Blanche B. Marshall Mclane Bruner Papers in the Dartmouth College Library

Contact Information:
Rauner Special Collections Library
Dartmouth College
6065 Webster Hall
Hanover, NH 03755-2519 USA
603-646-2037
Fax: 603-646-0447
rauner.reference@dartmouth.edu
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~speccoll/

Descriptive Summary
	Title:	Blanche B. Marshall McLane Bruner Papers, 1946-1956 in Dartmouth College Library Special Collections
	ID:	MS-768

Biographical Information

Mrs. Blanche B. Marshall McLane Bruner was the daughter of Andrew and Jessie Ames Marshall, granddaughter of Civil War Union General Adelbert Ames, Sr. She was also the niece of Adelbert Ames, Jr., founder of the Dartmouth Eye Institute. She was born on February 16, 1915. She attended Smith College for two years, graduating in 1936. In 1935 she married Manchester, New Hampshire lawyer John McLane, Jr. (Class of 1938), son of prominent New Hampshire lawyer and renowned Dartmouth alumnus and trustee John “Judge” McLane, Sr. (Class of 1907). Blanche and John, Jr. had five children between 1935 and 1947. While residing in Manchester, Mrs. McLane was a member of the Manchester School Board and the League of Women Voters. In late 1958 or early in 1959, Mrs. McLane moved to Weston, Massachusetts and was divorced from John McLane, Jr. In late 1959, her engagement to psychologist and Harvard College professor Jerome Bruner of Cambridge, Massachusetts was announced. They were married in 1960.

The Dartmouth Eye Institute (DEI) was founded by Adelbert Ames, Jr. in 1937. It was originally organized as part of the Dartmouth Medical School. The DEI became widely recognized in the field of physiological optics as an important research and clinical center. It existed as part of Dartmouth College until 1947, when it was separated from the College and administratively dismantled. Later that year it was allowed to reorganize without affiliation with the College into the Hanover Institute, a non-profit corporation. In 1949, it became a division of the Institute For Associated Research based in Princeton, New Jersey.

Scope and Content Note

The Blanche B. Marshall McLane Bruner Papers, 1946-1956,.5 linear feet, contain mimeographs, carbon copies, and originals of correspondence with and writings of Adelbert Ames, Jr., founder of the Dartmouth Eye Institute (DEI). There is additional correspondence with the DEI Executive Director (and later Treasurer and Managing Trustee of the Institute For Associated Research) John Pearson. Dr. Hadley Cantril, President of the Institute For Associated Research, was a third correspondent. Much of the correspondence seems to involve the development of terminology and language derived from the research in visual and social perception conducted by Mr. Ames. Ames and Pearson sought out Mrs. McLane's opinions and ideas to further elaborate upon and develop that terminology. The writings and papers of Ames, Pearson, and both institutions were forwarded to Mrs. McLane by one or all of the three correspondents mentioned above. Some of the correspondence includes enclosures from third parties.