C. William Nelson Papers, 1958-1990

The C. Williams Nelson Papers document Nelson’s field collecting and research study of insects, especially moths and butterflies, in Oregon and Washington.  The core of the collection is a research notebook (box 1, folder 3) documenting a study conducted by Nelson in 1958-1959 on Hemihyalea edwardsii (Edward’s Glassy-Wing moths) from egg-laying, through pupation, and into the adult stage with a focus on changes in the numbers of individuals with each instar.  The notebook includes daily notes and observations from Dec 1958 to June 1959 and a striking graphic illustration of the percentage of remaining individuals in each instar versus the days elapsed in the study.  The notebook includes references to Dr. Lee Brown.

The collection also includes field logs (box 1, folder 4) created by Nelson from 1962 to 1966 documenting the location, day/time, type and number of specimens, and conditions when insect specimens were collected.  A field notebook with notes created by B.C. Brungard in 1977-1990 is also part of the collection.

The remainder of the papers consist of field trip schedules and the newsletter (“Mush Rumors”) of the Oregon Mycological Society for 1967-1972 (box 1, folder 1); various issues of the Bulletin of the Oregon Entomological Society for 1972-1975; and correspondence with other collectors and associated collection notes.