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Darwin’s Library Is Now Digital

June 22, 2011, 8:01 pm

By PageView Editor

For scholars, Charles Darwin’s marginalia has offered clues to his evolution as a thinker.

Now with the digitization of his personal library, the English naturalist’s notes and scribbles are being made available online for the first time, reports the University of Cambridge, whose library holds most of Darwin’s collection.

Cambridge is a partner in the digitization project along with the Darwin Manuscripts Project at the American Museum of Natural History; the Library of the Natural History Museum (London); and the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

Darwin’s 1,480-book library included 730 titles with copious research notes in their margins. In the completed first phase of the digitization process, 330 heavily annotated books can be perused, giving readers, says Cambridge, a direct view of the “Darwinian intellectual machine in action.”

The annotations have a separate search mechanism—a key word or phrase will bring up an image of the page so that one can witness the naturalist as reader in all his underscoring vehemence. Consider, for example, this comment on Charles Lyell’s claim, in Principles of Geology, that there were limits on species variations. “If this were true,” thunders Darwin in the margins, “adios theory.”

Image courtesy of Cambridge University Library

 

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  • old nassau’67

    Where did Mullen get his stats? Even a brief glimpse of Yale’s class of 2014 (http://opac.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=7706) raises serious questions. Examples:
    1. Mullen: “more than half came from the top 15 percent by income nationally”. Yale: “Approximately 59% of the freshmen qualified for Yale’s generous financial aid program….The average financial aid grant to an eligible freshman this year is $35,700, or about 75% of the cost of attendance…” Looks like the “top 15 percent” ain’t that high.
    2. Mullen: “These students often “arrived on the back of tremendous childhood advantages.” Yale: “…Of the new students, 56% came from public high schools,…36% identify themselves as members of minority groups….” So: being a minority student at a public high school = “tremendous childhood advantages”?

    But, more than data which does not compute, is the article’s assumption that attending Yale is “better” than studying at Southern: “Degrees of Inequality paints a vivid and disturbing picture of the growing class divide in American higher education.” The only “disturbing” aspect of this article, and (perhaps) the book, is the belief that every Southern student wants, and should go, to Yale. Snobbish nonsense. The trades, occupations, and “workforce” are no less honorable (and often more – look at banking, finance, and politics) and as essential as “a prestigious major” selected for the purpose of making as much $$ as possible.

  • huntbull

    princeton67 suggests that it is “Snobbish nonsense” to assume that an education from Yate is somehow preferable to one from Southern Conn., noting that all honest work is worthy of equal respect.
    I was a college debater once, and know a nice argument that consciously misses the point when I see one. Of course graduates of Southern are as valuable as people, and perhaps more noble in many ways, than those of Yale—that is hardly the point. The point is that we have a system that stacks the deck massively in favor of the Yalees…and the data showing that many Yale students get financial aid from Yale (note the high tuition) or attended public high school (like, uh, most of our kids) hardly undermines the massive privilege of that institution. The US chooses to have such educational inequalities, and even to embrace them—fair enough, but let’s not pretend that they do not exist.

  • hypatia

    I would not want to hire someone for a writing position who thinks that “never mind” is all one word, and who misuses “as such”:  It does not mean “therefore” or “hence”.  Worse still, the letter provides the reader with no concrete evidence for supposing the writer has “walked the walk” or “talked the talk”.  Moreover, the injunction, before the letter, to “enjoy” suggests that the writer has an inflated view of the value of his own writing. Assuming that this article manifests his abilities and experience, the writer has provided every reason for me not to hire him.

  • kay99

    Comment @Portia, Abel and Hypatia — I do not teach but I have worked in higher ed since 1977. It always amazes me how negatively critical faculty are. I’ve often wondered how much better the institution would be if faculty didn’t tear each other to bits. But perhaps this is the way higher ed “polices” itself. Or perhaps it helps one grow a thick skin and an inflated view of self.

  • cmcclain

    If hundreds of applicants apply for the same position then such nitpicks will determine which applications can be dumped early on in the search. The OP would do well to heed the advice of  the “negatively critical” faculty who realize that applications are first sorted by the small but glaring errors. A hiring committee member might even reach the conclusion that grammatical mistakes and lack of relevance to the institution reflect the writer’s work ethic and intended commitment to the position, if hired.

  • ctaylor32

    portiacoelhi, your second to last statement is precisely why his letter is good. All the things that you outline prior to that statement can be done when he comes to campus. You proved his letter to be as effective as he felt it was.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gary-North/100000049168139 Gary North

    What a joke! College presidents such as Mr. Schulz may not realize it,but “the dog-tail and all- is out of the kennel  and most don’t know that the the gate was left open”. Presidents come out with such platitudes from time to time ,and perhaps with some degree of sincerity .But the commercialization of “big time”college sports has advanced so far that even if presidents had the will to attempt to retake control ,too much money is involved,too many fans,donors and trustees would not tollerate it and too many athletic directors and coaches would find ways to roadblock the effort. Not only is the tail wagging the dog,but many presidents of “big time’ programs are out in front leading the cheers. Tune in – long after Mr. Schulz has passed from the scene -,big time sports will still be rolling along,unchecked…unless the money drys up.

  • manoflamancha

    Socratease2: well, you sure change stripes easily! I still say we shut the whole enterprise down. We can not afford it. A good practices formula should be: does this activity enhance the academic program? If no, then it must go!

  • Socratease2

    No, you misunderstand what I am saying, I did not alter my stripes at all. My response concerning the role of Presidents, the actual institutional representative who supposedly help “self-govern” the NCAA, has nothing to do with whether athletic departments should be maintained or abolished. Every post I have put out concerning this topic has supported the role of athletics at the university level. But, do I have major criticisms about how athletics is governed and how media dollars has transformed much for the negative. I want to see the system improved, not cancelled. So, in my opinion, athletics does enhance that academic mission. And if anyone who enjoys calling athletics corrupt actually worked in an athletic department  they would see very quickly that there is a lot of good work, work that supports and enhances the  overall education for most student-athletes. Is it a perfect institution? No it is not, but that is the nature of human affairs, the pursuit of the “good” can have negative side-effects. Is the solution not to do anything and sit on your hands if  some unobtainable, ideological goal is not possible. The world is material and messy, get used to it and celebrate the good that is there.

  • prfsr1

    I wish President Kirk well – it is an honorable goal.  A little over 10 yrs. ago, I was a social science adjunct at Kansas State which had a winning football team.  I have 3 stories about this experience and want to be clear that this is by no means an indictment of Kansas State. There were many more stellar and academic proficient students than the substandard.  The experiences I had are repeated hundreds, if not thousands of times every year across the nation.

    Many colleges have a tutoring unit just for athletes and in the athletic areas.  It is well known on campus that these are dens of counterfeit term papers and assignments completed by tutors but submitted by the athletes in class.  Now, my stories:

    1) Another adjunct was asked by an athletic department representative to change the grade for an athlete in order for him to be eligible for the sports program.

    2) An athlete submitted a hand written assignment with 3 different colored inks and 4 different writing styles.

    3) One assignment I had given was a brief research paper of 5 pages with 3 required sources cited. Students were told their reports would be presented in class in order to share the info with other students.  One athlete could not even express the topic of his paper without looking at it.  He had no clue about his findings and did not know what sources he had used. 

    Good luck Mr. Kirk.

  • manoflamancha

    We are all waiting to hear  how: “…athletics does enhance that academic mission”. I suspected all along that you were an insider. Spare us the pity for million dollar coaches!

  • Socratease2

    We are all waiting to hear  how: “…athletics does enhance that
    academic mission”. I suspected all along that you were an insider.
    Spare us the pity for million dollar coaches!

    I am not a coach, trainer or anything related to the pursuit of athletics. If I were a million dollar coach do you think I would be sitting around wasting my time arguing with you? I have no pity (or enmity for that matter) for million dollar coaches just like I have no strong feelings about the fact entertainers/celebrities make obscene amounts of money in this society. Do you send Sandra Bullock rants about her making $20 million for a crappy romantic comedy? No you don’t.

    First of all, I am still waiting to hear how athletics detracts from the education received by Joe Student at the average Big Time University. Please explain how that works, I keep asking but all I hear is irrelevant hyperbole supported by minimal analysis and evidence. You provide no evidence but I can go one for quite a while explaining how athletics is a positive. It would include ideas related to increasing diversity on campus, increasing self-esteem and confidence in young women, developing many positive character traits such as teamwork, leadership, perserverance, accountability, good time management skills, etc. What most students learn from books/class at college is irrelevant in terms of their future lives. What does count are the life skills they take away, things that help them work together with others and that provide motivation to be productive and to excel at whatever life goal is faced. You may not want this to be true but those are traits enhanced through participation in athletics. And that will be true no matter how many of my posts you choose to reply to. Find a new hobby horse and spare me.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=8314701 Jonathan Kotinek

    This is not a reactionary move.

    Certainly the schedule for this decision has been accelerated by the recent publicity surrounding the University of Texas’ Longhorn Network, but to focus squarely on this issue would be to flatten out some very important topography of our context. When Texas A&M kept the Big 12 together with our decision to stay last year, it was with the understanding that the unequal distribution of conference revenues was going to be addressed by Commissioner Beebe.

    The developments of past twelve months suggest that no progress has been made, or may even be possible, given the players and leadership in the issue. A move to the SEC puts Texas A&M in a position of relative strength in that we are a school that the conference wants and is willing to work for and with.

    From a recruiting standpoint, being in the SEC gives Texas athletes a way to be affiliated with the most exciting and successful conference in the nation without leaving their home state. A large number of Aggie Former Students and fans see this as a proactive decision and a move that is net positive for all involved.

    Admittedly, the decision is dollar-driven. I’d be happy to see us drop the current pretense of “student athlete” and either do away with athletic scholarships altogether or pay athletes for the service they do.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=8314701 Jonathan Kotinek

    I appreciate your attention to these facts. I admit that my perspective might be skewed by hanging around those of like mind, but the groundswell of support for a move to SEC is real, and gained clout when the 12th Man Foundation (private development foundation) and the TAMU Association of Former Students sent notices to members over the weekend encouraging legislative contact in support of A&M “charting our own course.” For TAMU’s part it sounds like *if* there is a move we will hold the door open for a game against Texas on Thanksgiving. If the rivalry fizzles…it won’t be because of us.

  • civilprof

    “Texas is really good about saying it loves the Big 12.”  What incredible spin! This is not evident to anyone outside the Texas Athletic Department as the nation watches Texas crush the remaining ten members of the Big 12 into submission. Texas demonstrates no loyalty to the Big 12.

  • 1021ajr

    While I’d love to see A&M remain in the Big 12, I can understand their desire to seek their fortunes elsewhere.  There are benefits to the political and financial power wielded by the University of Texas, especially for schools in a less favorable geographic, demographic, and financial position (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas).  But feeling completely beholden is tiresome for everyone, especially for rival institutions like A&M and member schools who feel like they can or should stand toe-to-toe with UT.  While the Big 12 tries to project a “happy family” image, my guess is the dynamics are and always will be a bit strained given the flagship status granted to UT last summer.

  • sand6432

    Speaking as one who worked for a Big Ten institution for 20 years but now as a Texas resident, I’d compare the Big Ten and Big 12 by saying that the latter is dominated by one institution, UT-Austin, in a way that the other is not, both athletically and academically. In the Big Ten, on the other hand, UT-Austin would be more an equal among peers, not a dominant force. Maybe that is why, despite the many academic advantages that would accrue to UT-Austin by joining such a league, it seems not interested in doing so. It wants to be the big fish in the pond.—Sandy Thatcher

  • awegweiser

    What’s a football conference? What do they confer about? Why aren’t there basketball or baseball conferences?

  • stuaff

    Many schools have rivalries that are not in the same conference. Florida and Florida State and Virginia and Virgina Tech are a couple of examples.  There are several more.  Each school simply needs to commit to keeping that game on the schedule.

  • commentarius

    I think what really chaps A&M people is that the “rivalry” is increasingly one-way.  UT fans rank the A&M game a distant second to the OU matchup, and in recent years it’s been rather ho-hum since the two teams were not really that close in ranking (including last year, when the usual positions were reversed).  A&M, on the other hand, builds its entire annual calendar around this game, with its crazed and often hilarious (yet sometimes tragic) obsession with bonfires and rallies and “traditions” that eclipse all other activities for months on end.  So it just drives Aggies wild that UT fans, for the most part, don’t seem to care much.  Sure, it’s a rivalry that’s occasionally entertaining, but it’s not the center of the Longhorn season.  The two teams are rarely evenly matched.  The series record is 75-37-5 in favor of UT, after all. 

  • 22058726

    Hmmm, Will Ferrell?

  • mbelvadi

    Agree. I wish I had a similar magic wand to make the obsession that faculty have with publishing in expensive for-profit journals with “high impact” factors go away and get them to only submit their manuscripts to open access journals. But it’s the same problem – those who are being judged have to play to the benchmarks established by those who do the judging.  If you don’t like the SAT obsession, reform the admissions departments; don’t blame the high school counselors and students.

  • dleeoda

    Hurray for Math students and the others who disregarded their own safety to save a man’s life!

  • dailyreader

    I was fascinated by the flow of events.  First there’s a few lifters and then more join in, with the apparent intention of turning the car on its side.  Then somebody notices the victim’s ankle, and drags him out of harm’s way.  And then everyone just runs off!  Where did everybody go?  Back to class.  Some police and fire people start putting out the fire, and he’s still lying there unconscious. After such heroic efforts I would have thought that somebody would have checked to see if he’s breathing.   

  • whynotwhynot

    Facts are great but beliefs matter more… That’s why the culture wars are so important… Problem is a culture around which facts are valued has yet to figure out how to assert itself… and supposing a culture like this could exist a lot of ugly realities will have to be confronted.

    Those who believe in facts feel that facts alone speak for themselves… that belief has consequences.

    People who want facts to hold more value are going to have to fight for that existence… Odds are they won’t though…

  • rhoccrim

    This is a sign and function of the commercialization of academia based on the PR model of capitalism driven by marketing. I was at a university where they started a new department by bringing in a highly qualified professor who was introduced to the faculty and to the community via press release as “starring” in multiple family episodes. She was an appropriate choice but the easily translatable “starring in a TV program” was seen is the new measure of academic success. I have sat in on meetings revising tenure qualifications where the hour long debate was on the weight and legitimacy of media presentations as meeting tenure expectations.
    Like advertisers using well known sports and entertainment personalities to hawk products that are outside their skills and expertise areas, academics can be “packaged” in the same way. It is nice to get some recognition from the “outside” world for our work. At the same time we can fall prey to the screaming head syndrome that passes as discourse in the mediated world. The Australian project is commendable but spitting into the ocean of web use. It seems to me, more than ever, teaching students recognition and use of legitimate sources is even more critical. Intelligent analysis cannot be done without legitimate information.

  • http://twitter.com/brookelenet Brooke

    Afghanistan’s future relies on its education system.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mnsor-H-Kaaka/1584057530 Mnsor H Kaaka

    its an outstanding article, focusing on one of the most important factor in bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan.

    If we dont invest in Afghanistan’s coming generations, we will never have a friend in Central Asia. 
    Afghans and Americans have alot in common, their goal is peace, friendship and stability.
    How we can bring this into action. I have a plan for it.

    We have 
    4,140 Colleges and Universities in USA. Afghan Population is between 25-30 million. if we talk to these 4000+ universities to take at least one or two students per year, Free of Cost. and provide them the educational environment that’s not yet avaliable in Afghanistan. 
    After 3-10 years we will have all these people back in Afghanistan and they will take the charge and will bring the changes required to make the nation move ahead and towards a stable economy, education and peace. its only the example of USA, we can make such agreements with Germany, India, USA, France, Japan, Turkey. 

  • crowsnesteh

    An Afghan gentleman is the founder of a school in Kandahar. Mr. Ehsan Ullah linked up with the not for profit Canadian Int’l Learning Foundation ( http://www.canilf.org/ ) .

    The school is called Afghan-Canadian Community Center ( http://www.theafghanschool.org/) .

     For $10.00 a month you can sponsor a student to learn English, $25.00 a month for more advanced courses,  i.e.  ” A group of 32 students at the Afghan-Canadian Community Center are enrolled in the Business Management certificate program offered online by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), a Calgary-based Polytechnic Institute that offers internationally-recognized post-secondary education. “ 

  • sagarin

    Thank you David, for a nice summary of parts of my book.  Really learning a lot from the comments – I didn’t know about Norris’ The Octopus, PaulaAllen, but I will check it out. And Markangelo, how funny that you mentioned “Cawdor”, which I am right in the middle of now.  Jeffers is one of my favorites, and himself had a huge influence on Steinbeck, Joseph Campbell, and especially Ed Ricketts (who is liberally scattered throughout my Octopus book).
    Not4nothin: the word is indeed getting out that I rip up my syllabi, but student feedback is so positive the admins. don’t give me any trouble – this is in fact part of the point – usually you just have to start adapting (e.g., using challenges rather than orders) and it works so much better that it’s hard for the Institution to say “stop doing that”.
    Happy reading, all! – Rafe
    http://www.learningfromtheoctopus.com

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