Samuel Stehman Haldeman was born on August 12, 1812 to Henry and Frances Haldeman in
Locust Grove, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of seven children. Haldeman’s great-grandfather served on
the Committee of Safety during the American Revolution, and his grandfather was on the General Assembly of Pennsylvania in
1795.(3) Henry Haldeman managed a sawmill in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. When Samuel was fourteen, he was
sent to a classical school in Harrisburg. He then attended Dickinson College in 1830, but only remained there for two years.(4) Haldeman did not lose interest in academic pursuits when he left Dickinson, and instead continued to
collect specimens when he returned home. His academic endeavors were stalled in 1831, however, when his father decided that
Samuel was to become the manager of a sawmill. Haldeman oversaw the milll until 1836, when a former professor of his
at Dickinson College, Henry Darwin Rogers, was named the state geologist of Pennsylvania, and asked Haldeman to undertake
his current field operations in New Jersey. Haldeman served in New Jersey for one year, and was then transferred back
to Pennsylvania to assist on the state survey there. He assisted with the state survey for five years, and despite being
actively involved in the natural sciences through this occupation, Haldeman remained individually active in the field of malacology
and conchology. Before we continue, it is important that we define and put into perspective the terms that defined Haldeman’s
work and life. Malacology is the study of mollusks, while conchology is the study of sea-shells. Malacology and
conchology are subordinates of zoology, which is defined as the study of animals. All of these fields are subsets of
the natural sciences. Haldeman began his scientific career in a narrow and specific field, which goes against the conventional
method of starting broadly, and narrowing your interests gradually. For Haldeman, though, not adhering to convention
was normal. Haldeman had begun work in the fields of malacology and conchology in 1840, and by 1842 he had published
his Monograph on the Freshwater Mollusca of the United States. His monograph proved to be noteworthy, partly
due to the fact that it included a description of the Scolithus linearis, which at the time was the oldest organic
remains in Pennsylvania.(5) In the year of 1842-43, Haldeman was respected enough to give a
series of lectures on zoology at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. His scientific influence in Philadelphia continued,
as he was documented to have been a member of the prestigious Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia in 1845.(6) Haldeman published several articles during this period, mostly pertaining to the natural sciences, and
more specifically to malacology, conchology, and entomology, which is defined as the study of insects. Despite Haldeman’s
primary focus being on the very narrow fields of zoology, the breadth of his knowledge allowed him to author published articles
on the broader topic of zoology. One article of particular importance was Haldeman’s “Remarks on Zoological
Nomenclature,” published in the American Journal of Science and Arts in 1844. This article is not important
because of its specific content, it is important because it represents the beginning of Haldeman’s study of philology.
While Haldeman is still regarded as a leading zoologist, his interest in linguistics is evident, even within the context of
zoological nomenclature. Despite the linguistic undertones of this article, however, Haldeman’s primary focus
was still the science of zoology. Haldeman further cemented
his position as one of the leading scientists in Philadelphia when he became a professor of Natural History at the University
of Pennsylvania in 1851. He held this position until 1855, and then accepted a position as professor of Natural Sciences
at Delaware College. All the while, Haldeman was lecturing at the State Agricultural College of Pennsylvania on chemistry
and geology. Haldeman had already been a professor of natural history and a professor of natural sciences, was a respected
zoologist, and yet was still knowledgeable and respected enough to be invited to lecture on chemistry and geology. Truly,
Haldeman’s scientific diversity was unique. Further demonstrating his diversity, in 1858 Haldeman was awarded the Trevelyan
Prize, given by the Phonetic Society of Great Britain, for his article entitled “Analytic Orthography.”(7) Orthography is defined as the study of correct or proper spelling, and is a subordinate of philology.
During this time, he was also believed to be a member of the National Academy of Sciences(8), which was founded in 1863.(9) Haldeman’s transition from the natural sciences to philology
was accelerated when he returned to the University of Pennsylvania in 1868 to be the first chair of the Comparative Philology
department. Philology is the study of the structure and development of language. Haldeman had frequently utilized
his extraordinary ability to distinguish between sounds in the field of entomology, and combining this with his research of
zoological nomenclature, the logical progression leading to Haldeman’s transition to the science of language becomes
evident. This was not a, however, a sudden transition. Haldeman had been in correspondence with the famous linguist
Noah Webster (of Webster’s Dictionary) as early as 1838(10), and his award-winning article “Analytical Orthography” was published in 1860, a full eight years
before becoming a philology professor. Haldeman quickly became widely respected in the field of philology. He
helped found and may have been the first president of the American Philological Association (APA) in 1869.(11) In 1875, he was appointed to a committee the APA assembledto review the Noah Webster’s new spelling,
and to determine the need for such change The committee concluded that change was indeed necessary, and specifically
recommended eleven spelling revisions, all of which were endorsed by the Spelling Reform Association.(12) Haldeman held his professorship at the University of Pennsylvania until his death in Chickies, Pennsylvania
on September 10, 1880. Samuel Haldeman influenced
the scientific discipline in many different ways. As we have already seen, Haldeman’s research was progressive,
diverse, and respected. Haldeman’s influence was not, however, purely research-based. He also influenced
the sciences through his personal relationships and generosity. Haldeman was personally and professionally revered by many
other influential (and better publicized) scientists. Haldeman befriended a young Joseph Leidy during his time at the
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Haldeman even used his considerable influence within the Academy to land
Leidy the position of librarian within his first year of membership. Joseph Leidy would go on to become a famous naturalist,
holding positions as the chair of the Anatomy and Biology departments at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the chair
of the natural history department at Swarthmore College. Still today, his name graces Philadelphia on the Joseph Leidy
Building at the University of Pennsylvania, the Joseph Leidy Public School, and Leidy Avenue(13). Haldeman was also respected and admired by the famous evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin.
Darwin mentions Haldeman’s work in the “Historical Sketch” section of his most famous work, The Origin
of Species. He notes that Haldeman’s research has aided him in reaching his conclusion on evolution(14). Darwin does not give Haldeman credit just once though, as he refers fellow scientists such as B.D.
Walsh to Haldeman’s research, and makes note of he and Haldeman’s personal correspondence(15). Darwin is one of the most famous and influential scientists in history, therefore we are able to see
Haldeman’s vast influence through Darwin’s respect for Haldeman. Former Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution,
Director of the National Museum, and noted naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird was also an admirer of Haldeman. Baird
kept in correspondence with Haldeman in his early years, and when Baird was 21, he visited Haldeman at his house in Chickasalunga,
whereupon Haldeman donated books and specimens to the young Baird(16). Samuel Stehman Haldeman gave his life
to his scholarly pursuits, and his influence, though largely unnoticed, is astounding. Many of the most famous and influential
scholars of the past were directly influenced by Haldeman both personally and professionally. Haldeman was able to aid
in progressive research on many fronts, both scientific and linguistic. The fact that Haldeman was constantly on the
cutting edge of every field he studied suggests that he was a man who challenged convention, a man who truly thought for himself.
Samuel Haldeman was not only one of the greatest American scholars, but also one of the greatest American thinkers. |