Manuscript

File — Box: 8, Folder: 2-13

Identifier: II

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

"From the Diaries of Earl Douglass," by his son G. E. Douglass. Included is a letter to possible publishers describing the manuscript.

"My father's historic discovery of the dinosaur deposits at Dinosaur National Monument, August 17, 1909 and the extraction of the skeletons was the culmination of a life-time of personal sacrifice and hardship, but it was not the end of his vision. His dream of a natural museum at the site of discovery, where all mankind could see the fossils as they were buried millions of years ago, was finally realized when Visitor's Center at Quarry Site was opened to the public June 1, 1958, twenty-seven years after his death. . . .
"For some fifty years my father's search for truth led him into both literary and scientific fields of investigation .... Poverty, poor health, and frustration cast long shadows over his efforts and his family, and death ended his hope of publishing his memoirs, poetry and scientific discoveries. Although he wrote continuously throughout most of his life, nothing has been published except for a few magazine and newspaper articles. . . .
"Rumors and half-truths have, at times partially buried my father's success. Much of the credit for his work has been taken by his contemporaries and assistants. His discovery of the famous fossil beds at Dinosaur National Monument was even attributed to ... a fine old man, who assisted him. . . . When I visited the Carnegie Museum during the summer of 1967 my father's name did not appear with his remarkable paleontological discoveries on exhibit there. . . .
"This book is in memory of my greatest teacher, a tribute to a dedicated scientist, .... It is the odyssey of one man's life as reflected in his diaries . . . continued for forty-seven years." (Preface)

Dates

1884-1928

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.