Reginald Truitt papers
Abstract
Reginald V. Truitt (1890-1991) was a 1914 graduate of the Maryland Agricultural College who received his Ph.D. from American University in 1929. A professor of zoology at the University of Maryland from 1925-1941, Truitt founded and became director of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, retiring in 1954. This collection documents Truitt's involvement in the Chesapeake Biological Lab, his interest in Worcester County history, relations between university faculty and administration, and zoology curriculum development.
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This collection is open for research.
Reginald Truitt papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
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This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Reginald Truitt was born in Snow Hill, Maryland, on August 12, 1890. He graduated from the Maryland Agricultural College in 1914, and after service in the Army Air Corps as a pilot, following a high school principalship, 1914-1918, returned to get his M. S. in 1922. Truitt received his doctoral degree from the American University in 1929. During the period of 1919-27 R. V. Truitt coached the Maryland lacrosse team, enabling it for the first time to become a major sport at the college. For this accomplishment he was elected to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1960.
Reginald Truitt began teaching at Maryland as a graduate assistant of Zoology in 1919, becoming a full professor in 1925, a post he held until 1941. He left to become director of the Maryland Department of Research and Education, where he stayed until 1954. During his professorship at the University of Maryland he founded the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory and became Directory in 1925, retiring from this post in 1954. Between 1961-62 he was President of the University of Maryland Alumni Council.
After his retirement Dr. Truitt devoted much interest in Worcester County, Maryland, advising the Worcester County Committee of Mayors, Councilmen, and Representatives. In 1976 he completed a book on this subject, Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Reginald V. Truitt papers date from 1919 to 1977 and consist of correspondence to and from Reginald Truitt and research files pertaining to his book, Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia. This collection documents Truitt's involvement in the Chesapeake Biological Lab, his interest in Worcester County history, University of Maryland Alumni Council, relations between university faculty and administration, the development of lacrosse and cross country teams, and zoology curriculum development.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Reginald V. Truitt donated his papers to the University of Maryland Libraries from 1969-1977.
Processing Information
Processed June, 1977.
Carbon copies of outgoing letters are interfiled with those he received. The correspondence falls into three chronological groups, and papers within each group have been arranged in that fashion.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Jennie A. Levine.
Arrangement of Collection
The collection is organized as one series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Reginald V. Truitt Papers, 1919-1977 (1.00 linear feet)
The Reginald V. Truitt papers date from 1919 to 1977 and consist of correspondence to and from Reginald Truitt and research files pertaining to his book, Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia. This collection documents Truitt's involvement in the Chesapeake Biological Lab, his interest in Worcester County history, University of Maryland Alumni Council, relations between university faculty and administration, the development of lacrosse and cross country teams, and zoology curriculum development.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correspondence, July 1933-October 1954 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Correspondence, October 1961-June 1962 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Correspondence, 1969-1977 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Prom Figures -- (these are on 3x5 cards), undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| "A Survey of the Diatomaceae in College Park, Md.", 1922 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Miscellaneous, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Agriculture, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: The Barrier -- (typescript), circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Before the Settlers -- (typescript), circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Boundary Problems, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: The Churches, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Education, Then and Now, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Hamlets, Villages and Towns, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Persons of Prominence, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Plantation Houses and Early Homes, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Scenic Pocomoke, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Settlers Came, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Wars Lost or Won, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| Draft of Worcester County: Maryland's Arcadia -- Chapter: Water Mills, circa 1977 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 13 | |
Related Material
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Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory -- History -- Sources
- Truitt, Reginald V. (Reginald Van), 1891- -- Archives
- Truitt, Reginald V. (Reginald Van), 1891- Worcester County, Maryland's Arcadia -- Manuscripts
- University of Maryland, College Park. Dept. of Zoology -- History -- Sources
Names (Added Entries)
- Byrd, Harry Clifton, 1889-1970
- Elkins, Wilson H.
- Hallow, Frederick G.
- Merriman, John C. (John Campbell), 1869-1945
- Pearson, Raymond A. (Raymond Allen), 1873-1939
















