Biological Sciences Department records
Collection Scope and Content
Materials in this collection include records of the various departments, including meeting minutes from the Department of Biology. They range in date from 1937-79, and were transferred to the University Archives by the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. The Biological Sciences Department website was added to the collection in 2023.
Dates
- 1937-1979
Creator
- George Washington University. Dept. of Biological Sciences (Organization)
Restrictions on Access
Series 1 and 3 are closed to research for 25 years from date of record creation.
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Historical or Biographical Note
The Department of Biological Sciences of The George Washington University offers research and study on a broad range of biological topics, from the molecular level to the organismal and ecosystem levels and on organisms covering a broad spectrum of taxonomic diversity. The Biological Sciences major is one of the most popular in the Columbian College, especially among students preparing for medical, dental, and veterinary programs and graduate programs in biology, zoology, and botany. Faculty and graduate students are actively engaged in research here on campus and in field sites around the world, and often collaborate with researchers at one of the many research institutes in the Washington, D.C., area.
Degree work includes courses in genetics, molecular biology, physiology, ecology, and botany. In the 1930's-50's course of study in geology, zoology, and psychology were also part of Biological Sciences. Dr. Donnell B. Young was the chair of the department from 1933-53, and served as assistant dean of the Junior College in Columbian College from 1939-44 in charge of science and premedical curricula. Dr. Edith Mortensen, is another prominent person in the history of the department, serving as a professor of zoology from 1936-72.
From 1965-72 the department published the bi-monthly newsletter of the Commission on Undergraduate Education in the Biological Sciences (CUEBS). The program was organized in 1963 and administered by Washington University in St. Louis until 1965, when the grant was transferred to GW. CUEBS marked the start of a cooperative effort by member of the biological sciences community to deal with education in biology and curriculum revision and change.
N.B. This history note was written in 2005
Extent
1 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Materials in this collection include records of the various departments, including meeting minutes from the Department of Biology. They range in date from 1937-1979. The Biological Sciences Department website was added to the collection in 2023 as part of GWU's Web Archiving program.
Collection Organization
Organized into four series: Departmental records 1937-1973; Departmental records 1977-1979; Meeting minutes; and Websites.
Acquisition Information
Materials were transferred to the University Archives by the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences.
- Biological Sciences Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Biology Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Botany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Foggy Bottom (Washington, D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- George Washington University
- George Washington University. Dept. of Biological Sciences. Commission on Undergraduate Education in the Biological Sciences
- Science Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Zoology Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Prelminary Guide to the Biological Sciences Department records, 1937-1979
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2007
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
