Norman West DAVIS - papers on Opiliones

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Norman West DAVIS


Birthdate: 8 May 1905
Birthplace: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Died: 6 February 1969

BIOGRAPHY: Norman's father was a physician-roentgenologist practicing in Atlantic City until the depression. Norman began college studies in civil engineering at Stetson Univ. A 'bout' with scarlet fever caused him to go to University of Florida, Gainesville, FL in order make up a 'lost' calculus class. He also took a biology course while there which reoriented his interests in a new direction. Studies the University of Florida led him to pursue a PhD, received in 1933 from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. His original goal was to return to Gainesville. However, Depression economy prevented this objective resulting in working briefly at Cornell, USDA and then NY Department of Agriculture and Markets as an entomologist. Until 1948 his work was focussed on efforts to inhibit spread of "Dutch elm disease." In 1948 his work involved identification and control of insects affecting horticulture and nursery operations. These responsibilities together with rearing three children interferred with further concentration and study of Opiliones. About 1960 Norman 'retired' from NYS to teach biology at Union College, Barbourville KY. He thrived in the academic environment and there reinitiated his scientific interests in arachnids. Health of Anne (married 1936) began failing in 1966 and she succumbed to cancer in 1968. Norman died of heart failure complicated by flu 6 Feb 1969.

DISCLAIMER — This resource was first intended as for private use of the members of the arachnology lab of Museu Nacional, but later we thought "why not to share this with the world?". Eventually if greedy lawyers (redundance...) start to bother us with copyright matters, etc, we may have to be forced to quit the project and keep this just to ourselves.

Davis, Norman W., 1933. A new opilionid from Florida (Arachnida, Cyphophthalmi). Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 41(1/2): 49-52 + plate IX.

Davis, Norman W., 1934. A revision of the genus Leiobunum (Opiliones) of the United States. American Midland Naturalist, Notre Dame, Indiana, 15(6): 662-705.

Davis, Norman W., 1937. A cyphophthalmid from South America (Arachnida, Phalangida). Journal of the New York Entomology Society, 45: 133-136 + plate I.


Credits

Page created Copyright © 2006-2009 by Adriano B. Kury.
Picture digitized from his 'official' photograph for Union College in 1961, courtesy William P. Davis.
Biographical sketch by William P. Davis.