The Paul R. Hicks Memorial
The Charles Darwin Collection includes all of the first editions of his publications, photographs, and memorabilia. Search the IUP Libraries online catalog for the publications of Charles Darwin. The acquisition of these titles was made possible through the generous contributions of family and friends as a memorial to Paul Richard Hicks.
Charles Robert Darwin (1809-82) 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." He is best known for his groundbreaking work in 1859, On the Origin of Species and his theory of evolution. 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 aboard the H.M.S. Beagle from 1831 to 1836, Charles Darwin synthesized the known scientific facts of his day with his own observations, especially of the flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands, which eventually led 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 1, 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 publication as a preliminary presentation of the theory to be followed by a complete and thorough exposition in later works. Hence he published On the Various Contrivances by Which Orchids Are Fertilized by Insects in 1862, The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication in 1868, The Descent of Man in 1871, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals in 1872, and a pioneering work in ecology, The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Actions of Worms with Observations on Their Habits in 1881.
Paul Richard Hicks was born on April 1, 1931, in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. 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. He served as a captain in the US Air Force and taught high school before joining the faculty at Indiana State College in 1961. Paul Hicks was the Government Documents and Reference librarian at Indiana University of Pennsylvania 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 librarys 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 an independent and creative intellectthose 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 Darwinys 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. For more information about Paul Hicks, visit Manuscript Group 177: The Paul Hicks Memorial Collection.
Titles Acquired Using the Paul R. Hicks Memorial Fund
- Darwin, Charles. Charles Darwins's Works. 18 Volumes. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1898-1903.
- Darwin, Charles. The Descent of Man. London: John Murray, 1871.
- Darwin, Charles. The Expressions of Emotions in Man and Animals. London: John Murray, 1881.
- Darwin, Charles. Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms. London: John Murray, 1881.
- Darwin, Charles. 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.
- Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species. London: John Murray, 1859.
- Darwin, Charles. 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.
- Darwin, Charles. Power of Movement in Plants. London: John Murray, 1880.
- Darwin, Charles. 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.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania 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, and Phillip and Donna Zorich.