Frank Rattray Lillie papers
Scope and Contents
The collection, dating from 1894 to 1947, includes materials related to Lillie’s time as director of the Marine Biological Laboratory (1908-1925) and as president of the MBL Corporation (1925-1941). The papers also pertain to the early years of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Dates
- 1894-1947
Conditions Governing Access
Open: materials are available for research.
Biographical Information
Frank Rattray Lillie was born in Toronto, Canada, and attended the University of Toronto as an undergraduate. He moved to the United States and became a fellow at Clark University under the tutelage of Charles O. Whitman. He received his doctorate in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1894. Lillie was an important pioneer in the field of embryology, including discovering the mechanisms causing freemartins.
Lillie first came to the Marine Biological Laboratory in 1891 to conduct summer research on embryology. Lillie went on to serve as assistant director of the MBL under Whitman from 1900-1908, director of the MBL from 1908-1925, and president of the MBL Corporation from 1925-1941. Lillie was one of the directors of the MBL Embryology course from its first year in 1893 through 1903. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Extent
29 boxes (twenty-nine 12" x 5" boxes)
Language
English
Arrangement
The papers are grouped into the following 11 series, and there are also diaries and a framed letter:
II.A. – Correspondence
II.B. – Sex Research Committee
II.C. – National Academy of Sciences
II.D. – National Resources Committee, Science Committee
II.E. – National Research Council
II.F. – F. R. Lillie, Publications I: Books, articles, etc.
II.G. – F. R. Lillie, Publications II: Lectures, addresses, etc.
II.H. – F. R. Lillie, Publications III: MBL Book (1944)
II.I. – F. R. Lillie, Personal Documents
II.J. – WHOI
II.K. – Research in Progress
Processing Information
The Lillie papers were originally part of a sequentially numbered series of manuscript boxes, the first two boxes being the papers of Charles Otis Whitman. Papers were left in their original order. The collection begins with box 3 (II.A).
Most papers are cataloged at the folder level. A Library volunteer cataloged correspondence II.A (folders 1-41 and folder 101) and II.B (folders 1-13) to the item level. For the catalog of individual items, see http://mblwhoilibrary.org/sites/default/files/LilliePapersItems.pdf.
Processed January 14, 2015. Finding aid updated by Katy Sternberger, June 2016.
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Marine Biological Laboratory Archives Repository