Paul Silva papers, 1932-2014 | University and Jepson Herbaria Archives, University of California, Berkeley

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Collection Overview

Title: Paul Silva papers, 1932-2014

Primary Creator: Silva, Paul C. (1922-2014)

Extent: 50.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged into eight series:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1939-2013

Series 2: Writings, 1950-2013

Series 3: Subject files, 1932-2012

Series 4: Professional papers, 1950-2008

Series 5: Societies, 1952-2005

Series 6: Travel and conferences, 1953-2009

Series 7: Notes and diaries, 1981-2004

Series 8: Personal papers, 1932-2011

Date Acquired: 01/01/2017

Subjects: Algology, International Phycological Society, Marine algae, Silva, Paul C., 1922-2014, University of California, Berkeley. - Herbarium.

Forms of Material: Field notes

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Silva papers houses the personal papers of Paul C. Silva. This collection, which dates from 1932-2014, consists of correspondence, writings, subject files, professional papers, field notes, diaries, and a small amount of photographs and biographical material. The collection documents the professional and personal life of Paul C. Silva, noted phycologist at the University of California, Berkeley. The collection highlights Silva’s expertise in phycology and nomenclature, his research on the genus Codium, his work to develop an international phycological community, and his creation of the Index Nominum Algarum.

Biographical Note

Paul Claude Silva, world renowned marine biologist, was born on October 31, 1922 in San Diego, California. Silva was an expert on the seaweed genus Codium and the creator of the Index Nominum Algarum. He grew up in San Diego and became interested in botany and natural history at a young age. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South California in 1946. He served in the U. S. Navy on the U.S.S. Darby during World War II. After the war he received his M.S. from Stanford University in 1948; he studied the seaweeds of the California Big Sur coast with Gilbert Morgan Smith. He then received his Ph.D. in Botany from UC Berkeley in 1951, where he studied the genus Codium with George F. Papenfuss. At Berkeley, he met his life partner, Lawrence Heckard, a fellow student in the Botany Department. Silva taught at the University of Illinois until 1960 when he returned to UC Berkeley as a research botanist and curator of Algae at the University Herbarium. At Berkeley he developed a research program dedicated to phycology and botanical nomenclature. He participated in expeditions to the Galapagos Islands, the Gulf of California, and the California Channel Islands and collaborated with phycologists around the world.

He was a founding member of the International Phycological Society and served as the editor of Phycologia from its inception until 1968. He was the author of more than 90 research papers. He developed the Index Nominum Algarum, the only comprehensive index of scientific names of algae, both living and fossil, at all ranks.

He passed away in Berkeley, California, on June 12, 2014. Prior to his death he left a generous bequest to fund the Silva Center for Phycological Documentation at the University Herbarium, UC Berkeley. The center continues his life’s work on the systematics of algae.

Subject/Index Terms

Algology
International Phycological Society
Marine algae
Silva, Paul C., 1922-2014
University of California, Berkeley. - Herbarium.

Administrative Information

Repository: University and Jepson Herbaria Archives, University of California, Berkeley

Access Restrictions: Researchers must request access to this collection from Richard Moe at the University and Jepson Herbaria. Please contact the Herbaria at least two weeks in advance of your visit to arrange an appointment.

Use Restrictions: Material may be protected by copyright.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1939-2013],
[Series 2: Writings, 1950-2013],
[Series 3: Subject files, 1932-2012],
[Series 4: Professional papers, 1950-2008],
[Series 5: Societies, 1952-2005],
[Series 6: Travel and conferences, 1953-2009],
[Series 7: Notes and diaries, 1981-2004],
[Series 8: Personal papers, 1932-2011],
[All]

Series 7: Notes and diaries, 1981-2004

This series includes Silva’s notebooks and is subdivided into three sub-series: research notes, trip diaries, and yearly calendars.

Sub-Series 1: Research notes, undated

Box 38

Folder 1: Codium, undated: Kew, Western Australia, Farlow, Paris, British Musuem, Copenhagen, Missouri Botanical Garden
Folder 2: Codium, undated: Oxford, U.S.N.M. #3, Stockholm, T. C. D., Edinburgh, Geneve, Munchen, Firenze, B.M., Glasglow, Melbourne, Brussels, HB. Kylin, HB. Sorenlund, Bergen, Museo Argentino, Geneve, Wien Univ. Cork, Kew, HB. Parkes, HB. Tilden, Frankfurt, Trinidad, B.M., Blackler, Leiden, Feldmann, Nizamuddin.
Folder 3: Codium, undated: Herb. Agard, Hamburg, Dangeard
Folder 4: Codium, undated: Wien-Naturhistorisches Museum, Sao Paulo, Doty, U.S.N.M. #2, W.R. Taylor, Duke, BM, Tallahassee, Brooklyn, U. mchigan, Hokka
Folder 5: Codium, undated: Leningrad, Ikoma, Tanaka, Kawashima
Folder 6: Codium, undated: Bish, Berlin, San Diego NHM, Malaga, NSW, Ad, Welt/
Folder 7: Codium, undated: Taylor, De Paternoster, Leiden, Goetborg, DukeNatal, Wellington, Bish, AK
Folder 8: Codium, undated: Michigan, Taylor, Chicago, Hancock, Leiden, New York, U. S. N. M., Chicago, Leiden
Folder 9: A - Callophyllis marginifructa, undated
Folder 10: Callophyllis megalocarpa - Gelidium, undated
Folder 11: Gigartina - K, undated
Folder 12: Laurencia - Polysiphonia, undated
Folder 13: Porphyra - Z, undated
Folder 14: Brown Algae I, undated
Folder 15: Brown Algae II, undated
Folder 16: Committee on Algae, undated
Folder 17: Exsiccatae notes, undated: 2 notebooks
Folder 18: Index, undated
Folder 19: Silva Personal Library, undated
Folder 20: Unlabeled notebook, undated
Folder 21: Unlabeled notebook, undated
Folder 22: Unlabeled notebook, undated

Sub-Series 2: Trip diaries, 1981-2004

Box 39

Folder 22: Australia, 1981: Journal from trip July 5-September 8, 1981.
Folder 23: La Paz, Mexico, 1982: Journal from trip March 25-April 6, 1982
Folder 24: Japan, Book 1, 1986: Journal from trip March 21-May 23, 1986
Folder 25: Japan, Book 2, 1986: Journal from trip March 21-May 23, 1986
Folder 26: Europe, 1987: Journal from trip July 12-August 15, 1987
Folder 27: Australia, 1988: Journal from trip August 7-September 9, 1988.
Folder 28: Spain, Canary Islands, 1991: Journal from trip September 18-October 11, 1991.
Folder 29: France, 1992: Journal from trip August 11-23, 1992.
Folder 30: Japan-Korea, 1993: Journal from trip August 21-September 9, 1993.
Folder 31: Mexico, 1993: Journal from trip of October 15-23, 1993. Includes III Congreso Latinamericano, 1A Reunion Iberoamericana, and I Congreso Mexicano.
Folder 32: Chile, 1994-1995: Journal from trip December 31, 1994 to January 27, 1995.
Folder 33: Brazil, 1996: Journal from trip July 24-August 15, 1996.
Folder 34: Europe, 1997: Journal from trip August 4-25, 1997.
Folder 35: Ecuador and Galapagos Islands, 1999: Journal from trip of May 22-June 3, 1999.
Folder 36: India, 2001: Journal from trip January 5-28, 2001.
Folder 37: International Seaweed Symposium, Bergen, Norway, 2004
Folder 38: China, undated: Journal from trip of April 8-24, year unknown.

Sub-Series 3: Yearly calendars, 1981-2012

Box 40

Folder 1: Yearly calendar, 1981
Folder 2: Yearly calendar, 1994
Folder 3: Yearly calendar, 1995
Folder 4: Yearly calendar, 1996
Folder 5: Yearly calendar, 1997
Folder 6: Yearly calendar, 1998
Folder 7: Yearly calendar, 1999
Folder 8: Yearly calendar, 2000
Folder 9: Yearly calendar, 2001
Folder 10: Yearly calendar, 2002
Folder 11: Yearly calendar, 2003
Folder 12: Yearly calendar, 2004
Folder 13: Yearly calendar, 2005
Folder 14: Yearly calendar, 2006
Folder 15: Yearly calendar, 2007
Folder 16: Yearly calendar, 2008
Folder 17: Yearly calendar, 2009
Folder 18: Yearly calendar, 2010
Folder 19: Yearly calendar, 2011
Folder 20: Yearly calendar, 2012