George W. Hunter Papers
Finding aid prepared by Sara Chetney, MA
Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library
800 North Dartmouth Ave
Claremont 91711
Email: spcoll@cuc.claremont.edu
URL: http://libraries.claremont.edu/sc/default.html
© 2018
Claremont University Consortium. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
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
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], George W. Hunter Papers (H.Mss.0427). Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont,
California.
Accruals
No additions to the collection are anticipated.
Processing Information
Original order maintained. Items were rehoused in archival folders and boxes. Metal fasteners were removed and replaced with
plastic.
Biographical / Historical
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).
Scope and Contents
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.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection is arranged at the file level.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library’s online public access catalog.
Subject Terms
Biology
Education Curricula
Educators -- United States
Health education
Health--Research
Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)
Genre and Form of Materials
Correspondence
Questionnaires
Reports
Box 1, Folder 1
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges (folder 1)
Note
Questionnaires to colleges throughout southern California - junior colleges, high Schools and colleges.
Box 1, Folder 2
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges (folder 2)
Box 1, Folder 3
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges (folder 3)
Box 1, Folder 4
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges (folder 4)
Box 1, Folder 5
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges (folder 5)
Box 1, Folder 6
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges (folder 6)
Box 1, Folder 7
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges (folder 7)
Box 1, Folder 8
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges (folder 8)
Box 1, Folder 9
Correspondence from JB Lellod, President of Sacramento Junior College
1928 January 13
Box 1, Folder 10
Information (folder 1)
Note
Health cards for various schools throughout southern California: special bulletin from the Glendale Junior College dated November
17, 1927;
summary of work in Corrective Physical Education, September 1927 to January 27, 1928; and descriptive outline of health instruction
and care
given girls in Chaffey Union High School and Junior College, 1924-1927.
Box 1, Folder 11
Information (folder 2)
Note
Health cards for various schools throughout southern California, 1920s: Brown University Psychological Examination Series
II and psychological exam for high school graduates and college frosh - 1926 series and 1927 series.
Box 1, Folder 12
Information (folder 3)
Note
Various information from southern California schools, health cards and requirements for the late 1920s. Correspondence from
Mauriel
Lomband, Director of Physical Education for Women at San Jose State Teachers College, October 13, 1927, and notes for Pomona
College dated September 8,
1927.
Box 1, Folder 13
Information (folder 4)
Note
Health cards from various schools through southern California, 1920s. Correspondence from V. L. Duke, President of University
of Redlands, December 16, 1927.
Correspondence from Robert L. Breeden, graduate manager of College of the Pacific, October 12, 1927. Report of Activities
in clinic and infirmary, 1926-1927.
Schedule of classes, September 1927 to January 1928, and Whittier College memo from J. H. Coffia, September 20, 1927 and also
from Beryl Cole (secretary),
January 21, 1928.
Box 1, Folder 14
Information (folder 5)
Note
Health cards from various schools throughout southern California. College of the Pacific freshman day program, 1926; annual
report - College of the Pacific
Infirmary, 1926-1927; infirmary summaries, September 16 to June 10, 1927 and correspondence from summaries, September 16 to
June 10, 1927; and correspondence
from Inga Howard, secretary to Dr. Millikan at California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, August 3, 1927.
Box 2, Folder 1
Progressive Education Association and correspondence
Note
Includes: Progressive Education Association, April 27, 1937 and correspondence to Dr. M. L. Darsie, dean of School of Education,
University
of Southern California, October 14, 1927 and April 29, 1937.
Box 2, Folder 2
Notes
Note
Includes: Problem of Transfer of Naming (1928-1937) handwritten notes; Education and organized interests in America by Bruce
Ramp, 1936.
Box 2, Folder 3
Correspondence from Claremont Colleges to Dr. Hunter
1933 June 17
Box 2, Folder 4
Correspondence from E. Laurence Palmer, professor of Rural Education at Cornell University
1938-1939
Box 2, Folder 5
Correspondence and response from Lee E . Boyer
1938 September 15
Box 2, Folder 6
Correspondence
1929
Note
Correspondence to Mr. Earl Wright, Fresno Teachers College, May 23, 1929; Mr. E. L. Brown, principal of Chico High School,
May 22, 1929; and
Miss Nichols, November 21, 1929.
Box 2, Folder 7
Various miscellaneous notes
Note
Includes: Mr. Poultnery, science 1B; list of lectures throughout southern California colleges; a plan of courses to take,
1928-1929; and
correspondence to Dr. Donglais, April 4, 1928.
Box 2, Folder 8
Hand-written notes - outline for summary
Box 2, Folder 9
Reports (folder 1)
Note
Report of visit to Humboldt Teachers College, October 20-November 3; health education in primary grades at Humboldt; Humboldt
State Teachers
college confidental medical report; course survey - Humboldt State Teachers College, April 2, 1929; and suggestions for improvement,
October 1928.
Box 2, Folder 10
Reports (folder 2)
Note
Report of Fresno State Teachers College, visits May 13-16 and 22-24. Miscellaneous notes on hygiene courses taught in schools;
and correspondence
from Mabel Akers, December 6, 1929.
Box 2, Folder 11
Health
Note
Includes: College hygiene and the health service, 1920-1929 and the Gates-Strang Health Knowledge test.
Box 2, Folder 12
Food and health
Note
Includes: Food selection score card demonstration, September 1926; lunchroom standards; unit course in hygiene and public
heath; coordinator of health
work; and Can you "pass" in health intelligence by William R. P. Emerson, M.D.
Box 2, Folder 13
Student - health service and instruction
Box 2, Folder 14
School health program
Note
Includes: personal health score card, directory of the public schools (1928-1929); a study of the organization and administration
of the school health
program, 1920s; and the district school information sheet.
Box 2, Folder 15
Health education
Note
Includes: correspondence from Peterson, director of health, May 13, 1929; health education conference, June 23-28, 1924; health
instruction; questionnaires
given to physical education majors, April 22, 1929; and hygiene questionnaires.
Box 2, Folder 16
Correspondence
1928-1930
Note
Correspondence from Earl Wright, March 7, 1929; correspondence from Edna Bailey, January 28, 1930; and correspondence from
Theresa Dansdill, December 13,
1928.
Box 2, Folder 17
Correspondence
1925 June 30 and undated
Note
Correspondence from Mr. I. T. Chapman, June 30, 1925 and letter to President of Colgate University.
Box 2, Folder 18
Correspondence and health, grades, and taxes
Note
Correspondence from Edward L. Marishaler, April 30, 1929 and health, grades, and taxes from 1924-1927
Box 2, Folder 19
Personal inventory and correspondence
Note
Includes: personal inventory B2-C3; correspondence to Mrs. Edythe Tate-Thompson, April 5, 1928; correspondence from Sophia
Peterson, April 12,
March 30, and April 30, 1929. Various correspondences dating from March 3, 1928 thru January 21, 1930.
Box 2, Folder 20
Various correspondences
1928 December 13-1929 April 16
Box 3, Folder 1
Correspondence from Edyth Tate-Thompson
1927 June 2-1928 November 1
Box 3, Folder 2
Correspondence from Edyth Tate-Thompson
1927 July 20-1928 October 29
Box 3, Folder 3
Correspondence from Edyth Tate-Thompson
1928 November 26-1930 January 30
Box 3, Folder 4
Various correspondences to George W. Hunter
1927 October 4-1930 March 18
Box 3, Folder 5
Writings
Note
Includes: California Anti-Vivisection, Inc. - "Abolition," February 3, 1928 and summary of longevity of college athletes,
1880-1915.
Box 3, Folder 6
Public health and standards
Note
Includes: Los Angeles County Public Health Association, March 9, 1928; Find health survey of the small college and junior
colleges, 1927; personal
health standard for adults, 1925; and educational tests and scales, 1928.
Box 3, Folder 8
Californian Tuberculosis Association teacher training college reports
Box 3, Folder 9
Various correspondences
1927 August 10-1928 December 19
Box 3, Folder 10
Outline and correspondence
Note
A general outline and syllabus on hygiene. Correspondence to Dr. Hunter, January 18, 1928.
Box 3, Folder 11
Possible causes of underweight, Humboldt Teacher College
Box 3, Folder 12
Various correspondences from Southern California colleges
1927 August 19-1928 January 13
Box 3, Folder 13
Various correspondences from Southern California colleges
1927 July 28-1928 February 17
Box 3, Folder 14
Report on field work in teachers' colleges of California
1928 September-1930 January
Note
Includes rough drafts.
Box 3, Folder 15
Personal hand-written notes on final reports, statistics, and plotted information
Box 3, Folder 16
Personal hygiene - health education
Box 3, Folder 17
Plan for health education questionnaire to colleges
Box 3, Folder 19
Notes on Personal Health Score Card for use in high schools and colleges
Box 3, Folder 20
Correspondences to Mrs. Edyth Tate-Thompson
1927 July 28-1930 March 6
Box 3, Folder 21
Various correspondences
1937 December 9-1938 April 28
Box 4, Folder 1
Acceptability factors
1919-1925
Box 4, Folder 2
Journals
Note
Includes: Joliet Township High School Bulletin, November 7, 1927; What can be done regarding unfounded beliefs?, May 14, 1932;
Is there a
sequence in secondary school science?, December 13, 1924; and Science Newsletter, June 11, 1938.
Box 4, Folder 3
Tests
Note
Includes: reading test (no dates but it is for grade school children); health materials for school, April 7, 1938; commercial
law test, 1930;
and achievement test number 1 for general business training, 1932.
Box 4, Folder 4
Application for American Nature Association fellowship in conservation education
Box 4, Folder 5
Secondary school science
Note
Questionnaire on practices and points of view in secondary school science instruction; objectives of secondary school science,
1937, and final report.
Box 4, Folder 6
Preparation for biological science
Box 4, Folder 7
Bills, receipts, and some handwritten notes
