Finding aid for the Maurice Ray Denny papers

Biography of Maurice Ray Denny

Maurice Ray Denny, better known as M. Ray Denny, was born November 5, 1918. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1942 and his Master of Arts degree in 1943 from the University of Michigan. He earned his doctoral degree in psychology under Kenneth Spence at the University of Iowa in 1945 and accepted his first teaching position at the University of Oklahoma shortly thereafter. In 1946 Denny accepted a position in the psychology department at Michigan State University. He was promoted to full professor in 1953 and professor emeritus in 1983.

Denny worked as a consultant for the Veteran Administration in Battle Creek, Michigan from 1952-1967. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and several divisions of the American Psychological Association. Her served on the executive board and later as president of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Denny's main research interests were in the fields of behaviorism and learning theory.

Denny died at his home in Okemos, Michigan on February 19, 2001.

Scope and Content

The Maurice Ray Denny papers range from 1945-1988. Personal and professional correspondence, including letters of recommendation and manuscript reviews make up the bulk of the collection. Correspondence related to his research and his work within professional organizations reside within those series rather than the general correspondence files. Also included in this collection are thirteen 35mm color photographs taken at Michigan State University's sheep research farm and a large graph which appeared in a publication for the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Use

Some restrictions apply. Contact CHP staff for assistance.

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Restrictions on Access

Some restrictions apply. Contact CHP staff for assistance.

Thirteen 35mm color photographs taken at Michigan State University's sheep research farm and a large graph have been removed to the CHP Still Images Collection, boxes V88 and V Oversized. One data graph is located in oversized map case 1, drawer 4A

Subject Headings

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Persons:

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Preferred Citation

Cite as: [identification of item], [folder number, box number], Archives of the History of American Psychology, The Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology - The University of Akron

Acquisition Information

The Maurce Ray Denny papers were received in two accessions from Denny on May 13 and May 18, 1983.

Processing Information

The Maurice Ray Denny papers were processed by Lizette Royer Barton in February 2009.