Sherwood, Calder Smith, III A Guide to the Calder Smith Sherwood, III Papers RG 22-7B1

A Guide to the Calder Smith Sherwood, III Papers RG 22-7B1


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ODU University Archives

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Telephone: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Joanna Ruedisueli; Revised by Kathleen Smith, May 2014

Repository
ODU University Archives
Identification
RG 22-7B1
Title
Calder Smith Sherwood, III Papers 1899-1976, undated Date acquired: 10/13/1977
URL:
https://archivesguides.lib.odu.edu/repositories/3/resources/229
Quantity
5.00 Linear Feet
Quantity
7 Hollinger boxes and 1 oversized box boxes
Creator
Sherwood, Calder Smith III (1911-1977)
Language
English
Abstract
Calder Smith Sherwood, III was a chemistry professor at Old Dominion University who served as faculty member in the College of Sciences from 1939-1977, teaching chemistry, astronomy, and geophysical sciences at the university.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researches without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Folder [insert number and title], Calder Smith Sherwood III Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Estate of C. S. Sherwood III

Method of Acquisition

Gift.

Processing Information

The collection was processed and finding aid created by Joanna Ruedisueli.

Accruals and Additions

Additional accessions made in November 1977 and 1979.


Biographical or Historical Information

Calder Smith Sherwood, III was born on November 1, 1911 in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Calder Smith Sherwood, Jr. and Lessie Wallace Sherwood.  He was commonly known throughout his life as C.S.  The Sherwood family owned a successful jewelry business and lived in the area throughout C.S.'s adolescence.

Sherwood graduated from Portsmouth's Woodrow Wilson High School in 1929.  Afterwards he attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1933.  He spent 1934 working as lab assistant at the college before pursuing his master's degree in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Chicago, which he obtained in June of 1937.  He then returned to Virginia, this time to the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, as an assistant professor.  After one year, Sherwood returned to Chicago to pursue his doctorate, but then decided to return to Norfolk to assume a full time teaching position at William and Mary in 1939.

Sherwood taught freshman Chemistry courses along with a variety of other courses during his teaching career, and he introduced geology and astronomy courses into the curriculum.  In 1942 Sherwood left to teach chemistry and sailing courses at the United States Naval Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, as a Lieutenant of the United States Navy Reserves.  Four years later, after a promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 1945, he returned to Norfolk.  Sherwood remained in the Navy Reserves until 1953.

Upon his return to the Norfolk Division of William and Mary in 1946, Sherwood was made the Chairman of the Chemistry Department.   During this time, he also occupied the chair for the division of Natural Sciences from 1950 to 1954.  When Sherwood resigned the Chair of Chemistry in 1969, he assumed a position in Student Academic Advising as well as a part time position teaching Astronomy.  In 1971 he served as Chairman of the Department of Geophysical Sciences until his retirement in May 1977.

While teaching at William and Mary, Sherwood was involved in many campus councils and departmental groups.  He was part of the Honors Council in 1941 and aided in editing revisions to the Honor Code.  He helped design the new science building in 1950 and organize the building of the Pretlow Planetarium in 1965.  In 1968, Sherwood also taught summer courses and helped with summer orientation for new students.

Off campus, Sherwood was a member of many community organizations and clubs such as the Portsmouth Torch Club, the Seaboard Lodge, and the American Camping Association.  He was an Eagle Scout sponsor in the Boy Scouts of America and possessed a great love of camping.  This led to a lifelong connection with Camp Sequoyah in Ashville, North Carolina as a camper, a counselor, and a visitor.  He was on the Board of Deacons for the Court Street Baptist Church of Portsmouth and was a part of the Baptist Student Union in the 1930's.  In line with his profession, he served as the chairman of the local committee for the Virginia Academy of Science conferences in Norfolk.  He advised various local high school science programs and helped open a planetarium at the Portsmouth Manor High School in 1970.  Sherwood established a trust that now funds the C. S. Sherwood Portsmouth Community Trust Scholarship and the C.S. Sherwood III Endowed Scholarship, for Geology or Chemistry majors at Old Dominion University.

He was a Professor Emeritus until his death on August 9, 1977.

Note written by Joanna Ruedisueli

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the life of Calder Smith Sherwood, III, a chemistry professor at Old Dominion University, and his family. Materials include personal correspondence from family members, faculty, students, and organizations, daily planners, wall calendars, pocket diaries, newsletters and newspapers, blueprints, speeches, faculty reports, department surveys, a recorded lecture, and photos. Due to Sherwood's involvement with summer camps, the collection also includes brochures, photos, and correspondence from several boys' camps in North Carolina. There is also much information on planetariums and projectors that Sherwood gathered in preparation for designing the Pretlow Planetarium at Old Dominion.

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into the following series: I. Personal; II. Navy Reserves; III. Professional; IV. Photographs; V. Oversized Documents.

Related Material

Oral Histories in the Perry Library: C.S. Sherwood III

Subjects and Indexing Terms


Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series I
Series I: Personal
1903-1976, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains personal papers of Sherwood, including information related to summer camps, Sherwood's educational background, and material related to Sherwood's family.

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Series II
Series II: Navy Reserves
1942-1953, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains material related to Sherwood's time with the U.S. Navy Reserves.

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Series III
Series III: Professional
1938-1976, undated
Scope and Contents

This series documents Sherwood's academic and professional career at the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, involvement in professional organizations, planning the Pretlow Planetarium, and his teaching career.

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Series IV
Series IV: Photographs
1868-1968, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains photographs and postcards of historical Norfolk, the Biltmore House, the Jamestown Exposition, Sherwood's high school graduation, Camp Sequoyah, the Naval Academy, chemistry professors at ODU, astronaut Scott Carpenter, a lunar eclipse, and unidentified persons. The photographs are made of both originals and photocopies.

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Series V
Series V: Oversized Documents
1899-1974, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains the high school diplomas of both C.S. Sherwood Jr. and C.S. Sherwood III, Sherwood's graduating class photo, a certificate from the Virginia Society of Sons of the Revolution, membership of Phi Kappa Phi, Sherwood's college diploma, certificate of membership to the U.S. Naval Institute, specifications for the Sherwood home in Glensheallah, Portsmouth, Virginia, as well as blueprints for the Pretlow Planetarium and the new science building.

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