Carl H. Eigenmann
Encyclopedia
Carl H. Eigenmann was an ichthyologist who, along with his wife Rosa Smith Eigenmann
, described many of the fishes of North America
and South America
for the first time.
Born in Flehingen, Germany
, at age 14 he moved to Rockport, Indiana
. Within a couple of years he had enrolled at the
Indiana University
, where he studied under David Starr Jordan
. Eigenmann received a bachelor's degree in 1886, and soon after went to California
, where he met Rosa Smith, herself already becoming known for her work on West Coast fisheries. They married on August 20, 1887, and then went to Harvard University
, where they studied the collections made by Louis Agassiz
and Franz Steindachner
, and produced the first of a series of joint publications.
They moved to San Diego, California
in 1888, where he worked as curator of a natural history society, and helped found the San Diego Biological Laboratory. He received his PhD from Indiana in 1889, and took up a professorship of zoology there in 1891. In 1892, famed scientist Albert C. L. G. Günther
financed Eigenmann's first expedition, a trip throughout western North America where many new species were collected. Subsequent explorations focussed on the blind fishes and salamanders of caves in Indiana, then in the caves of Texas, Missouri, and Cuba.
After a trip to the University of Freiburg
in 1906-7, in 1908 Eigenmann became the dean of Indiana's graduate school. In the same year he secured support from the Carnegie Museum for a trip to South America, and in September 1908 the Carnegie British Guiana Expedition got underway. They returned with 25,000 specimens, resulting in the description of 128 new species and 28 new genera. Subsequent trips went to Colombia
(1912) and the Andes
(1918). Rosa continued to collaborate with him during the Indiana years, but less frequently; of their five children, one daughter was disabled and a son was eventually institutionalized, a burden that was mostly borne by Rosa.
Eigenmann's later years were spent writing up reports on his previous expeditions, and assisting younger colleagues in mounting their own trips. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 1923.
When Carl suffered a stroke in 1927, the family returned to San Diego. He died in April 1927.
campus, designed by Eggers & Higgins
to be one of the tallest buildings in town, was named after Carl H. Eigenmann. Until 1998, the residence hall was reserved for the graduate students, as well as other students who were either over 21 or admitted as foreign students. Since 1998, Eigenmann Residence Center houses American undergraduates as well.
Rosa Smith Eigenmann
Rosa Smith Eigenmann was the first notable female ichthyologist; first publishing in her own right, she later collaborated with her husband Carl H. Eigenmann, and some 150 species of fish are today credited "Eigenmann & Eigenmann" as a result.She was born in Monmouth, Illinois, the last of nine...
, described many of the fishes of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
for the first time.
Born in Flehingen, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, at age 14 he moved to Rockport, Indiana
Rockport, Indiana
Rockport is a city in Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,160 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Spencer County.-History:...
. Within a couple of years he had enrolled at the
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
, where he studied under David Starr Jordan
David Starr Jordan
David Starr Jordan, Ph.D., LL.D. was a leading eugenicist, ichthyologist, educator and peace activist. He was president of Indiana University and Stanford University.-Early life and education:...
. Eigenmann received a bachelor's degree in 1886, and soon after went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he met Rosa Smith, herself already becoming known for her work on West Coast fisheries. They married on August 20, 1887, and then went to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where they studied the collections made by Louis Agassiz
Louis Agassiz
Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
and Franz Steindachner
Franz Steindachner
Franz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
, and produced the first of a series of joint publications.
They moved to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in 1888, where he worked as curator of a natural history society, and helped found the San Diego Biological Laboratory. He received his PhD from Indiana in 1889, and took up a professorship of zoology there in 1891. In 1892, famed scientist Albert C. L. G. Günther
Albert C. L. G. Günther
Albert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS, also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Günther , was a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist....
financed Eigenmann's first expedition, a trip throughout western North America where many new species were collected. Subsequent explorations focussed on the blind fishes and salamanders of caves in Indiana, then in the caves of Texas, Missouri, and Cuba.
After a trip to the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
in 1906-7, in 1908 Eigenmann became the dean of Indiana's graduate school. In the same year he secured support from the Carnegie Museum for a trip to South America, and in September 1908 the Carnegie British Guiana Expedition got underway. They returned with 25,000 specimens, resulting in the description of 128 new species and 28 new genera. Subsequent trips went to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
(1912) and the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
(1918). Rosa continued to collaborate with him during the Indiana years, but less frequently; of their five children, one daughter was disabled and a son was eventually institutionalized, a burden that was mostly borne by Rosa.
Eigenmann's later years were spent writing up reports on his previous expeditions, and assisting younger colleagues in mounting their own trips. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1923.
When Carl suffered a stroke in 1927, the family returned to San Diego. He died in April 1927.
Eigenmann Hall
In 1970, a newly constructed residence hall building on Indiana University BloomingtonIndiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
campus, designed by Eggers & Higgins
Eggers & Higgins
Eggers & Higgins was a New York architectural firm partnered by Otto Reinhold Eggers and Daniel Paul Higgins . The architects were responsible for the construction phase of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial beginning in 1939, two years after the death of its original architect, John Russell Pope,...
to be one of the tallest buildings in town, was named after Carl H. Eigenmann. Until 1998, the residence hall was reserved for the graduate students, as well as other students who were either over 21 or admitted as foreign students. Since 1998, Eigenmann Residence Center houses American undergraduates as well.