American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

Charles Darwin: The Evolution of an Evolutionist (Exhibition)
birth: 1959 November 24
death: 1960 January 31
Exhibition. Opened November 24, 1959 and closed January 31, 1960. Located in Section 5, Floor 2 in the Corner Gallery of the American Museum of Natural History. Charles Darwin: Evolution of an Evolutionist marked the 100th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species and followed Darwin through his early life, his life as a naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, to his later family life and scholarship through photographs, drawings, memorabilia, and textual material. It was curated by Edwin Colbert.
Summary
Charles Darwin: Evolution of an Evolutionist marked the 100th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species and followed Darwin through his early life, his life as a naturalist aboard H.M.S. Beagle, to his later family life and scholarship through reproductions of photographs, drawings, memorabilia, and textual material, as well as maps designed for the exhibition. The exhibition, curated by Edwin Colbert, was intended to capture Darwin's habits, temperament, and the people and events that shaped his career, with most of the text in Darwin's own words. The exhibition featured an original page from The Origin of Species and a detailed scale model of the H.M.S. Beagle by former Museum scientific illustrator Lois Darling (1, p. 1-3; 2, p. 38). Not long after the exhibition's opening, the Smithsonian Institution's Division of Circulating Exhibits requested the exhibition, which was sent to Washington D.C. after its closing at the American Museum of Natural History (3).
Sections in the exhibition included (4):
*Early Life I
*The Voyage II
*Origin of Species III
*Main Points of Origin of Species IV
This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.