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Guide to Charles Russell Orcutt Papers
MS 5
MS 5
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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.
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.
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.
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)
Charles Russell Orcutt Papers, MS 5, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Collection processed by Jennifer Vanoni on May 15, 2013.
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