Guide to the Albert D. Mead Papers, 1890-1956

(bulk 1890-1944)

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI, 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2019

Collection Overview

Title:	Albert D. Mead Papers
Date range:	1890-1956, (bulk 1890-1944)
Creator:	Mead, Albert Davis, 1869-1946
Extent:	5.5 linear feet
Abstract:	The Albert D. Mead Files contain course materials, lecture notes, speeches, essays, University committee reports, anatomical sketches, and photographs, mostly related to Brown, biology, neurology, evolution, and the Marine Research Lab in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The files date from 1890 to 1956, with the bulk of the material dating from 1890 to 1944.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	OF-1UF-M1

Scope & content

The Albert D. Mead Files contain course materials, lecture notes, speeches, essays, University committee reports, and anatomical sketches, mostly related to Brown, biology, neurology, evolution, and the Marine Research Lab in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The files date from 1890 to 1956, with the bulk of the material dating from 1890 to 1944. The collection also contains one linear foot of photographs of marine science research teams from Woods Hole.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Brown University--Faculty.

Subject Topics

• Marine biology.
• Neurology.
• Evolution.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in four series.

• Series 1. Brown Files
• Series 2. Woods Hole
• Series 3. Miscellaneous
• Series 4. Correspondence
• Series 5. Photographs

Biographical/Historical Note

Albert Davis Mead (1869-1946), professor of biology and vice-president of Brown University, was born in Swanton, Vermont on April 15, 1869. His father was a teacher of Greek and Latin. Mead graduated from Middlebury College in 1890. He had little scientific background, but the summer after his graduation he went to Woods Hole to work at the new Marine Biological Laboratory. There he met Brown professor Hermon Carey Bumpus and came back to Brown with him to receive an A.M. degree in 1891. He went on to study at Clark University under C. O. Whitman, whom he followed to the University of Chicago in 1893. After earning his Ph.D. degree at Chicago in 1895, Mead returned to Brown as instructor in comparative anatomy. The next year he was appointed associate professor of embryology and neurology. In 1900 he was named professor of comparative anatomy and was named chairman of that department in 1901 on the resignation of Professor Hermon Carey Bumpus. In 1905, after the death of Professor Alpheus S. Packard, he became chairman of the reorganized Department of Biology and in 1908 his title was changed to professor of biology. Mead’s research was devoted to the study of the development of worms, clams, and lobsters. He did early experimental work in cytology on the behavior of the centrosomes in the annelid egg and developed a method of raising young lobsters through their early precarious life.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Albert D. Mead Papers, OF-1UF-M1, Brown University Library
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI, 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Ben Stewart and Paul Jordan
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the RIAMCO EAD spreadsheet, 2019 June 3
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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