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A Guide to his Papers at the Indiana University Archives

Finding aid prepared by Dina M. Kellams

Summary Information

Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000
Phone: (812) 855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives

Creator
Eigenmann, Carl H., 1863-1927.

Extent
2.4 cu. ft.

Language
Materials are in English unless otherwise indicated.

Collection No.
C63

Abstract
Indiana University alumnus, professor and administrator. A well-known ichthyologist, Carl H. Eigenmann earned his BS, MA and PhD at Indiana University. Eigenmann taught in the Dept. of Zoology for over 40 years, served as Dean of the Graduate School when it was first established in 1908 until his death, and was founder and director of the Indiana University Biological Station in northern Indiana. Collection consists of personal papers, correspondence, and writings of Eigenmann in six series.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Advance notice is required.

Biographical Note

Born in 1863 in Flehingen, Germany, Carl H. Eigenmann came to Indiana when he was 14 years old. Two years later, he entered Indiana University with the intent of studying law. However, in his second year at IU, sophomores were allowed to choose between Latin and biology for a year's work. Eigenmann chose biology. Studying under the newly appointed professor, Dr. David Starr Jordan, a well-known ichthyologist, Eigenmann found a passion for Zoology. Eigenmann went on to receive his Bachelor's of Science in 1886, his AM in 1887 and his PhD in 1889, all at Indiana University. Eigenmann remained at Indiana throughout his career, first holding a position as Instructor in Zoology, 1886-1887, Professor, 1891- 1927, first Dean of the newly created Graduate School, 1908-1927, and finally as Founder and Director of the Biological Station in Northern Indiana, 1895-1920.

Eigenmann became well-known very early on in his work as an ichthyologist. He became most famous for his valuable contributions on South American fishes and his discovery and work on blind fishes. In 1909 he was asked to be Curator of Fishes at the Carnegie Museum after meeting the Director of the Museum, W. J. Holland, on a train. He held this position from Indiana for 9 years, traveling to Pittsburgh during vacations.

In July 1887 Prof. Eigenmann met Rosa Smith, a fellow ichthyologist with whom he had been corresponding, in San Diego. They married less than a month later. Throughout their lives, they coauthored numerous articles under "Eigenmann and Eigenmann."

Dr. Eigenmann died in San Diego 24 April, 1927.

Arrangement

Personal papers of Carl H. Eigenmann organized in six series: Correspondence, Publications, Board of Trustees, Biological Station, Carnegie Museum and Research.

Scope and Content Note

Consists of the personal papers of Carl H. Eigenmann in six series: Correspondence, Publications, Board of Trustees, Biological Station, Carnegie Museum, and Research.

The Correspondence series, 1884-1920 consists of Eigenmann's incoming and outgoing correspondence. While most files hold only one or two pieces of correspondence, more frequent correspondents include Indiana University President David Starr Jordan and Registrar John W. Cravens.

Eigenmann was a frequent contributor to scholarly journals, eventually writing more than 200 articles on Zoology. Although not complete, the Publications series, 1887-1925, is made up of reprints of a number journal articles written or co-written by Eigenmann, including at least three co-written with wife Rosa Smith Eigenmann.

The Board of Trustees series, 1891-1913, consists of reports on the Dept. of Zoology and the Biological Station submitted to the Board by Eigenmann. Two folders, both undated, holds fragments of numerous reports.

The Biological Station series is further organized in two subseries, Correspondence and Teaching and administrative. The Correspondence series holds correspondence about the Biological station, primarily with potential students at the Lake, but also correspondence on Eigenmann's arrest by the deputy fish commissioner at Winona Lake for using fish seines (see correspondence with Z. T. Sweeney and C. E. DeBoos). Included in the Teaching and administrative series are student research, notes, enrollment lists, and receipts and bills for the Station.

The Carnegie Museum series is further organized into two subseries, Annual reports and Correspondence. The series, however, consists primarily of correspondence having to do with Eigenmann's position as fish curator at the Carnegie Museum, a Department of the Carnegie Institute. The most frequent correspondence was carried on with the Director of the Institute, W. J. Holland.

The Research series, 1886-1924, is organized in three subseries: Catalogues and notebooks, Correspondence, and "Eigenmann relics." The series primarily consists of notebooks, catalogues, and notes made by Eigenmann. The "relics" subseries includes items collected by Eigenmann, including pine cones, sea shells and the like.

• Indexing Terms

• The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

• • Names
  • Indiana University. Biological Station --Records and correspondence.
  • Indiana University. Biological Station --Archives.
  • Indiana University. Biological Station --History --19th century --Sources.
  • Indiana University. Biological Station --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Indiana University. Dept. of Zoology --Records and correspondence.
  • Indiana University. Dept. of Zoology --Archives.
  • Indiana University. Dept. of Zoology --History --19th century --Sources.
  • Indiana University. Dept. of Zoology --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Carnegie Museum --Records and correspondence.
  • Indiana University. Biological Station.
  • Indiana University. Dept. of Zoology.
  • Carnegie Museum.
  • Eigenmann, Carl H., 1863-1927 --Correspondence.
  • Eigenmann, Carl H., 1863-1927 --Archives.
  • Holland, W. J. (William Jacob), 1848-1932 --Correspondence.
  • Sweeney, Z. T. (Zachary Taylor), 1849-1926 --Correspondence.
  • DeBoos, C. E. --Correspondence.
  • Bryan, William Lowe, 1860-1955 --Correspondence.
  • Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931 --Correspondence.
  • Holland, W. J. (William Jacob), 1848-1932. Correspondence. Selections.
  • Sweeney, Z. T. (Zachary Taylor), 1849-1926. Correspondence. Selections.
  • DeBoos, C. E. Correspondence. Selections.
• • Topics
  • Biological stations --Indiana --Records and correspondence.
  • Biological stations --Indiana --Archives.
  • Biological stations --Indiana --History --19th century --Sources.
  • Biological stations --Indiana --History --20th century --Sources.
  • Zoology teachers --Indiana --Bloomington --Archives.
  • Zoology teachers --Indiana --Bloomington --Correspondence.
  • Freshwater fishes --South America --Research.
  • Fishes --Abnormalities --Indiana --Research.

Administrative Information

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Series: Correspondence, 1884-1920 

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Box 1 Bouisseau, F. P. 1904 

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Bean, Barton A. 1905 

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Bean, Tarleton H. 1902 

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Bryan, William Lowe 1913-1915 

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Bugo, E. 1902 

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Bumpus, H. C. 1905 

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Cravens, John W. 1902-1903,  1915 

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Davenport, Charles B. 1894,  1896 

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Dean, Bashford 1917 

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Drunis(?), D. W. 1901 

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Edmondson, Charles E. 1902-1903,  1907 

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Evermann, Barton W. 1898 

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Forbes, S. A. 1902 

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"Miss Goodbody" 1898 

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Haseman, J. D. undated 

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Henn, Arthur 1919  View item(s)

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Henry, Charles L. 1898 

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Henshaw, Samuel 1906,  1914 

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Jenkinson, Isaac 1898 

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Jordan, David Starr 1884-1917 

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Kelly Foundry & Machine Co. 1898 

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Kennedy, Clarence H. 1917 

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McGammon, Carl undated 

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Nichols, John Treadwell 1917-1918 

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Nutting, C. C. 1902 

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Petruukeviter, Alexander 1906 

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Reighard, Jacob 1902 

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Riley, William A. 1897 

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Royse, L. W. undated 

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Shafer, John D. 1918 

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"Miss Smith" 1914 

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Smith, U. H. 1919 

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Tarkington, Booth 1920 

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Vandegrift, M. R. 1903 

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Ward, Henry B. 1902 

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Zeleny, Charles 1909 

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Unknown undated