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Calvin, Samuel : Collection of Two Autograph Letters Signed - Samuel Calvin, Iowa City and Washington, D.C., c. 1890s

Collection of two original letters handwritten and signed on beige paper in black ink. One letter is datelined January 29, 1894 in Iowa City and is on "State University of Iowa, Geology, and Animal Biology" stationery. The other letter is undated (c. 1890s) with the location being the New Willard hotel in Washington, D.C.; this letter is on "State of Iowa, Iowa Geological Survey" stationery. 8 1/2" x 11." Two pages (one page per letter). Each letter is very clean and intact overall except for horizontal and vertical fold lines (perhaps original), age toning, a few small wrinkles, and a few small splits along fold lines at the edges. Each letter and the entire collection are Very Good. Samuel Calvin (1940-1911) was an American geologist, professor, and photographer. Calvin became the Professor of Natural History at the University of Iowa in 1873. He first taught a number of subjects including botany, geology, physics, and zoology but later specialized in the field of geology. He took particular interest in Devonian rocks and fossils of eastern Iowa, the Pleistocene fauna, and the Aftonian glacial epoch. Calvin eventually became the State Geologist of Iowa in 1892, a position that he held until his passing in 1911. In the letter dated 1894, Calvin writes to an acquaintance, "Mr. Keyes," about the need to significantly revise an article Keyes had written and given to him. Calvin is both cordial and frank to Keyes about his quality of writing. He writes, "Pardon the frankness with which all this is written. I know you would be one of first to discover the lapses from correct, or even, permissible style in the papers." This letter may be a rough draft of the final letter sent to Keyes. Signed, "Very sincerely yours, S. Calvin." In the undated letter, Calvin writes to his wife, Louise, about arriving in Washington, D.C. and settling in. He says he met the State Geologist of West Virginia, "Dr. I. C. White," and "the Congressman from the Cornellsville district in Pennsylvania." Calvin then writes about flowers he had previously thought were violets but now thinks are phloxes. He describes how they are "like the little fragrant phlox we saw on Mount Washburn in the Park." He then writes briefly about the pleasant weather and scenery. Signed, "Yours &c., Samuel Calvin.". Manuscript. Book Condition: Collectible-Very Good. Binding: No Binding

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