MEMOIR or SAMUEL CALVIN 6 



strong departments of the university, requiring the services of eight full 

 professors and a score of assistants. 



Cornell College conferred on him the degree of M, A. in 1874 and 

 LL. D. in 1904, and from Lenox College he received the degree of Ph. D. 

 in 1888. 



Professor Calvin's scientific training, like that of some of his most 

 noted contemporaries, was obtained largely in contact with the natural 

 world, and he was thus untrammeled by preconceived conceptions or too 

 great dependence upon working hypotheses, which so often hamper inde- 

 pendent effort in scientific research. He found his inspiration in a 

 deep love and enthusiastic appreciation of nature, and he brought to his 

 work a critically keen judgment and an uncompromising allegiance to 

 simple truth which made for thoroughness and accuracy. 



When he entered upon his scientific work in the later sixties the geo- 

 logical field of the upper Mississippi Valley was but imperfectly devel- 

 oped. In his earlier years he found himself hampered by lack of sup- 

 port, and year after year he carried on his paleontological field work at 

 his own expense, and thus accumulated a notable collection of fossils 

 which is now in the State University of Iowa, and forms a fitting monu- 

 ment to his perseverance. His early studies and teaching experience in 

 various fields gave to his judgment an unusual breadth and balance, and 

 his earlier work in comparative zoology and osteology enabled him to 

 carry out some of his most notable work in later years. 



The Iowa Geological Survey was organized largely through his efforts 

 in 1892, and his appointment as State Geologist presented an oppor- 

 tunity for the broadening of his sphere of acti\dty, and he pursued not 

 only the paleontological and stratigraphic studies of the older forma- 

 tions, but entered upon the investigation of the then little understood 

 Pleistocene, and with his associates, who worked under his direction, he 

 made of Iowa classic ground in this field. 



He resigned as State Geologist in 1904, but was again appointed in 

 1906, and served to the time of his death. The twenty volumes of the 

 Peports of the Iowa Geological Survey, published almost wholly under 

 his direction and containing many of his personal contributions, are a 

 splendid testimonial to his zeal, his industry, and his scientific acumen. 



Professor Calvin was one of the founders of the American Geologist in 

 1888, and its editor-in-chief from 1888 to 1894. and associate editor from 

 1894 to 1905. Of the men who were associated with him in this under- 

 taking only Dr. E. 0. Flrich and Dr. ?^. H. Winchell remain. 



He was active in various scientific societies, holding membership in the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science (secretary of Sec- 



