mnsss220 Elizabeth Thompson Bunce Papers, 1936-1986 Finding Aid Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. 2006-02-01 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Elizabeth Thompson Bunce Papers, 1936-1986 (bulk dates 1962-1980) Finding Aid MS 411 Burd Schlessinger 2005 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Bunce, Elizabeth T. Elizabeth Thompson Bunce Papers1936-1986 1962-1980 MS 411 1 box (.5 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Marine geophysicist. Papers contain a transcript of an oral history interview, professional correspondence, biographical material, photographs, and awards and citations. Biographical Note

Elizabeth Thompson Bunce in Glomer Challenge, Leg 24, Indian Ocean, April-May 1972

Elizabeth Thompson Bunce born Mineola, NY, 1915; B.S. Smith College, 1937; M.A. in physics, Smith, 1949; awarded Honorary ScD., Smith, 1971. Bunce taught physical education at Kent School, Summit, NJ; was instructor in physics at Smith College, 1949-51; and worked summers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, where she helped run experiments on explosives for the Navy during WWII. She joined the permanent staff there in 1951, was senior scientist and served as chief scientist on many expeditions, being the first American women to have served in that capacity on any research vessel. After retirement, she served part-time as acting chair of geology and geophysics department at Woods Hole. Bunce is best known for her work on seismic refraction studies of the crust and upper mantle of the ocean floor.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The collection includes a transcript of an oral history interview conducted P.K. Smith as part of the Columbia University Oral History Research Office (1981). There is also professional correspondence, biographical material, photographs, and awards and citations.

NOTE: There is no container list for this collection. Contact the Sophia Smith Collection for more information.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.

This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Elizabeth Thompson Bunce Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Search Terms Bunce, Elizabeth T. Women scientists--United States--Biography--Sources Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, Mass.)--History--Sources Additional Information