William Roger Murchie Papers, 1954-1967 and undated

Descriptive Entry

These papers document Murchie's research on earthworms and include manuscripts and related materials regarding the preparation and publication of manuscripts and records concerning earthworm collections made by Murchie.

Historical Note

William Roger Murchie (1920-1968) was a biology professor and authority on earthworms. He was educated at Marietta College, A.B., 1942, and the University of Michigan, M.A., 1948, and Ph.D., 1954. His teaching career began at Marietta College where he served as instructor of biology, 1946-1950. In 1954, he was appointed associate professor of biology at Thiel College, where he remained until 1956 when he accepted the position of assistant professor of biology at Flint College, University of Michigan. The rest of his career was spent at Flint College where he was promoted to associate professor in 1958 and professor in 1962. Murchie specialized in the study of the ecology and systematics of earthworms. After his death in 1968, Murchie's collection of earthworms was given to the National Museum of Natural History.