Charles Congden Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Dr. Charles Congden Carpenter is an eminent naturalist and herpetologist who has won numerous awards for excellence as an educator, researcher, and communicator.
degree in 1943 from Northern Michigan College of Education, now Northern Michigan University
, in Marquette, Michigan
. He took a U.S. Army Specialized Training Program at Tarleton State University
in Stephenville, Texas
, 1943-1944; at Stanford University
in Palo Alto, California
in 1944; and at Wayne University College of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan
in 1945. He earned his Master of Science
degree in zoology
in 1947 and his Doctor of Philosophy
degree in zoology in 1951 at the University of Michigan
.
as assistant professor of zoology. In 1959 he was promoted to associate professor and he became a full professor in 1966. His title was Professor of Zoology at the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Biological Station, and Curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Stovall Museum of Science and History. In 1987 he retired and became Professor Emeritus and Curator Emeritus.
At the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Carpenter taught, performed research in his areas of expertise, and directed the graduate work of 26 Doctor of Philosophy, 21 Master of Science, and 3 Master of Natural Science students. He has published 136 papers on subjects as diverse as: copulation in the fox snake, the common garter snake, time-motion studies of a lizard, turkey vulture migration in Veracruz, a combat ritual between two male speckled king snakes, and courtship, male combat and dominance in the western diamondback rattlesnake. He has given 214 special lectures and seminars, and made 32 appearances on radio and television. His field work has included teaching for 35 summers at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station on Lake Texoma
, and 16 field expedition
s.
, American Ornithologists Union, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
, American Society of Mammalogists
, American Society of Zoologists (division secretary), Animal Behavior Society
(secretary), Animal Research Council of the Oklahoma City Zoo (secretary and executive committee), Blue Cord Society (secretary and president), British Ecological Society
, Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, Ecological Society of America
(section secretary), Grassland Research Foundation (secretary, treasurer, and board of directors), Herpetologist's League (president and executive council) Nature Conservancy, Oklahoma Academy of Science, Oklahoma Herpetological Society, Oklahoma Zoological Society, Oklahoma Wildlife Federation, Phi Kappa Phi
, Phi Sigma
, Societas Europaea Herpetologica, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (editorial board), Southwestern Association of Naturalists (board of governors, secretary, and president), Society of Sigma Xi
(OU chapter president), Wilderness Society, Wildlife Society; and Wilson Ornithological Society
. The Charles C. Carpenter Library of Herpetology of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman, Oklahoma
and the Carpenter Classroom at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station are named in his honor.
on June 2, 1921. He is married to Mary Frances (née Pitynski) Carpenter, a member of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
and an adjunct professor of biochemistry
at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in Oklahoma City
. She is a member of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the American Institute of Nutrition. Her research interests include: lipids, antioxidants, prostaglandin metabolism during differentiation, fatty acid metabolism, and microsomal hydroxylation.
Education
Carpenter received a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1943 from Northern Michigan College of Education, now Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
, in Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
. He took a U.S. Army Specialized Training Program at Tarleton State University
Tarleton State University
Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas. It is the largest non-land-grant university primarily devoted to agriculture in the United States....
in Stephenville, Texas
Stephenville, Texas
Stephenville is a city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,921 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1856, it is home to Tarleton State University. Stephenville is among several communities that calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the...
, 1943-1944; at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
in 1944; and at Wayne University College of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in 1945. He earned his Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
in 1947 and his Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in zoology in 1951 at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Career
After receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Carpenter remained at Michigan in 1951-52 as an instructor in zoology. In 1953 he joined the faculty of the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
as assistant professor of zoology. In 1959 he was promoted to associate professor and he became a full professor in 1966. His title was Professor of Zoology at the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Biological Station, and Curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Stovall Museum of Science and History. In 1987 he retired and became Professor Emeritus and Curator Emeritus.
At the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Carpenter taught, performed research in his areas of expertise, and directed the graduate work of 26 Doctor of Philosophy, 21 Master of Science, and 3 Master of Natural Science students. He has published 136 papers on subjects as diverse as: copulation in the fox snake, the common garter snake, time-motion studies of a lizard, turkey vulture migration in Veracruz, a combat ritual between two male speckled king snakes, and courtship, male combat and dominance in the western diamondback rattlesnake. He has given 214 special lectures and seminars, and made 32 appearances on radio and television. His field work has included teaching for 35 summers at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station on Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, the 12th largest Corps of Engineers lake, and the largest in USACE Tulsa District....
, and 16 field expedition
Expedition
An expedition typically refers to a long journey or voyage undertaken for a specific purpose, often exploratory, scientific, geographic, military or political in nature...
s.
Honors
Dr. Carpenter has been an active member and an officer of a large number of organizations, including: American Institute of Biological SciencesAmerican Institute of Biological Sciences
The American Institute of Biological Sciences is a non-profit scientific association that is dedicated to advancing biological research and education.-Overview:...
, American Ornithologists Union, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists is an international organization devoted to the scientific studies of ichthyology and herpetology...
, American Society of Mammalogists
American Society of Mammalogists
The American Society of Mammalogists was founded in 1919. Its primary purpose is to encourage the study of mammals and professions studying mammals. There are over 4,500 members of this society, and they are primarily professional scientists who emphasize the importance of public policy and...
, American Society of Zoologists (division secretary), Animal Behavior Society
Animal Behavior Society
The Animal Behavior Society is an international non-profit scientific society that encourages and promotes the professional study of animal behavior. It has open membership and also provides a certification and directory for animal behaviorists...
(secretary), Animal Research Council of the Oklahoma City Zoo (secretary and executive committee), Blue Cord Society (secretary and president), British Ecological Society
British Ecological Society
The British Ecological Society is a learned society in the field of ecology that was founded in 1913. It was the first ecological society in the world. The society's original objective was "to promote and foster the study of Ecology in its widest sense" and this remains the central theme guiding...
, Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, Ecological Society of America
Ecological Society of America
The Ecological Society of America is a professional organization of ecological scientists. Based in the United States, ESA publishes a suite of publications, from peer-reviewed journals to newsletters, fact sheets and teaching resources. It holds an annual meeting at different locations in the...
(section secretary), Grassland Research Foundation (secretary, treasurer, and board of directors), Herpetologist's League (president and executive council) Nature Conservancy, Oklahoma Academy of Science, Oklahoma Herpetological Society, Oklahoma Zoological Society, Oklahoma Wildlife Federation, Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
, Phi Sigma
Phi Sigma
Phi Sigma is an honor society for students of biological sciences. Phi Sigma was founded on March 17, 1915 at Ohio State University. It became a member of the Association of College Honor Societies in 1950. The Greek letter, Phi and Sigma, signify "fellows in science." The coat of arms contains...
, Societas Europaea Herpetologica, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (editorial board), Southwestern Association of Naturalists (board of governors, secretary, and president), Society of Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
(OU chapter president), Wilderness Society, Wildlife Society; and Wilson Ornithological Society
Wilson Ornithological Society
The Wilson Ornithological Society is an ornithological organization that was formally established in 1886 as the Wilson Ornithological Chapter of the Agassiz Association. It is based at the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. It was named after Alexander Wilson, a...
. The Charles C. Carpenter Library of Herpetology of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
and the Carpenter Classroom at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station are named in his honor.
Personal
Carpenter was born in Denison, IowaDenison, Iowa
Denison is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 7,339 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County.-Geography:Denison is located at ....
on June 2, 1921. He is married to Mary Frances (née Pitynski) Carpenter, a member of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation , located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute. Established in 1946, OMRF is dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human disease...
and an adjunct professor of biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. She is a member of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the American Institute of Nutrition. Her research interests include: lipids, antioxidants, prostaglandin metabolism during differentiation, fatty acid metabolism, and microsomal hydroxylation.