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Nathan Fasten Collection, 1930

By Finding aid prepared by Larry Landis.

Collection Overview

Title: Nathan Fasten Collection, 1930

ID: MSS Fasten

Primary Creator: Fasten, Nathan (1887-)

Extent: 0.05 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Nathan Fasten Collection consists of a copy of Fasten's book Origin Through Evolution.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection consists of a copy of Fasten's book, Origin Through Evolution, published in 1930 by F. S. Crofts and Company of New York. The book is annotated inside the front cover with the name of a previous owner, who likely purchased the volume in 1932 while a student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. The endsheets near the back cover are annotated with the owner's critique of Fasten's theory of use and disuse in evolution.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Nathan Fasten was born in Austria on December 4, 1887, and came to the United States when he was two years old. He grew up in New York City, and graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1910 with a bachelor of science in chemical biology. From 1911 to 1914 he studied zoology, plant physiology, cytology, genetics, evolution, and fisheries as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, earning a Ph.D. in 1914.

After teaching at Marshall College (1910-1911), the University of Wisconsin (1911-1914) and the University of Washington (1914-1920), Fasten came to Oregon Agricultural College in 1920 as an associate professor of zoology and physiology. The next year he was promoted to professor and department head; he served in that capacity until his resignation from Oregon State College in 1944. He later worked as Chief Scientist for the Washington State Water Pollution Commission in Seattle. Fasten authored many journal articles and books. The latter included Origin Through Evolution (1930), Elements of General Zoology (1931), Principles of Genetics and Eugenics; A Study of Heredity and Variation in Plants, Animals, and Man (1935), and Introduction to General Zoology (1941). He was a member of several honorary societies and professional organizations, including Sigma Xi (national science honor society), the American Society of Naturalists, and the American Society of Zoologists. He was also a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fasten died in Seattle on September 19, 1953.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 1 box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Related Materials: Biographical information on Fasten is located in the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC) and in the News and Communication Services Records (RG 203) biographical files. See Harriet's Photograph Collection (P HC) HC1812 and the Oregon State University Historical Photographs (P 025)  numbers P25:2150-51 for photographs of Fasten. A faculty group photo that includes Fasten is located in the Faculty and Staff Photograph Collection (P 046) number P46:6). The College of Science Records (RG 024) include correspondence between Fasten and the Dean's Office.

Preferred Citation: Nathan Fasten Collection (MSS Fasten), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Fasten, Nathan (1887-)

People, Places, and Topics

Evolution (Biology)
Fasten, Nathan, 1887-1953
History of Science
Natural Resources
University History


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.