DarwinianA

The Paul R. Hicks MemoriaL

        Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882) was the most important scientist and naturalist of his time.  Bertrand Russell stated that "what Galileo and Newton were to the seventeenth century, Darwin was to the nineteenth."  Darwin's combined talents of keen observation, infinite patience and great industry in collecting facts made him T.H. Huxley's "ideal man of science."                                                                                                                                         

        As naturalist on the five-year voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle (1831-1836), Darwin synthesized the known scientific facts of his day with his own observations--especially of the flora and fauna of the Galapagos--which led eventually to his formulation of the theory of natural selection.  Upon his return to England, he arranged  his specimens, edited his notebooks, and continued local observations.  He intended to publish a large volume on species, but these plans were independent findings that mirrored Darwin's theory of natural selection.  It resulted in a simultaneous presentation at the July 1st, 1858 meeting of the Linnean Society and was later published together as a part of a single communication in the Society's Journal.  In 1859, Darwin published On the Origin of Species.  Darwin considered this work as a preliminary presentation of the theory to be followed by a complete and thorough exposition in later works.  Hence was published On the Various Contrivances by Which Orchids are Fertilized by Insects (1862),  The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication (1868),  The Descent of Man (1871), The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals  (1872), and a pioneering work in ecology,  The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Actions of Worms, With Observations on Their Habits (1881). 

       Darwin at 29, 54, and 73.  (Click to enlarge.)

Acquisition of these titles was made possible through the generous contributions of family and friends as a memorial to Paul Richard Hicks.

        Paul Richard Hicks was born on April 1, 1931 in Duncansville, PA.  He attended the Citadel and the University of South Carolina, graduating with a degree in biology.  He later took a master's degree in library science at George Peabody.  Paul served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force and taught high school before joining the faculty at Indiana in 1961,  Paul was Government Documents and Reference Librarian at IUP until his untimely death on September 13, 1985.  Many students will recall him as friendly and easily approachable, with a quick wit and a willingness to help.

        Paul was an avid reader in a number of subjects.  The library's collections have been enriched by his many gift books.  His continuing interest as a biologist was reflected in his membership in the Sierra Club and Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania.  In studying the history of biology, he developed a special interest in Charles Darwin and the theory of natural selection.  Paul was fascinated by persons of talent who displayed and independent and creative intellect-those not predisposed to judge, nor inhibited by prevailing thought;  those committed to understanding the nature of things.   He admired that character of independence in Darwin and especially in some of Darwin's protagonists, notably, Thomas Henry Huxley in the nineteenth century, and Clarence Darrow, the Scopes defense attorney, in the twentieth century.  Friends will remember that trait  of independence in Paul Hicks.

Titles acquired using the

Hicks Memorial Fund

 

Darwin, Charles.  Charles Darwins's Works.  18 Volumes.  New

York:  D. Appleton and Company, 1898-1903.

____. The Descent of Man.  London:  John Murray, 1871.

____. The Expressions of Emotions in Man and Animals.

          London:  John Murray, 1881.

____. Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of

         Worms.  London:  John Murray, 1881.

____. Journal of Research into the Natural History and

         Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage of

         H. M. S. Beagle Round the World.  London:  T. Nelson

         and Sons, 1893.

____. On the Origin of Species.  London:  John Murray,

          1859.

____. On the Various Contrivances by Which British and

          Foreign Orchids are Fertilized by Insects, and on the

          Good Effects of Intercrossing.  London:  John Murray,

          1862.

____. Power of Movement in Plants.  London:  John Murray,

          1880.

____. Variations of Animals and Plants Under Domestication.

          London:  John Murray, 1868.

Darwin, Charles and Alfred Russel Wallace.  "On the Tendencey of Species to

Form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by

Natural Means of Selection."  Communicated by Sir Charles Lyell and

J.D. Hooker.  Journal of Linnean Society, Zoology, 1859, pp. 45-62.

Darwin, Francis, editor.  The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin.  Vols. 1-3.

London: John Murray, 1887.

Lyell, Sir Charles.  The Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man.

London:  John Murray, 1863.

Wallace, Alfred Russel.  Darwinism - An Exposition of the Theory of Natural

Selection with the same Applications.  London: Macmillan and

Company, 1889.

 

The university gratefully acknowledges

the following contributors to the

Paul R. Hicks Memorial Fund

Sandra Albright and James Hitchens

Botanical Society of Indiana County

Carol Connell

Avron and Marjorie B. Douglas

Donald G. and Barbara Eisen

Thomas D. Goodrich

William F. and Jean Grayburn

Stanley J. and Eva M. Gresko

Unal K. Gurol, M.D.

Frank W. and Gwynn A. Hall

Paul N. and Edna N. Hicks

Peggy B. Hutson, M.D.

IUP APSCUF

Eugene R. and Jean Ann James

Cleoma Jenkins

Larry A. Kroah

William E. and Sylvia M. Lafranchi

Dale E. and Evelyn Landon

Jerry and Barbara Leslie

M. Kirsten Leslie

Marion Center Area Educational Association

Edward J. and Jenny S. Matosziuk

G. J. McLaughlin, D.M.D.

Priscilla A. Mewha

Nedra K. Nastase

John H. and Agnes Perry

Edward E. and Olga S. Platt

Merle and Wanda Rife

John H. and Barbara A. Scroxton

Kathleen H. Sheetz

Sheetz, Inc.

W. Wayne and June Smith

Marie Snead

Ronald A. and Joann B. Steiner

The Stone Rose Studio

Craig G. and Evelyn A. Swauger

The University School

Phillip and Donna Zorich

Here are some other websites on Charles Darwin

that may interest you.

 http://www.sc.edu/library/spcoll/nathist/darwin/darwin.html

http://honors.ccsu.ctstateu.edu/Honors/EText/Darwin/DarwinTimeLine.html

http://darwin.ws/day/

Created by Sean Craig.   Last modified: 08/03/02 .
Comments on this site and its contents are welcome; contact Phil Zorich.