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Hunter (George W.) Papers
H.Mss.0427
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Title: Hunter (George W.) Papers
Dates: 1919-1939 and undated
Collection number: H.Mss.0427
Creator:
Hunter, George W. (George William)
Extent:
1.75 Linear Feet
(3 letter document boxes, 1 slim document box)
Repository:
Claremont Colleges. Library. Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library. Claremont, CA 91711
Abstract: This collection contains materials from the papers of George W. Hunter, a biology professor and textbook author active in
the early part of the twentieth century. Items include questionnaires, correspondence, and reports regarding school health
education curricula. Hunter held many teaching positions, and is probably best known for writing "Civic Biology: Presented
in Problems," the 1914 biology textbook which figured into the infamous Scopes "Monkey" trial of 1925 due to its inclusion
of teachings on evolution. Later in life, Hunter taught classes at Pomona College and lectured at Claremont Graduate University.
Physical Location: Please consult repository.
Language of Material: Languages represented in the collection: English.
Administrative Information
Collection open for research.
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to Special Collections.
[Identification of item], George W. Hunter Papers (H.Mss.0427). Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont,
California.
No additions to the collection are anticipated.
Original order maintained. Items were rehoused in archival folders and boxes. Metal fasteners were removed and replaced with
plastic.
George W. Hunter (circa 1874 - 1948) was born in Mamaroneck, New York and earned his doctorate in from New York University.
He was a biology teacher, professor, and textbook author. In the course of his career, Hunter wrote or co-wrote twenty biology
textbooks.
Most notably, in 1914 Hunter published "A Civic Biology: Presented in Problems," the textbook that was the center of the notorious
Scopes "Monkey" Trial. As part of an ACLU strategy, John Thomas Scopes was put on trial in 1925 for using the text in violation
of Tennessee's Butler Act, which forbade the teaching of evolution in any state-funded school. In his book, Hunter expressed
acceptance of evolution, but also of eugenics and scientific racism. The text was the state-approved biology text before the
Butler act, but after the trial, apparently due to the criticism leveled at it during the proceedings, an updated version
of "Civic Biology" was issued in 1927 with the five pages on evolution removed.
After teaching at Knox College and Carleton College, in 1926 Hunter joined Pomona College as a biology teacher, giving one
class per semester. He also lectured at Claremont Graduate University, and lived in Claremont until his death in 1948.
Sources
Blackstock, Joe (5 October 2009). "Book at center of Scopes 'Monkey' Trial written by future Claremont professor.” Inland
Valley Daily Bulletin. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091009030012/http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_13489529
(Accessed 20 February 2018).
Wikipedia contributors, "Civic Biology," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed February 21, 2018).
Wikipedia contributors, "George William Hunter," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed February 21, 2018).
This collection contains questionnaires, correspondence, and reports regarding school health education curricula. Reports
cover health education at the high school,
junior college, and college level.
This collection is arranged at the file level.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library’s online public access catalog.
Biology
Education Curricula
Educators -- United States
Health education
Health--Research
Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)
Correspondence
Questionnaires
Reports