917
2
3
Alaska and Inuit
circa 1931
2
4
California, Washington, and Oregon
1918-1946
2
5
Miscellaneous
circa 1920-1964
English.
2
6-7
Lucile (Roush) Mason
Childhood
1896-1914
2
8
School years
1912- circa 1933
English.
2
9-10
Adult
1942-1973
2
11
Amelia (Gunther) Roush (mother)
circa 1912-1920s
2
12
Thomas Roush (father)
circa 1865-1934
2
13
Family and friends
circa 1912-1964
2
14
Travel Photographs
Yosemite National Park
1916-1939
2
15
Stanford and Berkeley, California
circa 1916-1932
2
16
Education and Career
Series II
circa
1960-1999
Course Materials
1960-1999
Biology 402 class notes and lectures
1966-1993
2
17
Biology 325 Connelly Creek project, stream studies,
and "South Spur of Sehome Hill"
circa 1989
2
18
Communication One and one real (Super 8
film)
circa 1970s
2
19
Gay Studies Class
Articles and handouts
1964-1999
English.
2
20-21
Gay Academic Union pamphlets, brochures, chapter
starter kit, conference notes
1974, 1978, 1979
2
22
National Gay Task Force information
1977
2
23
Gay Academic Union Journal, Gai Saber 1, no.1-2, (1977), and 1 no.3-4 (1978)
1977-1978
2
24
Clippings files related to gay rights
1975 - 1993
2
25
Hypothesis re: AIDS and related
publications
circa 1982
2
26
Sex roles class lecture
1984 February 27
2
27
Lynden Recycling Class
35mm slides
1972
3
Project notes and questionnaire
1972
4
1
16mm film reel
1972
4
2
Opera class
1995
4
3
Fairhaven College
1974-1998
Red Square Magazine article includes a cover photograph of David
T. Mason
Red Square Magazine
article
1987
4
4
Awards received and given
1987-1992
4
5
Fairhaven College commencement programs with David
T. Mason as master of ceremonies (includes slides)
1974; 1982; 1988; 1989; 1992; 1993
4
6
Retirement celebration invitation and
photographs
1998
4
7
Fairhaven student photographs
undated
4
8
Correspondence
1960-1995
Correspondence about the creation of the College of
Environmental Studies includes information about the interdisciplinary studies
between Biology/Fairhaven and Huxley
Academic Correspondence
Research on Anti-Discrimination policies of
several universities and corporations
1975-1984
4
9
TIAA-CREF retirement program
participation
1972-1973
4
10
Creation of the College of Environmental
Studies
1967-1968; 1986
4
11
Visiting anthropology and literary scholar Sophia
Morgan
1990-1991
4
12
Letters of appreciation for teaching
1967-1990
4
13
Rehire, Tenure, and Promotion (RTP)
Committee
1965-1995
4
14
Research Advisory Committee (RAC)
1985-1991
4
15
Hiring process and early career at Western
Washington State College (WWSC)
1965-1970
4
16
Research
Experiments with platinum and silver electrodes
concerning oxygen concentration in water
1960-1961
4
17
Sabbatical to South America and the southwestern
Pacific (includes photos)
1980-1981
4
18
Correspondence to Fairhaven College from
Africa
1972-1974
4
19
Project co-ordinations with David
Scholl
1964-1968
4
20
Critiques of other academic studies
1982-1983
4
21
Speaking Engagements
1966-1998
General correspondence relating to speaking
engagements
1967-1995
4
22
Letters of appreciation
1969-1985
English.
4
23-25
Speeches and papers given at professional meetings
and classes
circa 1966-1990
4
26
Publicity and clippings relating to seminars and
performances
1969-1998
English.
4
27-29
Publications
1966-1991
Correspondence relating to papers submitted for
publication
1966-1981
4
29
FAST [Faculty/Staff
publication of WWU]
1985 - 1991
4
30
"Lace Wing: A Fragment," Ecosphere 2 (January 1971): 9-10
1971 January
4
31
Abstracts of papers presented at the American
Society of Limnology and Oceanography meeting
1980
4
32
"Exorcizing the Engineer."California Engineer (March 1970): 32-33
1970 March
4
33
Presentation "Post-Deep Ecology, or Yes, Good is
Bad,"
1985-1987
4
34
Reports
"Bioassays of Lower Trophic Levels, Volume VI of a
Study of Toxicity and Biostimulation in San Francisco Bay_Delta Waters,"
Berkeley
1971
4
35
"Water Resources Engineering Education Series,
Program VIII: Freshwater Lakes and Their Management"
1971
4
36
"An Approach to Quantitative Morality for
Engineers: The Strongest Counter Oar."
undated
4
37
Major Research Projects
1970-1997
Mono Lake, California
Correspondence, affadavits, and research related
to Sierra Club lawsuit
1979; 1997
English.
5
1-2
Publications
"Biologically Precipitated Tufa at Mono
Lake"
1964-1965
5
3
Data and notes relating to
publication
1960s-1970s
5
4
Thesis: "Limnology of Mono Lake
California"
1967
5
5
Film: "Lichen and Grout"
circa 1977
5
6
Alaska
Correspondence relating to research
1978-1987
5
7
Climate data
1977-1981
5
8
Reports and Publications
Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), Instituto
Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecurias (INIAP-NAPO), Alaskan
Arctic
1977; 1979; 1980; 1983; 1989
5
9
"A Bioassay on a Shore Fly at Prudhoe Bay" and
"A Study of Petroleum Toxicity to a Shore Fly at Prudhoe Bay"
1978
5
10
"Arctic Salt Marsh Lakes"
1981
5
11
"Environmental Assessment of Selected Habitats
in Arctic Littoral Systems"
1979 April 1-1980 March 31
5
13
"Effect of Vegetation, Crude Oil, and a Vehicle
Track on Salt Marsh" and "Soil Strength in Arctic Alaska, U.S.A."
1980s
5
14
"Reconnaissance Characterization of Littoral
Biota, Beaufort and Chickchi Seas"
1977 April 1-1978 March 31
4
15
Habitats in Arctic Littoral Systems
(report)
1977-1979
5
16
Environmental Assessment of Selected Habitats in
Arctic Littoral Systems (WWU report)
1980
5
17
Publications
"A Bioassay on a Shore Fly at Prudhoe Bay," and
"A Study of Petroleum Toxicity to a Shore Fly at Prudhoe Bay."
1978
5
15
"Arctic Salt Marsh Lakes"
1981
5
16
"Biological Stress-strain Relationships in
Arctic Salt Marsh Ecosystems."
1981
5
17
"Effect of Vegetation, Crude Oil, and a Vehicle
Track on Salt Marsh," and "Soil Strength in Arctic Alaska, U.S.A."
1980s
5
18
Prudhoe Bay
Presentation Materials
Transparencies, Prudhoe Bay
1970s
5
18
Transparencies, "positives" of Prudhoe
Bay
1970s
5
19
Photographs
Prudhoe Bay
1970s
5
20
Aquatic macrophytes (PVO)
1989
5
21
Research Notes
Data and notes
1977-1979
English.
5
22-26
Data and notes
1978-1979
English.
5A
1-5
Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment
Program (OCSEAP)
1970-1986
5A
6
Uruguay - Fulbright Scholarship
Includes related photographs given to David T. Mason in
1999
Correspondence and research notes
1972
5A
7
Notebook and travel receipts
1972
5A
8
Photos of the Ektar 125 salt marsh
1999 May 5
5A
9
Stehekin River
Publications
"Habitat Values of Woody Debris Accumulations of
the Lower Stehekin River, with Notes on Disturbances of Alluvial
Gravels"
1985
6
1
"Follow-up Study of Habitat Values of the Lower
Stehekin River" and "Appendix V: Small Animal Mycophagy" by Fred
Rhodes
1985
6
2
"Ecosystem Impact of Disturbance of Alluvial
Gravel and Woody Debris along the Lower Stehekin River Channel"
1985
6
3
"Small Mammal Microhabitats Influenced by
Riparian Woody Debris" and "Running Head: Small Mammals Influenced by Woody
Debris"
1986
6
4
Prose: "Stehekin Debris: Narrative of a Wood
Pile," presentation and transparencies
1985
6
5
Research Notes and Data
Notes and Data
1981-1985
English.
6
6-7
Audio cassettes (data gathered at
site)
1984 June-August
6A
6A
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
weather and climate data
1987
7
1
Minor Research Projects
1978
Washington
Lake Whatcom, water level graphs
1966-1968
2
Correspondence regarding Georgia Pacific mercury
discharge litigation
1970-1994
7
2
Georgia Pacific chlorine/mercury deposits
reference and notes
1969-1971
7
3
Nooksack River, data and
correspondence
1993
7
4
VAX (computing system) instructions, and data
sheets
circa 1982
7
5
Oregon
Lake Abert, project budget information, project
notes and data
1996-1997
7
6
Lake Abert, correspondence
1994-1997
7
7
Lake Albert, additional project data,
1994-1997
English.
7
7A
Research photos of Mount St. Helens
undated
7
8
Minor research reports Lake Abert
undated
7
9
ODFW Scientific Taking permits
undated
7
10
Lakeview Resource Area Planning update
2002
7
11
South America
Columbia, leaf research, data and
slides
1979-1981
7
12
Film
circa 1978
Flamingos and beetles in Nyika Africa (super 8) FILE
REMOVES
undated
7
13
Geese, foam (super 8) FILE REMOVED
circa 1978
7
14
Slides
1954-1989
Alaska, Ski Ski Beach
1977-1979;
1982
7A
Alaska, Tahiti, Colorado, Washington (Whatcom
County, Bellingham, Mount Baker)
1961-1978
7B
Arctic, North Sweden, Alaska, New Zealand, South
America, Hawaii/Fiji
1954-1974
7C
South America, Australasia, Ghana, Cape Town,
Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia
1972;
1980
7D
Australia, South America (Ecuador), Asia
(Phillippines, Japan)
1980;
1989
7E
California, Mexico, Whatcom County, Artistic and
Abstract Works (Food, Words, Reflections, Self)
1983
7F
Bellingham, 'South Side'
1972-1976
7G
'South Side', Mono 1976, Stehekin
1976
7H
Field Notebooks
1975-1999
Untitled yellow notebook, Mining Transit
1976
7I
South America
undated
7I
Todd Rollins: Biology 325, Ecology
1988
7I
Retirement
1998
7I
Untitled tan notebook
undated
7I
Plants, Fungi, Field notebook
undated
7I
Unititled, Mining Transit notebook
1975
7I
Padden Lagoon/Red River
1991-1992
7I
Important Field Data, Flat Rock, Field
Book
1994-1995
7I
Vital Field Notebook
1977
7I
Untitiled, Handi Notes
undated
7I
Course of the Steam, Field Notebook
1987
7I
Nesset Farm, Transit Notebook
1999
7I
Photocopy of untitled notebook
1983
7I
Untitled, Mining Transit Notebook
1975
7I
Sehome, Field Notebook
1991
7I
Plants, Mining Transit Notebook
1976
7I
Plants Collection, Mining Transit
Notebook
1975
7I
Urban Wildlife, Transit notebook
1989
7I
Field Notes and data: mammals, weather, vegetation
(2 discs)
1994; 1995
7I
Black with red edging
1982-1983
7J
Yellow with white tape from bottom left to top
right, includes letter
1983-1984
7J
1979 Alaska – Includes copy of passport, photographs
of David Mason, and negatives.
1979
7J
Yellow 1981-AK – field notes
1961,
1981-1982
7J
Orange EEN-1977 – field notes
1977
7J
Orange AK 1976 – field notes
1976
7J
Yellow ABERT-I + plants
1994-1995
7J
Yellow Mono – Mono Mouse Habitat, contains plant
stem with leaves.
1997
7J
1978-KOTZ-II-78 – field notes
1977-1978
7J
PUO-1978 II – field notes
1978-1982
7J
Orange – field notebook
1980-1982
7J
Yellow AK89 – field notes
1989
7J
Theatre
Series III
1970-1998
Production Materials
1970-1999
Background information, resumes, theater
vitae
circa 1980s
8
1
Cast lists
undated
8
2
Correspondence relating to productions
1973-1998
8
3
Publicity posters
1970s-1990s
8
4
Programs of events
1970s-1990s
8
5
Budget information
1977, circa 1980, 1991
8
6
Clippings, reviews
1977-1990s
8
7
Notes and background information on Bertolt Brecht's
productions
1980s
8
8
"Three Penny Opera" character sketches
1980s
8
9
"Darling of the Day" sound recording, review, "The
Crucible" mini-script, and ephemera
undated
8
10
"Edward II" songs (music tape)
undated
8
11
"Mother Courage" - Brecht (music tape)
undated
8
10
Scripts
1986-1998
"Out of This World"
undated
8
13
"Drums in the Night"
undated
8
14
"With music by Kurt Weill"
1978
8
15
"Edward II"
1982
8
16
"Crisis at Middlesex Ranch"
1986
8
17
"Blue Baroque"
1991
8
18
"Woyzeck"
1993
8
19
"Gilgamesh"
circa 1998
8
20
Compositions
1981-1998
Composition notebook
1981
8
21
"The Last Love of Lucifer"
1981
8
22
"I Might Have Been a Star"
1987-1988
8
23
"Whirligig"
1989
8
24
"Gilgamesh"
1998
8
25
Compositions for clarinet
undated
8
26
Photographs
1977-1990
"Trial by Jury"
1974
8
27
"The Yeoman of the Guard" (includes costume
notebook)
1979
8
28
"The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul
Marat"
circa 1980
8
29
"Gondoliers"
1980
8
30
"The Sorceror"
1981
8
31
"Edward II"
1982
8
32
"Utopia"
1983
8
33
"The Last Love of Lucifer"
1985
8
34
"Crisis at Middlesex Ranch"
1986
8
35
"Princess Ida"
undated
8
36
"Patience"
1998
8
37
"The Mikado"
undated
9
1
"Tommy" (student-directed production)
undated
9
2
Unknown plays and performances/theatre
events
undated
9
3
"Some Awful Brecht Thing"
undated
9
4
Miscellaneous
undated
9
5
Recordings - Sound
undated
"Goroka" - six reels
undated
9
6
Recordings - Film
1979 December 22
"Mahogany Live at the Met"
1979 December 22
9
7
Writings and Art
Series IV
1960-1997
Poetry, Prose, and Compositions
1960-1997
Musical compositions
1964-1990
9
8
Philosophical writings on science, art, and the
environment
circa 1969-1995
9
9
Poetry
1955-1984
English.
9
10-11
"Stories from a Life"
undated
9
12
Publications, self and local
1990; 1993; 1997
9
13
Artwork
1970-2004
Drawings by David T. Mason
undated (approximately 1970-1979)
9
14
Prints by Stephen McMillan
undated (approximately 1970-1979)
9
15
Framed painting (untitled)
undated (approximately 2000s)
1
Framed painting (untitled)
undated (approximately 2000s)
2
Collected Publications
1975-1980
"Morning Due: Voices of Anti-sexist
Men."
1975 March-April
9
16
"Northwest Oasis: A Forum for Gay
Culture."
1980
9
17