Eiseley, Loren C., 1907-1977

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Loren Corey Eiseley was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1907. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a B.S. degree in English and geology/anthropology in 1933. He received an A.M. degree in anthropology in 1935 and a Ph. D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1937. In 1937, Eiseley married Mabel Langdon. The Eiseleys moved to Kansas, then Ohio, then Pennsylvania, where Eiseley held a number of administrative posts at universities. He was active in several professional and academic honor societies including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Anthropological Association, and the Society of American Archaeology. While he was a respected scientist and educator, Loren Eiseley was also an award-winning author and poet. Some of his works include The Immense Journey (1957), Darwin's Century (1958), The Firmament of Time (1960), Notes of an Alchemist (1972), and All The Strange Hours: The Excavation of a Life (1975). Eiseley's works examined evolutionary theory, and combined science and humanism. Eiseley died in 1977.

From the description of Collection, 1889-1992 1921-1977. (University of Nebraska - Lincoln). WorldCat record id: 51250196

Correspondence to Lewis Mumford from Loren C. Eiseley and his wife, Mabel Eiseley.

From the description of Letters, 1962-1971, to Lewis Mumford. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155868048

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on 3 September 1907, Loren Corey Eiseley attended Lincoln Public Schools and graduated from the University of Nebraska Teachers College High School in 1925. Clyde Eiseley, Loren's father, traveled frequently as a hardware salesman. Loren's mother, Daisey (Corey), deaf since early childhood, had a distant relationship with her son. Loren spent much of his childhood exploring the grasslands, ponds, and creeks near his home. He became interested in anthropology and paleontology at an early age while visiting Morrill Hall, now known as the University of Nebraska State Museum, with his uncle.

Upon graduation from high school, Eiseley worked at several menial jobs before entering college at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. A bout with tuberculosis interrupted his education for a period of time, but Eiseley eventually graduated from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a B.S. degree in English and Geology/Anthropology in 1933. He continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania and received an A.M. degree in Anthropology in 1935 and a Ph.D. in 1937.

In 1937, Eiseley married Mabel Langdon, who was also a graduate of the University of Nebraska. The Eiseley's moved to Kansas where Eiseley started his teaching career as an assistant professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Kansas. Eiseley left the University of Kansas in 1944 to become Head of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Oberlin College in Ohio. After three years, he left Ohio and returned to the University of Pennsylvania where he became Chairman of the Department of Anthropology in 1947. Eiseley held that position until 1959 when he accepted the position of Provost of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1961 he stepped down as Provost and became Chairman of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science. Eiseley remained at the University of Pennsylvania until his death in 1977.

Eiseley was active in several professional and academic honor societies including Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Kappa, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Anthropological Association, and the Society of American Archaeology. Besides being a respected scientist and educator, Loren Eiseley was also an award-winning author and poet. Some of his most influential works include The Immense Journey (1957), Darwin's Century (1958), The Firmament of Time (1960), Notes of an Alchemist (1972), and All The Strange Hours: The Excavation of a Life (1975). Eiseley's works are best known for their examination of evolutionary theory and for their unique combination of science and humanism.

Loren Corey Eiseley died on 9 July 1977 and is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

From the guide to the Loren C. Eiseley, Collected Materials, 1889-1992, 1921-1977

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hallowell, A. Irving (Alfred Irving), 1892-1974. Papers, 1892-1981. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn The Perishable Press, Ltd. Records and papers, 1965-1980. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Eiseley, Loren C., 1907-1977. Collection, 1889-1992 1921-1977. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series I., General Correspondence, 1922-1977 (bulk 1946-1966). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Wallace, Anthony Francis Clarke. Anthony F. C. Wallace Papers. 1920-2000. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf McHarg, Ian L. Ian L. McHarg papers, 1942-2001. University of Pennsylvania, Architectural Archives
creatorOf Fisher, Leonard Everett. The night country : production material. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Pantheon Books. Records, 1944-1968. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn University of Pennsylvania. University Relations. News and Public Affairs. Records, 1912-1993. University of Pennsylvania, Archives & Records Center
referencedIn Hannah Kahn Papers, 1939-1987 Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
referencedIn Kahn, Hannah. Papers, 1940-1987. University of Florida
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series II., Alfred A. Knopf Personal, 1874-1984 (bulk 1953-1984). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series V., Editor Files, 1873-1984 (bulk 1960-1980). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Eiseley, Loren C., 1907-1977. Office files of The American Poetry Review, 1972. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Eiseley, Loren C., 1907-1977. Letters, 1962-1971, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Alfred Irving Hallowell Papers, 1892-1981 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Rhoads, Jonathan E. Papers, 1802-2002 (bulk 1934-2002) University of Pennsylvania, Archives & Records Center
referencedIn Loren C. Eiseley and Margaret Robb Correspondence (MS 191), 1965 University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.
creatorOf Frederick, John T. (John Towner), 1893-1975. Papers 1917-1930. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Ruben E. Reina Papers, 1951-2004 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn John Archibald Wheeler Papers, 1880-2008, 1880-2008 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Eiseley, Loren C., 1907-1977. The Gale E. Christianson collection of Eiseley research materials / [Gale E. Christianson] Lincoln City Library, Lincoln City Libraries
referencedIn Frank G. Speck papers, 1903-1950 American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Eiseley, Loren Corey, 1907-1977. Letter to Milton Monroe Reigelman. Philadelphia, PA. 1971 Jul. 12. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Hopwood Awards Collection, 1930- University of Michigan
creatorOf Nemerov, Howard. Papers. Washington University in St. Louis, .
creatorOf Eiseley, Loren C., 1907-1977. [Letter] 1976 September 9, Philadelphia [to] Sylvia Davis, Long Island City, N.Y. / Loren Eiseley. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Nemerov, Howard. Papers, 1939-1985. Washington University in St. Louis, .
creatorOf Loren C. Eiseley, Collected Materials, 1889-1992, 1921-1977 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library
referencedIn Manuscripts on Native Americans, 1913-1946, 1913-1946 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Speck, Frank G. (Frank Gouldsmith), 1881-1950. Manuscripts on Native Americans, 1913-1946. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Manuscript music compositions, 1880-1985. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Christianson, Gale E. person
associatedWith Davis, Sylvia. person
associatedWith Eiseley, Mabel. person
associatedWith Fisher, Leonard Everett. person
associatedWith Frederick, John T. (John Towner), 1893-1975. person
associatedWith Hallowell, A. Irving (Alfred Irving), 1892-1974. person
associatedWith Kahn, Hannah person
associatedWith Kahn, Hannah. person
associatedWith Loren C. Eiseley and Margaret Robb person
associatedWith McHarg, Ian L. person
associatedWith Moldenhauer, Hans person
associatedWith Nemerov, Howard. person
associatedWith Pantheon Books. corporateBody
correspondedWith Provine, William B. person
associatedWith Reigelman, Milton Monroe, 1942- , person
associatedWith Reina, Ruben E. person
associatedWith Rhoads, Jonathan E. person
associatedWith Speck, Frank G. (Frank Gouldsmith), 1881-1950. person
associatedWith The Perishable Press, Ltd. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Pennsylvania. University Relations. News and Public Affairs. corporateBody
associatedWith Wallace, Anthony F. C., 1923- person
associatedWith Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Authors, American
Authors, American
Anthropologists
Anthropologists
Naturalists
Naturalists
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1907-09-03

Death 1977-07-09

Americans

English

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