Farlow Library of Cryptogamic Botany

CLARENCE A. CHEEVER (1858-1947)
PAPERS

 

Biography:
Clarence A. Cheever MD (1858-1947) was a successful Milton, Massachusetts physician and amateur botanist. He built up in his lifetime one of the most extensive personal diatom collections in the Western Hemisphere.

Dr. Cheever first developed his interest in diatoms as an undergraduate student of Dr. W.G. Farlow, at the Bussey Institute of Harvard University. Though he later chose to go on to medical school and became a practicing physician, Dr. Cheever never lost interest in botany. In fact for many years he was the editor of The New England Farmer.

Interestingly enough the study of diatoms always remained a hobby to Dr. Cheever, despite the fact that he was continually adding to his collection and keeping abreast of the scientific literature on the subject. Although he had obviously become well qualified he never published a single work on the subject.

Scope & Content Note:
The Cheever Archives consists of correspondence, notes, manuscript materials, diatom samples, and plates dealing with his lifelong study of Diatoms. Included are materials from J.P. Wintringham, W.B. Terry (regarding W.A. Terry), J.B. Wheeler, E.A. Schultze, and A.W.F. Schmidt.

The bulk of Cheever's Diatom Herbarium consists of over 10,000 prepared slides, representing a worldwide gathering of thousands of species and over two hundred freshwater and marine diatom genera. Acquired mainly through purchases, there are dozens of collectors and authors, both prominent and obscure, represented in Dr. Cheever's collection.

In addition to the slides the Herbarium also includes 500 vials each of W.A. Terry's and F. Habirshaw's cleaned and dried diatoms; a copy of Schmidt's Atlas der Diatomaceenkunde through plate 336; an extensive card index to species, collection localities and diatom literature and several of Dr. Cheever's note books.

Series Description:

Series I:

Correspondence, 1901-1939

Series II:

Notes, including working notes from the paper "Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms"

Series III:

Manuscripts, circa 1878

Series IV:

Samples, diatoms and fossils

Series V:

Lists, Catalogs, and accompanying letters regarding diatoms

Series VI:

Reprints

Series VII:

Plates from Schmidt's Atlas der Diatomaceenkunde


Provenance:
The Cheever Diatom Herbarium and accompanying archives were given to the Farlow Herbarium in part as gifts in 1941 and 1943 from Dr. Cheever himself. The remainder of the collection was later donated by his son Austin Cheever in 1953.

Container List:

Box I

Series I: Correspondence, 1901-1939

 

Folder 1

Cheever to G.A. Fisher, 1930-1934

(7 letters, 1 fragment, & 1 programme)

Folder 2

W.B. Terry to G.A. Fisher, 1918

(8 letters)

Folder 3

J.B. Wheeler to J.P. Wintringham, 1901

(1 postcard)

Folder 4

Hustedt to W.A. Terry, 1912

(1 letter)

Folder 5

Cheever to W.B. Terry, 1939

(1 letter)

Series II: Notes, including working notes from the paper Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms

 

Folder 6

Working Notes - W.C. Walker and H.H. Chase Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms

part I*

Folder 7

Working Notes - W.C. Walker and H.H. Chase Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms

part II*

Folder 8

Working Notes - W.C. Walker and H.H. Chase Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms

part III*

Folder 9

Working Notes - W.C. Walker and H.H. Chase Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms

part IV*

Folder 10

Working Notes - W.C. Walker and H.H. Chase Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms

part V*

Folder 11

Notes headed "Data for calibrating objects, 1934" and miscellaneous mathematical formulas

 

Folder 12

Address and lists

 

Folder 13

Memorandum book, 1914

 

Folder 14

Miscellaneous notes, undated (includes multiple handwriting)

part I

Folder 15

Miscellaneous notes, undated (includes multiple handwriting)

part II

Folder 16

Miscellaneous notes, undated (includes multiple handwriting)

part III

*[A manuscript copy of Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms is in Box 1, Folder 19]

Series III: Manuscripts, 1878

 

Folder 17

The Santa Monica Diatomaceous Deposit With a List of References to Figures of Species

by E.A. Schultze and C. H. Kain, Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, v.24, 1897

Folder 18

A Descriptive List of Staten Island Diatoms

by E.A. Schultze

Folder 19

Notes on Some New and Rare Diatoms

by W.C. Walker and H.H. Chase

Folder 20

Diatoms

edited by P.T. Cleve and J.D. Moller, 1878

Series IV: Samples, diatoms and fossils

Folder 21

Diatom samples from Loch Kinnard, Scotland; Santa Maria; and Harkimer [sic](reference is to Herkimer), N.Y.

Folder 22

Diatom samples from Morris Co., N.J.; Bowberville [sic] (reference is to Bowkerville), Fitzwilliams Co., N.H.; France

Folder 23

Diatom samples from Old Mill, Jamaica Bay (2 envelopes); Troy N.Y.

Folder 24

Diatom samples from Norway; Lunenberg, Germany

Folder 25

Fossil Flour with accompanying notes

Folder 26

Diatoms, unlabeled

Folder 27

Diatoms, unlabeled

Series V: Lists, Catalogs, and accompanying letters regarding diatoms

Folder 28

Price list for diatom type-plates and slides, 1895
Catalog Supplement for microscopic preparations, 1909

Folder 29

C.L. Peticolas diatom catalog, supplements, and one small flyer, 1890-1901

Folder 30

C.L. Peticolas list of "Names of Diatoms on Slides", 4 copies undated

Folder 31

Letters from Robert Ware regarding lists and catalogs. June 13 xxxx and July 5 xxxx

Series VI: Reprints

Folder 32

An Elementary Introduction to Crystallography by J.P. Wintringham
[from The American Mineralogist, vol. II, April 1917].
Also other reprint fragments

Series VII: Plates from Schmit's Atlas der Diatomacee

 

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