RGXXI: Workshops on Synthesis in Modern Evolutionary Thought
Historical Note
Work on The Workshops on Synthesis in Modern Evolutionary Thought, (var. Workshops on the Evolutionary Synthesis) was conducted from 1973-1980, with the majority of work conducted in 1974. It operated as a sub-committee of the larger Academy Committee on the History of Recent Science and Technology. Ernst Mayr served as Chair for its duration.
The project was first suggested at a 1972 planning meeting which explored establishing the larger Committee. Questionnaires were sent in advance of the workshops to significant scientists in the development of evolutionary synthesis regarding the nature of the subject and conditions of development. The first workshop was held May 23-25, 1974 with the following workshop held October 11-12, 1974. The resulting publication, The Evolutionary Synthesis: Perspectives on the Unification of Biology, was edited by Ernst Mayr and William B. Provine, published by Harvard University Press in 1980.
Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Scope and Content
The series is contained within the Academy Archives’ Record Group XXI: Academy Projects and Programs. This series contains the records related to the Workshop on the Synthesis in Modern Evolutionary Thought, from 1973-1981, n.d. Records of the Workshops were kept and created within the executive office of John Voss, including Alexandra (Sandy) Oleson. Included among the records are administrative records relating to the NSF grant, workshop arrangements and transcripts, and only one file related to the publication.
Significant material includes responses to the questionnaire and transcription of individual workshop sessions.
See related records RG XXI: Academy Projects and Programs, Committee on Recent Science and Technology.
Arrangement
Processing for the series utilized MPLP principles, thus minimum preservation steps were taken, and folder titles listed in the finding aid are as they appear on the actual folders. Original order was mostly maintained, however, some related loose papers without folders existed outside of the filing system. These were refoldered, given ascribed folder titles and incorporated chronologically.
The series contains no subseries and is arranged roughly chronologically.
ITEM LIST
Box 1
| Folder 1 | [loose] [Evolutionary Synthesis - Administration] [1973-1976] [folder 1 of 3] |
| Folder 2 | [loose] [Evolutionary Synthesis - Administration] [1973-1976] [folder 2 of 3] |
| Folder 3 | [loose] [Evolutionary Synthesis - Administration] [1973-1976] [folder 3 of 3] [incl. photos] |
| Folder 4 | [Evolutionary Synthesis I-III Sessions - Transcript, May 23, 1974 A.M.-Evening] |
| Folder 5 | [Evolutionary Synthesis VI Session - Transcript, May 25, 1974 A.M.] |
| Folder 6 | [Evolutionary Synthesis VI/V Sessions - Transcript, May 25, 1974 A.M./Afternoon] |
| Folder 7 | [Evolutionary Synthesis V Session - Notes, Saturday morning & "An Analysis of Evolutionary Synthesis"] [May 25, 1974] |
| Folder 8 | Evolutionary Synthesis I (May) - Papers Given [1974] |
| Folder 9 | Evolutionary Synthesis - (Oct) First Session - Transcript |
| Folder 10 | II Morphology [October 11, 1974] |
| Folder 11 | Evolutionary Synthesis II Oct 11-12, 1974 |
| Folder 12 | Ev. Synthesis III - Embryology [October 11, 1974] |
| Folder 13 | Evolutionary Synthesis IV Session - Situation in Germany [October 12, 1974] |
| Folder 14 | "Historical development of present synthetic neodarwinism in Germany", Bernhard Rensch [October 12, 1974] |
| Folder 15 | [Notes and Draft - "Historical development of present synthetic neodarwinism in Germany", Bernhard Rensch] [October 12, 1974] |
| Folder 16 | Evolutionary synthesis Questionnaires [1974] |
| Folder 17 | Evolutionary Synthesis Questionnaire [ca. 1974] |
| Folder 18 | Evolutionary Synthesis - Publication [1980-1981] |
| Folder 19 | "How I Became a Darwinian", Ernst Mayr [n.d.] |