William H. Marshall papers

William Hampton Marshall was born on April 20th, 1912 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and moved with his family to Berkeley, California in 1915 (1). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1933 and then obtained his Masters in Forestry in 1935 and his Ph.D. in 1942 from the University of Michigan (1).

Between earning his degrees, Marshall worked for the United States Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps in California and Arkansas from 1933 to 1934 (1). After earning his Masters in 1935, Marshall worked as a junior biologist for the University States Biological Survey and as a professor at Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah from 1936 to 1938 (1). From 1938 to 1943, Marshall worked for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and later served as an agricultural supervisor for the War Food Administration, from 1943 to 1944, during World War II (1).

After completing his degree in 1944, Marshall joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota in the Entomology and Economic Zoology department as an associate professor (2) and was soon promoted to professor in June of 1949 (3). In June of 1956, Marshall was appointed as the Associate Director of the Itasca Forestry and Biological Station, where he oversaw the biology summer sessions (4) and four years later, became Director (5). In 1962, Marshall became the Director of the Cedar Creek Natural History Area and held both Director positions until 1966 (6). He then became a professor of Zoology and Director of the Field Biology Program for the Itasca Biology Session and the Cedar Creek Natural History Area (7). Marshall remained in that position until 1970 when he ended his career as a professor of Wildlife Management and Ecology (1).

During his career, Marshall’s research interest focused on ruffed grouse and woodcock, among other small animals (1). He also became one of the first researchers to use both biotelemetry and banding to help track wildlife populations in Northern Minnesota (1).

Outside of his professional career, Marshall was also active in the Wildlife Society (1), a member of the National Resources Committee (8), the Minnesota Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, the Minnesota Governor’s Conservation Advisory Board and the Question Club of Minneapolis (1). He held the role as an associate editor of the Journal of Wildlife Management from 1958 to 1960 (8) and was the President of the Minnesota Academy of Sciences from 1954 to 1955 (1).

In 1978, Marshall retired from the University of Minnesota and moved to Lewiston, California. And in January of 1996, William Marshall passed away at the age of 84 in Clarkston, Washington (1).

References:

(1) Biographical File, Marshall, William H. Information files collection, University Archives.

(2) University of Minnesota Board of Regents Minutes: December 4, 1944

(3) University of Minnesota Board of Regents Minutes: June 15, 1949

(4) University of Minnesota Board of Regents Minutes: January 12, 1956

(5) University of Minnesota Board of Regents Minutes: January 8, 1960

(6) University of Minnesota Board of Regents Minutes: June 8, 1962

(7) University of Minnesota Board of Regents Minutes: January 14, 1966

(7) University of Minnesota Board of Regents Minutes: January 14, 1966

(8) Biennial Report of the President and the Board of Regents: 1958-1960