Nutting, Charles Cleveland, 1858-1927

Created curator of the Cabinet of Natural History and Instructor of Natural Science, Iowa in 1886. He served as curator of the Museum for the next 41 years. With Samuel Calvin and Thomas Macbride, Nutting was part of the great triumvirate of the University of Iowa naturalists who explored the entire realm of natural science. His primary research interest was in taxonomy and geographic distribution of animals. In 1889 he was made head of the newly organized Dept of Systematic Zoology. Nutting's investigations were primarily directed to marine biology. He published extensively for both the Iowa University and the Smithsonian Institution on marine hydroids. Expeditionary work was the basis of his scientific reputation. He organised University expeditions to many places between 1890-1922, including an expedition to New Zealand and the Fiji Islands in 1922. He wrote his expedition journals in a popular style, filled with vivid accounts of exotic animals, lands and culture. [Source: University of Iowa website. www.uniowa.edu]