Calvert E. Norland Manuscript, Print, and Artifact Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS-0175

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Calvert E. Norland Manuscript, Print, and Artifact Collection measures 4 linear feet plus 161 items and date from 2nd century CE to 1995. The collection is arranged in four series.

The Professional series (1803 - 1973) contains Norland’s certificates and awards, correspondence as well as correspondence and research material collected by Norland, and his lecture notes and papers.

The Personal series (1944 – 1995) contains correspondence with Betty Norland during World War II when Calvert Norland was stationed in Calcutta, India, correspondence from friends and colleagues, items regarding Norland’s interests in art and music and his philanthropic interest in the SDSU library, and in particular in Special Collections and University Archives.

The Prints and Drawings series (1785-1929) contains engravings and prints of portraits of scientists, sketches of human and insect anatomy, botany and facsimiles of historic documents on astronomy.

The Artifacts (2nd century CE – 1880) series contains microscopic instruments (microscopes, magnifying glasses and slide specimens) as well as Roman bronze surgical instruments.

Dates

Creation: 2nd century-1995
Creation: Majority of material found in 1785-1995

Creator

Norland, Calvert E. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Biographical Note

Calvert E. Norland (1908 – 2002) was born June 24, 1908 in Los Angeles, later moving to Orange County, California in 1911 where he attended public schools. His interest in entomology led to studies at Santa Ana Junior College and Pomona College where he graduated magna cum laude in 1931. It was during this time he met and married his wife, Elisabeth Davenport Crow, also a graduate of Pomona College. The young couple moved to Berkeley where Mr. Norland continued his studies, receiving his M.S. from University of California at Berkeley.

Mr. Norland was an Entomologist-Agricultural Inspector in Orange County from 1933 to 1939. He received his teaching credentials from Claremont College in 1939. From 1939 to 1940 he did graduate work in education and entomology at the University of California at Berkeley and from 1954 to 1958 graduate courses in education at the University of Southern California.

Professor Norland was an officer in the United States Army where he served as a Medical Entomologist from 1942 to 1947 in India, China and Japan. He left the army as a Lt. Colonel.

His career at San Diego State University began in 1947 as an Instructor and Professor of Entomology, Zoology and Botany where he worked until his retirement in 1976. Professor Norland was a member of several scientific societies. Both he and his wife were avid supporters of music and art throughout their marriage and were members of the San Diego Opera, Symphony and the San Diego Museum of Art.

He and Elisabeth (Betty), a well-known botanist, were married 62 years until her death in 1993. Their son, Eric, died in 1969. Dr. Norland passed away on September 20, 2002 in Arcadia, California.

In 1974, Professor Calvert E. Norland and Elisabeth C. Norland donated to the Library their extensive personal library on the history of biology and the sciences.