Comstocks of Cornell-The Definitive Autobiography

Botsford Comstock Anna

Description

The Comstocks of Cornell is the autobiography written by the naturalist educator Anna Botsford Comstock about her life and that of her husband, the entomologist John Henry Comstock-both prominent figures in the scientific community and in Cornell University history. A first edition was published in 1953, but it omitted key Cornellians, historical anecdotes, and personal insights. In this twenty-first-century edition, Karen Penders St. Clair restores the author's voice by reconstructing the entire manuscript as Anna Comstock wrote it-and thereby preserves Comstock's memories of the personal and professional lives of the couple as she originally intended. The book includes an epilogue documenting the Comstocks' last years and fills in gaps from the 1953 edition. Described as serious legacy work, this book is an essential part of the history of both Cornell University and its press.

Sujets

• Nueva York
• Natural history
• Education
• New York

Informations

• Publié par: Cornell University Press
• Date de parution: 15 avril 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781501716294
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

 THE COMSTOCKS OF CORNELL

Portrait of the Comstocks painted by Professor Olaf Brauner, summer 1920.

THECOMSTOCKS OF CORNELL —THE DEFINITIVE AUTOBIOGRAPHY n

A n n a B ots f o r d Co m s to c k E d i t e d by K a r e n P e n d e r s St. C l a i r

COMSTOCKPUBLISHINGASSOCIATES ANIMPRINTOFCORNELLUNIVERSITYPRESS Ithaca and London

Copyright © 2020 by Cornell University

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. Visit our website at cornellpress.cornell.edu.

First published 2020 by Cornell University Press

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Comstock, Anna Botsford, 1854–1930 author. | Penders St. Clair,Karen, editor. Title: The Comstocks of Cornell—the definitive autobiography / Anna BotsfordComstock ; edited by Karen Penders St. Clair. Description: Ithaca [New York] : Comstock Publishing Associates, an imprintPress 2020. |of Cornell University Includes bibliographical referencesand index. Identifiers: LCCN 2019020876 (print) | LCCN 2019980589 (ebook) | ISBN9781501716270 (cloth) | ISBN 9781501716287 (epub) | ISBN 9781501716294(pdf ) Subjects: LCSH: Comstock, John Henry, 1849–1931. | Comstock, Anna Botsford,1854–1930. | Cornell University—Faculty—Biography. |Entomologists—New York (State)—Ithaca—Biography. | Collegeteachers— New York (State)—Ithaca—Biography. | Womenwood- engravers—New York (State)—Ithaca—Biography. Classification: LCC QL31.C65 C66 2020 (print) | LCC QL31.C65 (ebook) |DDC 595.7092 [B]—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019020876 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc. gov/2019980589

Cover illustrations: Photo of Anna Botsford Comstock provided courtesy of the Carl A. Kroch Library, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University. Photo of John Henry Comstock provided courtesy of the Warren Hunting Smith Library Archives and Special Collections, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Line drawings by Anna Comstock, from (left)Insect Life(plate VI) and (right) A Manual for the Study of Insects(plate I).

This book is dedicated to the archivists and librarians of the Carl A. Kroch Library, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections of Cornell University (2012–2017) who supported me in research and in friendship during this restoration project. An archivist preserves the voices of the past and allows these ephemeral narratives to speak their truths. These reverberations resonate for the rest of us and give a contextual connection to our past.

To the voice of

Anna Botsford Comstock—written, preserved, and waiting. We may finally hear you asyouhad intended.

Dedicationinthe1953editionofThe Comstocks of Cornell. “This book is dedicated to fellow entomologists, to other scientists, and to the students and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Comstock, in the spirit of the gracious tribute paid to them by Cornell University students in the dedication of their historical yearbook,The 1929 Cornellian.

To

John Henry Comstock

and to

Anna Botsford Comstock

Partners in science, as in life, By all revered as Scholars, Teachers, Writers, And dear to many a student generation by reason Of their open home and helpful hearts, We dedicate this volume.”

AnnaBotsfordComstock,tothynamewesing Aswesit‘roundthecampfireeachnight. Andgladlyinchorusourvoicesshallring Aso’erustheheavensshinebright. Andtheworkthatyou’vedone,wewillstillcarryon Withawillthatislastingandtrue, ‘Neath the hills and the trees, by the lake that you loved Wewillalwaysrememberyou.

ThelyricssungfordecadesaroundacampfirebyGirlScoutscampingon Cayuga Lake, Ithaca, New York, at Comstock Lodge. Liberty Hyde Bailey bequeathed the land to the Scouts, during Comstock’s lifetime, for continued nature learning. She was grateful to him beyond the measure of words. Lyrics remembered by former Girl Scout, and nature enthusiast, Ann Brittain.

 Contents

Acknowledgmentsxi For the Readerxiii Editor’s Commentary xvii

I. The Boyhood of John Henry Comstock, 1849–1865 II. A Sailor and a Scholar III. Undergraduate Days at Cornell, 1870–1874 IV. Anna Botsford Comstock—Childhood and Girlhood V. A University Professorship and Marriage, 1876–1879

VI. Entomologist to U. S. Department of Agriculture (Life in Washington as United States Entomologist, 1879–1881) VII. Return to Cornell VIII. The Year 1888–1889; With a Winter in Germany IX. California and Stanford University X. The Nature Study Movement at Cornell University; A Journey South to Study Spiders

XI. “How to Know Butterflies” and the “Confessions to a Heathen Idol”

1 17

39

59

97

117 153

181 199

223

249