Ric Finch papers

Ric Finch was a geology faculty member at Tennessee Technological University. He began in 1975. Ric Finch's papers include numerous slides from his thesis, a geology field trip he took with University of Texas, field trips taken with Tennessee Tech, and the Geology Club. This record group also contains records from Ric Finch regarding the building of PSR-451 Corridor J, including records regarding community action against it and records relating to its construction.

When Finch arrived at Tennessee Tech, he was in a department of 7 including himself, 4 geology professors and 3 geography professors. The faculty members hosted extensive spring break field camps due to lack of funding for large-scale geology trips for students. These trips included faculty and 8 senior and/or junior students that were hand selected by the faculty. For instance, in 1976, Dr. Wayne Leimer brought students to Tennessee Tech students to Texas, Arizona, and Utah. There were trips to Mexico, on in which Finch joined and drove himself and a few more students. Students on the field trips were given access by USGS to visit the Mount Saint Helens site prior to anyone else in 1982. Before this, only researchers had access. Finch took his own trip to Honduras in 1969 during the paving and creation of the new highway Carte de Norte. In 1969, this road featured numerous karst features that have since weathered. Images of these trips are included in the slides.