Merry Lewis Pence papers, 1879-1954
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Merry Lewis Pence papers, 1879-1954
- Creator
- Pence family
- Extent
- 0.4 cubic feet (2 boxes)
- Subjects
- Pence, Merry Lewis, 1854-1938.
- Pence, Sallie.
- University of Kentucky.
- Lexington (Ky.)
- College teachers -- Kentucky -- Lexington.
- Arrangement
- This collection is arranged by subject in folders.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Merry Lewis Pence was born in Davies County, Kentucky on August 8, 1854. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1881 and earned his Master's degree in 1885. After studying at a number of universities and holding a series of teaching positions, Pence became a Professor of Civil Engineering at UK in 1889. He stayed in the department for five years, including two years as the department head. In 1894, Pence organized the Department of Physics and served as the department head for its first twenty years.
- The discovery of X-Rays in 1895 led Pence to begin work to apply this new radiation to medicine and other fields. He made X-Rays of horse's legs, people's hands and feet, and attempted treatment of tumors in friends who came by. At first, he built his own X-Ray tubes and power supplies. He later acquired portable X-Ray machines which he carried on horseback. Pence also worked on what he called a "Theory of the Earth's Magnetism." He proposed in his writings of 1901 that the earth's magnetism was due to currents circulating inside the earth and was not due to permanent magnets.
- Pence served as Professor Emeritus of Physics from 1929-1938. Pence Hall on UK's campus is named for Merry Lewis Pence. Pence married Belle Kelly in 1882; they had eight children. Merry Lewis Pence died on September 14, 1938.
- Scope and Content
- The Merry Lewis Pence papers contain writings, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other items related to the life and work of Merry L. Pence. Folders 1 and 2 contain a number of letters and writings by Pence. Of note are a series of poems written by Pence and his Davies County Teacher's Certificate. This collection also contains diagrams and documentation related to a patent granted to Pence for a safety gas burner he designed. The majority of the included newspaper clippings are related to Pence's daughter Dr. Sallie Pence. There is one photograph of the 1900 State College of Kentucky faculty. The included manuscript by Pence is a history of the University of Kentucky from 1866-1936. This manuscript was completed only a few weeks before his death in 1938. The Transit Book, 1890 contains field notes that were the basis on which the topographic maps of the University of Kentucky campus were made in 1890.
Contents of the Collection
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Table of Contents
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If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
