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Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale Collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MTU-022

Collection Scope and Content Summary

The materials in this collection date from 1830-2010, with the bulk of material from 1957-1999. The few items that date to earlier than the mid-1950s are largely related to Isle Royale, and were likely collected as background research before this ecological study began. This collection documents much of the administrative and research aspects of the Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale (also referred to as the wolf-moose project) while under the direction of both Durward L. Allen and Rolf O. Peterson, covering the full time periods for each of their durations as head of the project. Few materials are from John A. Vucetich, who began co-directing the project with Peterson in 2003. Research topics focus on wolves and moose, but include topics such as vegetation, birds, and small mammals. While most materials relate to Isle Royale, associated research in other geographical locations is also included.

The collection consists of materials largely created, collected and used by Allen and Peterson, but also contains substantial data files, field notes, reports, and manuscripts created and written by students, research assistants and field technicians on the project. These include Ronald L. Bell, Thomas Bradner, John A. Coble, James M. Dietz, Peter A. Jordan, John C. Keeler, L. David Mech, Kenneth Risenhoover, Larry J. Roop, Joseph M. Scheidler, Philip C. Shelton, Philip W. Stephens, John D. Vanada, and Michael L. Wolfe among others. Other members of the project are also included, like filmmaker George Desort and pilot Don Murray. This collection is comprised of a variety of formats: correspondence, financial documents, dissertations, manuscripts, annual reports, data collection files, field notes, books, magazines, newspaper articles, journal articles, brochures, press releases, newsletters, field guides, photographic prints, negatives, and slides, microfiche, maps, transparencies, and various magnetic and optical media (18 VHS, 2 videocassettes, 4 DVDs, 6 DVD-Rs, 1 3 ½” and 1 5 ½” floppy disk).

Administrative aspects are documented mainly through the correspondence of Allen and Peterson and through grant proposals and applications, as well as through expense reports, supply orders, travel records, personnel documents, and subject files concerning Isle Royale. These materials give significant insight into the funding of this study over half a century and the logistics of carrying out research in a remote location.

Research aspects of the project are documented through background resources, data collection files, field notes, digital files on floppy disks, hand-drawn and computer-rendered maps, charts, and graphs, as well as published maps and visual documentation in the form of photographic prints, negatives, slides, and video footage. The field notes comprise a significant portion of these files, with 169 notebooks from 25 different researchers, dating from 1960-2009.

The project’s research is further documented through both published and unpublished forms of research output including manuscripts, theses and dissertations, presentation materials, reports and publications. Publication formats include books, newspaper articles, journal articles, magazines, press releases, newsletters, brochures, field guides, and produced videos and DVDs. These publications are generally written by a researcher on the project or are about or related to the wolf-moose project. Annual reports are extant from 1958-2010, including some original copies and preparation files, providing a summary of each year’s research findings as well as information on personnel and funding for the year.

Other materials in the collection document a more personal side of the project, largely through Peterson’s personal correspondence, correspondence between Allen and Peterson, a file of fan letters to Allen for the film Wolf-Men, a file on Allen’s memorial service, photos of people, and publications about those working on the wolf-moose project.

Dates

  • 1830, 1850, 1905-2010
  • Majority of material found within 1957 - 1999

Language of Material

English

Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from Michigan Technological University Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.

Use of videocassettes, VHS, DVDs, CD-Rs, and floppy disks may require production of digital copies.

Photographs may not be photocopied. See staff for information regarding duplications.

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Biography

Founded in 1958 by Dr. Durward L. Allen of Purdue University, Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale is the longest running continuous predator-prey study. The study focuses on the relationship between moose and wolves on Isle Royale and the various dynamic conditions affecting herd and pack population including climate and ecological factors. The seclusion of Isle Royale provides a unique opportunity for studying the wolf-moose relationship as it is a single predator-prey system. While officially titled Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale, the ongoing study is commonly referred to as the wolf-moose project. Before being established as an ongoing study, it was known under several names. These names include Isle Royale Wolf Project (1958-1960), Ecological Studies of the Beaver, Moose, and Wolf in Isle Royale National Park (1961-1963), Ecology and Coactions of the Moose on Isle Royale (1963-1964), Studies of the Moose and Wolves on Isle Royale (1964-1966), and Community Relationships and Population Dynamics of Terrestrial Mammals on Isle Royale, Lake Superior (1966-1970).

Rolf O. Peterson joined the project in the early 1970s. In 1975, Peterson took the lead on the project and the study was moved to Michigan Technological University. John A. Vucetich started as a field technician in the early 1990s and began co-directing the project’s fieldwork with Peterson in the summer of 2003. Peterson retired from his faculty position at Michigan Tech in 2006 and has, as of 2012, continued to co-direct the project along with Vucetich.

Durward L. Allen was born October 11, 1910 in Uniondale, Indiana and died at the age of 87 on October 17, 1997. Allen received a Ph.D. in vertebrate ecology at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1937 and began work at Purdue University as professor of wildlife ecology in 1954. He initiated the wolf-moose project in 1958, culminating in the publication of his acclaimed book, Wolves of Minong (1979). Allen retired from Purdue in the mid-1970s, but continued on the faculty as professor emeritus and continued directing the wolf-moose project until 1975.

Rolf O. Peterson received his B.S. in zoology in 1970 from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In 1974 he completed his Ph.D. in wildlife ecology from Purdue University. While at Purdue, Peterson began working with Allen on the wolf-moose project, and then joined the Michigan Tech faculty in 1975 when he took the lead on the project. Peterson’s wife, Carolyn Peterson, has also assisted in fieldwork and their two sons, Trevor and Jeremy, have spent many of their summers on Isle Royale.

Extent

22.38 Cubic Feet (76 boxes, 2 oversize folders)

Abstract

This collection documents much of the administrative and research aspects of the Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale (also referred to as the wolf-moose project) while under the direction of the research project's first and second primary investigators, Durward L. Allen and Rolf O. Peterson. Few materials are from John A. Vucetich, who began co-directing the project with Peterson in 2003. Research topics focus on wolves and moose, but include topics such as vegetation, birds, and small mammals. While most materials relate to Isle Royale, associated research in other geographical locations is also included. The collection includes correspondence, administrative and financial records, and substantial data files, field notes, reports, manuscripts, and publications created and written by Allen, Peterson, and research assistants and field technicians on the project. Also included are a complete run of published annual reports (1958-2010).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into 4 series, some with subseries, and then arranged chronologically. The exceptions are Series 4, Research output, which further divides the Reports subseries into Annual and seasonal reports and Subject reports, and the subseries Publications which is first arranged alphabetically by format, then chronologically.

Acquisition

The field notes and some of the later annual reports were first donated in 2010 by Rolf O. Peterson. The remainder of the collection was donated by Rolf O. Peterson and John A. Vucetich on March 22, 2012.

Related Archival Materials

Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections: Copper Country Vertical Files: Isle Royale National Park—Wolf & Moose Study Mammals—Moose Mammals—Wolves

Biographical Files: Allen, (surname) Peterson, Rolf, Carolyn, Jeremy, Trevor

Ecological studies of beavers, wolves, and moose in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan / by Philip Clarence Shelton. Thesis(Ph.D.)—Purdue University, 1966. F572.I8 S45 ARCH

Wolf ecology and prey relationships on Isle Royale / Rolf Olin Peterson. Washington : National Park Service, Dept. of the Interior : for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1977 i.e. 1978. QL737.C22 P47 1977

The wolves of Isle Royale : a broken balance / by Rolf O. Peterson. Minocqua, Wisc. : Willow Creek Press, 1995. QL737.C22 P475 1995 ARCH

The wolves of Isle Royale : a broken balance / Rolf O. Peterson. Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, 2007. QL737.C22 P475 2007

A view from the wolf's eye / by Carolyn C. Peterson ; with illustrations by Trevor S. Peterson. Houghton, Mich. : Isle Royale Natural History Association, c2008. F572.I8 P48 2008 ARCH

Fortunate wilderness : the wolf and moose study of Isle Royale / a film by George Desort. [United States : s.n., 2009?] DVD QL737.C22 F68 2009

Michigan Technological University, J. R. Van Pelt Library and John and Ruanne Opie Library:

Wolf ecology and prey relationships on Isle Royale. Thesis (Ph.D.)—Purdue University, 1974. QL737.C22 P47

Wolves of Minong : their vital role in a wild community / Durward L. Allen. Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 1979. QL737.C22 A44

Wolves : behavior, ecology, and conservation / edited by L. David Mech and Luigi Boitani. Chicago, Ill. : University of Chicago Press ; Bristol : University Presses Marketing [distributor], 2006. QL737.C22 W6477 2006

Other sources:

Current project information and annual reports (1995-) are available at: http://www.isleroyalewolf.org

Processing History

Julie Blair,12/15/2010; Megan Dirickson, 8/14/2012; Allison Neely, 11/16/2017.

Researchers, authors, project members, producers, and correspondents

Ackerman, Timothy N.
Allen, Durward L.
Bell, Ronald L.
Beyer, Jr., Dean E..
Bradner, Thomas
Brooks, John W.
Cain, Stanley A.
Coble, John A.
Cochrane, Jean Fitts
Cole, James E.
Cramer, Mark S.
Desort, George
Dietz, James M.
Dixon, Kenneth R.
Doyle, Jane P.
Haber, Gordon C.
Hanson, Noel
Hawver, Blyden
Irmiger, Robert A.
Janke, Robert
Jensen, Gendron
Jordan, Peter A.
Keeler, John C.
Knauer, William W. II
Krefting, Lauritis W.
Krumenaker, Bob
Laske, Timothy G.
Long, Mike
Lonsway, Donald H.
Mech, L. David
Meier, Richard L.
Miquelle, Dale George
Mott, Angelique
Murray, Don
Neher, George
Ogle, Thomas F.
Page, Rich
Peterson, Rolf O.
Phillips, Mike
Post, Eric
Raisanen, Kristin
Risenhoover, Kenneth
Roell, Brian J.
Roop, Larry J.
Ruckel, Steven W.
Salisbury, Mike
Scheidler, Joe (Joseph) M.
Seitz, William K.
Shelton, Philip C.
Smith, Douglas W.
Stauber, Erik
Stephens, Philip W.
Stephens, Susan M.
Stormer, F.
Turner, Brian
Vanada, John D.
Vucetich, John A.
Watt, James G.
Wilcox, Jackie
Wolfe, Michael L. Jr.
Woolington, James D.
Title
Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale
Status
Completed
Author
Julie Blair, revised by Megan Dirickson and Allison Neely.
Date
12/15/2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US