19th-century Biology notes just received in the College Archives
Maxcy’s description of a starfish (accession 2013.023)
Curious about what your biology class would have been studying in 1884? Come take a look at the Archives’ newest gift, Carroll Lewis Maxcy’s laboratory notebook. In addition to his beautifully penned notes, the volume is filled with brilliantly-colored illustrations of starfish, frogs, molds, and ferns.
Maxcy did not specialize in science after his graduation in 1887. Rather, he returned to Williams to teach English and Rhetoric for many years, also serving as dean and acting president.
The notebook is the gift of Jean Matthews Halverson, daughter of the late Prof. Samuel Matthews who taught biology at Williams from 1937 to 1970.