Dr. Garald Gordon Parker collection
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No requestable containers
Scope and Contents
Following Garald Parker’s long career in Florida hydrology, his materials focus almost exclusively on groundwater resources in southern Florida. The “Papers” boxes cover articles and other writings by Parker, along with the “Publications" boxes, which include other writings Parker collected. The “Projects” boxes are arranged around certain cases and may contain correspondence, reports, or court documents. Two other boxes deal with extensive materials Parker collected relating to two court cases. Parker’s “Notebooks” box includes a scrapbook of his time spent in the Everglades, along with his handwritten notes. There are also some materials relating to the courses he taught, mostly including his handouts, along with his lecture slides in the “Slides/Photos” boxes.
Dates
- Created: 1939-1990
- Other: Majority of material found in 1970-1987
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
None. The contents of this collection may be subject to copyright. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/for more information.
Biographical or Historical Information
Garald G. Parker, often cited as the “Father of Florida groundwater hydrogeology,” had a long career studying and preserving groundwater resources, particularly in Florida. In 1939, Parker and other scientists were sent by the U. S. Geological Survey to discover the reason why wells in Miami were going salty during a drought. Parker worked in the Everglades from 1940-1947, studying the water levels of wells with indicators that were monitored by planes flying over the marsh. During this time, Parker discovered and described both the Biscayne Aquifer and the Floridan Aquifer, detailing the water landscape of southern Florida in his monumental 1,000 page report “Water Supply Paper 1255, Water Resources of Southeastern Florida” (1955). Parker’s work alerted Floridians to their ground-water resources, and resulted in the establishment of Florida’s five Water Management Districts (though the state was slow in doing so). Parker also warned of the deleterious effects that unchecked settlement and water usage could have on the groundwater supply such as the encroachment of salt water that brought Parker to South Florida in the first place. After leaving the U.S. Geological Survey, Parker spent several years working as Chief Hydrologist for the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and then spent the last years of his active career working as a consultant.
http://sofia.usgs.gov/memorials/parker/
Note written by Justin M. White
Extent
5.88 Linear Feet
15 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement Note
The boxes labeled “Papers” are works by Parker himself, arranged alphabetically by title. The “Publications” boxes include the collection of articles and other publications Parker collected by others, and are organized alphabetically by author or organization if possible. If not, the item is listed by title. Correspondence is arranged chronologically, and all other items are organized topically.
Source of Acquisition
Garald G. Parker
Method of Acquisition
Donation.
Separated Materials
Florida geologic map (1929) that was removed from the collection to be cataloged and added to the Rare Maps Collection, signed by Parker.
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Dr. Garald Gordon Parker Collection
- Author
- Justin M. White
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the USF Libraries - Special Collections Repository
4202 East Fowler Ave.
LIB122
Tampa FL 33620-5400 US
813-974-2731
