Collection Guide
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Scott (Carroll De Wilton) Collection
LA.2010.800
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library
Title: Carroll De Wilton Scott Collection, 1909-1964
creator:
Scott, Carroll De Wilton, 1878-1970
Identifier/Call Number: LA.2010.800
Physical Description:
2.0 Linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1909-1964
Abstract: The Carroll De Wilton Scott Collection, ca. 1900-1964, consists primarily of nature writings of Scott, including diaries,
poetry, children's stories and music, reflections, and descriptive prose. A smaller part of the collection includes articles,
clippings, and illustrations collected by Scott.
Series I (approximately one-quarter of the collection) contains six volumes of nature diaries written by Scott from 1909
to 1949. The diaries are primarily manuscript. They record detailed personal observations of nature, including species lists
and descriptive prose. The diaries also contain reflections on topics such as the future of humanity, historical information,
and miscellaneous personal records on topics such as finances and progress on writing projects. A separate volume contains
a cumulative typescript index prepared by the author. The series also includes manuscript and typescript lists of wildflowers
in bloom and seeds collected at Scott's home in Pacific Beach, CA, from 1955 to 1957.
Approximately half of the collection (Series II) consists of various collections of poetry, children's stories and songs,
reflections, and descriptive prose written by Scott. The documents are primarily typescript with manuscript notations by Scott.
The collections were prepared, bound, and indexed by the author. This series also includes looseleaf typescript writings (e.g.,
"Summary of Mankind," 1945-1953), copies of publications that contain a poem or story written by Scott, lists covering topics
such as Scott's literary output, and collections of source articles with notations by Scott.
Series III contains other materials collected by Scott, including miscellaneous nature articles, illustrations, and newspaper
clippings. A letter of donation by his son, Robert S. (Bob) Scott, with autobiographical and biographical material, is included
with this series.
Carroll De Wilton Scott was a naturalist, educator, and prolific writer of poetry, stories, reflections, and articles about
the natural world. Scott was born on December 2, 1878 in Stevenville, Texas, and moved with his parents to San Diego county
in 1882. He graduated from Stanford University in 1902 and lived for one year in Nevada; he taught history briefly in San
Mateo before taking up farming in Pacific Beach. In September 1910, he married Edith Mills and began teaching. He worked in
the San Diego County public school system from 1914 to 1934, first as a teacher and later as Supervisor of Natural Study.
He served as the first Director of Education for the San Diego Natural History Museum from 1920-1921, and for many years,
he wrote weekly California nature articles for local newspapers. His publications include Manual of Nature Education for San
Diego Elementary Schools (1927), Finding Real Fairies (1945), Looking for California Condors (1945), Story of Southern California
Wildflowers (1955), Here's Don Coyote (1956), and California Nature Poems (1957). He died in San Diego on April 2, 1970.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment. Contact the Research Library Director, San Diego Natural History Museum.
Copyright may be reserved. Consult the San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library Director for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated to the San Diego Natural History Research Library by Robert S. Scott in November 2003.
[Identification of item], Carroll De Wilton Scott Collection, 1909-1964. San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library, San Diego, CA.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Natural history literature--Study and teaching.
Natural history--California.
Nature--Poetry.