THE 



NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



Vol. 13 February. 1917 No. 2 



Dr. Elliot R. Downing 



Retiring Editor of The Nature-Study Review 



We are glad to give to our readers this excellent portrait of him who 

 has for six years given his time and energies to the editing of The 

 Nature-Study Review with whole-hearted devotion. At the death of 

 Professor Fred. L. Charles, so deeply lamented by us all, Dr. Downing 

 took charge of The Review and thus rescued it from suspension ; for, 

 at that time, there seemed to be no one else at liberty who had suffi- 

 cient interest in it to keep the little magazine alive. Nor was Dr. 

 Downing at liberty, for he Hke most professors in most Universities, 

 had plenty to do in conducting his department and in teaching his 

 pupils. Yet he has, during these six years, sacrificed his scant leisure 

 to work for The Review and has done so cheerfully and with faith that 

 the result was worthy the sacrifice. Surely his efforts have met with 

 universal appreciation and response. 



Dr. Downing has always held The Review up to a high standard, 

 especially in its scientific quality; and he has sought earnestly to keep 

 it in touch with the work of the public schools and with all phases of 

 civic biology. He has made it a periodical of which we all have been 

 proud, and it is with universal regret that his resignation as editor has 

 been accepted. He pleads for a vacation and an opportunity to devote 

 his leisure to personal work in which he is deeply interested. How- 

 ever, we are not without hope that he may some day be persuaded to 

 resume his editorial connection with The Nature-Study Review. 



Dr. Downing was born in Boston, November first, i868. He gradu- 

 ated at Albion College in 1889 with a degree of B.S.; he then became In- 

 structor in Science in Beloit College Academy. He received the degree 

 of M.S., from Albion in 1894 and the degree of Ph. D., from Chicago 

 University in 190 1. He held the position of Professor of Biology in 

 the Northern State Normal School of Michigan from 1901 to 19 11 and 

 then was made Assistant Professor of Zoology in the School of Educa- 

 tion of Chicago University, and since 19 14 has been Associate Professor 

 of Natural Science in this institution. 



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