238 
CALVIN PORTRAIT 
the thought, the purpose high of these its founders, memorial long- 
lasting as the course of time. 
On behalf of the Academy, in moving the acceptance of the 
memorial, Prof. Bohumil Shimek spoke feelingly: 
Rising to move the acceptance of the beautiful gift here presented, 
I do so with much hesitancy, for two reasons. 
It was not until a little while ago that I learned just what was expected 
of me on this occasion, and there has been no time for even the orderly 
arrangement of the thoughts which should here find expression. 
Then, too, I fear that the flood of memories which will come all 
unbidden will make it hard to do justice to the memory of the man 
whose kindly face looks out upon us from the canvass here presented. 
I first learned to know Professor Calvin more than forty years ago, 
when, as a Freshman, I entered his department as the factotum whose 
duty it was to furnish field-supplies for laboratory work, and during all 
the years that followed my respect and affection for him grew constantly. 
He was both teacher and friend, and it is difficult to decide in which 
capacity he gained the stronger hold upon the affections of those who 
were brought in close contact with him. 
Neither time nor the occasion will warrant an extensive account of 
Professor Calvin’s activities. As already noted in the deeply sympathetic 
letter of his long-time friend and colleague. Doctor Macbride, this is 
nQ time for biographical detail. We recall with pride his services as a 
citizen and a soldier; his scientific achievements are a matter of record 
never to be forgotten; and the memory of his splendid character will 
remain longest with those who knew him best. 
It is nearly fifty years ago that he came to the State University as 
Professor of Natural Science, and the record of his life is blended with 
the history of the development of the University and the State. Out of 
the chair of “Natural Science,” or “settee” as he facetiously called it, 
have grown the strong departments of Geology, Botany and Zoology in 
the College of Liberal Arts, and that of Bacteriology in the College of 
Medicine. He was the organizer of the Iowa Geological Survey and 
for many years the State Geologist, and the record of his work in this 
connection is too well known' to require repetition in this presence. 
While we cannot dwell upon the details of Professor Calvin’s life, 
there are two qualities that stand out particularly as characteristic of 
him as a teacher, an investigator and a man, which seem to be especially 
worthy of note at this time. I refer to his extreme modesty and his 
sterling honesty. Would that it were possible to burn the memory and the 
appreciation for the value of these qualities into the minds and the 
consciousness of the younger generation of scientific workers! A man 
of strong convictions, yet he approached every problem miodestly and 
with an open mind. There was none of that air of cock-suredness 
which is sometimes displayed by the narrow specialist, and which is sure 
