Guide to Charles Russell Orcutt Papers
MS 5
Finding aid prepared by Jennifer Vanoni
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
May 31, 2013
Title: Charles Russell Orcutt Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 5
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear feet
(5 boxes)
Date: 1878-1952
Abstract: This collection contains materials related to Charles Russell Orcutt’s work in Jamaica, Haiti, Mexico and the American Southwest
as well as his family history.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
creator:
Orcutt, Charles Russell
Biographical / Historical Notes
Charles Russell Orcutt, born in Vermont in 1864, was a pioneer naturalist of the American Southwest. He was a resident of
San Diego from 1879 until his death in 1929, but spent much of his time traveling and collecting botanical and zoological
specimens for supply houses and research organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution. His travels took him throughout
the American Southwest, Mexico and to the islands of the Caribbean, where he died. Self-educated, Orcutt was an entrepreneur
and an editor of his own scientific journals, and made significant contributions to the fields of botany and malacology.
Scope and Content
This collection contains materials related to Charles Russell Orcutt’s work in Jamaica, Haiti, Mexico and the American Southwest
as well as his family history. The materials consist of correspondence, journals, writings, research and field notes and personal
items. Orcutt often reused paper from letters he had received, creating several instances of more than one piece of correspondence
on a single sheet. Some correspondence is transcribed. The best collection of Orcutt materials extant, the collection chronicles
the last few years of the naturalist’s life. The completeness and format of the correspondence in particular, provide an almost
daily record of his activities during this period. The collection also includes volumes of Orcutt’s two major journals, the
Jamaica Naturalist and the West American Scientist. There is genealogical information on the Orcutt family and materials regarding
other family members, including his wife Olive Eddy Orcutt, a San Diego physician and the first woman M.D. graduated from
the University of Michigan, his mother, and his children and grandchildren.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by series:
Series I: Charles Russell Orcutt Professional Papers
Series II: Charles Russell Orcutt Family Papers
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Most of the papers including datebooks, journals and field notes are fragile and some have water stains. The more fragile
pieces have been placed in protective sleeves or envelopes. (May 2013)
Preferred Citation
Charles Russell Orcutt Papers, MS 5, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Jennifer Vanoni on May 15, 2013.
Comments
Photographs were removed to the Photograph Department. See Collection #82:14189.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 810606 and 831025A.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bartram, Edwin B.
Ivec, Eunice Orcutt
Orcutt, Charles Eddy
Orcutt, Eliza
Orcutt, Heman
Orcutt, Mary
Orcutt, Olive Eddy
Vendryes, Henry
American Southwest
Botany
Butterflies
Cactus
Conchologists
Ferns
Haiti
Jamaica
Malacologists
Mexico
Mollusks
Phanerogams
San Diego Society of Natural History
Shells
Smithsonian Institution
West Indies
Series I
Charles Russell Orcutt Professional Papers
Box-folder 1:1
Journal – “Review of the Cactacae” Part 1, Vol. I Nos. 2-4, Vol. 2 Nos. 5-7
1897-1902
Box-folder 1:2
Journal – “Botany of Southern California” (with review)
1901, (1903)
Box-folder 1:3
Journal – “American Plants” Vol. I No. 6, Vol. 2, Vol. 3 (various pages of each)
1907-1910
Box-folder 1:4
Journal – “Orcutt’s Mexico” Vol. I No. 1
Aug 1913
Box-folder 1:5
Journal – “Molluscan World” Vol. I
1915
Box-folder 1:6
Journal – “Jamaican Naturalist” Vol. I Nos. 1-4, various loose pages, “The American Botanist with reference to “Jamaica Naturalist”,
Notes.
1927-1928
Box-folder 1:7
Journal – “West American Scientist” Index to Volumes I, II, III and IV, Vol. XXIV No. 177
1884-88, 1928
Box-folder 1:8
Other writings –
1885, 1889, 1909, 1918
Includes:
“Notes on the Mollusks of the Vicinity of San Diego, Cal., and Todos Santos Bay, Lower Cal.”
“The Oaks of San Diego”
“Helix Areolata”
“In Baja California”
“Impressions of Jamaica”
Box-folder 1:9
Research Notes (handwritten) -
Includes:
“Mosses of Jamaica”
“Butterflies of Jamaica”
“Land Snails of Jam.”
“Shells of Jamaica (Terrestrial)
“Shells of Jamaica (Marine)
“Shells of Jamaica (Fresh Water)
“Notes on Cacti, Chiefly West Indian”
“Jamaican Phanerogams Collected by C.R. Orcutt”
“List of the Determinations of Jamaican Phanerogams Collected by C.R. Orcutt”
“Collections Made in the West Indies by Charles Russell Orcutt”
Box-folder 1:11
Journal Advertisement – “Science and Horticulture”
30 Oct 1892
Box-folder 2:1
Miscellaneous Specimen Notes
Box-folder 3:1
Field Notes (Fragile, Unbound Notebook)
Box-folder 2:4
Fields Notes (Loose Pages)
Box-folder 2:6
Correspondence – Smithsonian Institution, Re: Collecting
4 Feb 1927 - 8 Dec 1930
Box-folder 2:7
Correspondence – Re: Specimen and Order Information
1921-1929
Box-folder 2:8
Correspondence – Fr. De Laet, Belgium, Re: Specimens
1926-1928
Box-folder 3:1
Correspondence – Re: Requests for Journals
1926-1929
Box-folder 3:2
Correspondence – Miscellaneous Professional Correspondence
1895, 1922-29
Box-folder 3:3
Correspondence – Re: Travel and Introductions
1894-1928
Box-folder 3:4-5
Ephemera – Caribbean Islands
Box-folder 3:8
Ephemera – Professional Associations
Box-folder 3:9
Miscellaneous Professional Notes
Box-folder 3:12
Letters to Henry Vendryes (not from Orcutt)
Box-folder 3:13
Writings of Edwin B. Bartram
Series II
Charles Russell Orcutt Family Papers
Box-folder 4:1-5
Correspondence – To Olive Orcutt (Wife) from C.R. Orcutt
1922-1929
Box-folder 4:6
Correspondence – From Olive Orcutt to C.R. Orcutt
1922-1928
Box-folder 4:7-8
Correspondence – To & From Orcutt Children and Grandchildren
Box-folder 4:9
Correspondence – To & From C.R. Orcutt’s Parents
Box-folder 4:10
Correspondence – From Acquaintances
Box-folder 5:1
C.R. Orcutt Birth Certificate, Biography and Orcutt Geneology
Box-folder 5:3
San Diego Society of Natural History Library Donation
1922-1929
Box-folder 5:6
Charles Eddy Orcutt (Son) – Writings and Short Stories
1930-1950
Includes:
Listing of “Saturday Evening Post” Articles
“The Army Worm”
“The Army Worm Turns”
“Andrada’s Jewel Case” (x2)
“Super Champ vs Super Challenger”
“The Mongolian Mastoid”
“The Grizzly and the Rat”
“Something About Cossacks”
“Even a Cat”
Box-folder 5:9
Eunice Orcutt Ivec (Daughter)
