Elizabeth A. McMahan papers, 1926-2010 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
McMahan, Elizabeth A.
Abstract:
Elizabeth McMahan (1924-2009) was an entomologist (termite biology), psychologist, cartoonist, writer of children's books, and ocean traveler. Collection contains materials documenting McMahan's personal and professional life, including correspondence, writings, and photographs. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.
Extent:
18 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Research Center:
Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Collection ID:
RL.00880

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains primarily correspondence and greeting cards, including correspondence with John Craig Wheeler (considered the father of "black holes") on parapsychology and its intersection with theoretical physics. Also includes news clippings and scrapbooks documenting McMahan's life; illustrations she made describing her travels aboard Pacific-traveling cargo ships; several of her self-published children's books; and compilations of her cartoons from "The Meadowlark, " a newsletter published by Carolina Meadows, a retirement community in Chapel Hill, N.C. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.

Subsequent additions include materials relating to McMahan's termite research; book illustrations; her early life, including school materials and World War II ephemera; and personal correspondence with friends and relatives. Also includes a memorial tribute to her.

Biographical / historical:

Entomologist (termite biology), psychologist, cartoonist, writer of children's books, and ocean traveler. McMahan is credited with 59 publications, many under the name E. A. McMahan, including 11 children's books.

Date Event
1924
Born, Davie County, N.C.
1946
A.B., Duke University, Major in Psychology
1948
M.A. in Psychology, Duke University
1943-1954
Research Assistant, Parapsychology Laboratory, Duke University. Close friend of Rhine family.
1960
Ph.D, Entomology, University of Hawaii
1960-1961
Post-doctoral work, Zoology, University of Chicago
1961-1987
Professor, Department of Biology, UNC-Chapel Hill. Received outstanding teaching award in 1970.
1987-1988
Peace Corps, College of Agriculture, Port Antonio, Jamaica
1989
Received North Carolina Entomological Society's Award of Excellence for contributions to entomology.
1989-2009
Retired to Carolina Meadows, a retirement community in Chapel Hill, N.C.
2009
Died, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Acquisition information:
The Elizabeth A. McMahan Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2003-2018.
Processing information:

Processed by Stacey Clark

Completed September 30, 2003

Encoded by Stacey Clark, Elizabeth Arnold

Finding aid updated by Meghan Lyon, 2008 and 2009

Finding aid updated by Alice Poffinberger, 2010, 2011

Accession 2018-0101 added by Leah Tams, May 2024.

This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2003-0128, 2003-0270, 2004-0334, 2006-0012, 2006-0034, 2007-0016, 2007-0076, 2007-0203, 2008-0264, 2009-0203, 2009-0206, 2009-0222, 2010-0132, 2011-0124, 2018-0101.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Elizabeth A. McMahan Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1k92d