In 1905, eight men from the California Academy of Sciences set sail from San Francisco for a scientific collection expedition in the Galapagos Islands, and by the time they were finished in 1906, they had completed one of the most important expeditions in the history of both evolutionary and conservation science. These scientists collected over 78,000 species during their time on the islands, validating the work of Charles Darwin and laying the groundwork for foundational evolution texts like Darwin's Finches. Despite its significance, almost nothing has been written on this voyage, lost amongst discussion of Darwin's trip on the Beagle and the writing of David Lack. In Collecting Evolution, Matthew James finally tells the story of the 1905 Galapagos expedition. James follows these eight young men aboard the Academy to the Galapagos and back, and reveals why they were able to have the groundbreaking success they had. A current Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, James uses his access to unpublished writings and photographs to provide unprecedented insight into the expedition. We learn the voyagers' personal stories, and how, for all the scientific progress that was made, just as much intense personal drama unfolded on the trip. This is a watershed moment in scientific history, crossed with a maritime adventure: there are suicides, controversies over credit and fame, and the tragic killing of now-extinct species. The book discusses how these men thought of themselves as "collectors" before they thought of themselves as scientists, and the implications this had on their approach and their results. In the end, the voyage of the Academy proved to be crucial in the development of evolutionary science as we know it. It is the longest expedition in Galapagos history, and played a critical role in cementing Darwin's legacy. Collecting Evolution brings this extraordinary story to light, bringing its scientists and their journey to life.

About the Author
Matthew James is a Fellow of the the California Academy of Sciences, and Professor of Paleontology at Sonoma State University. He has been writing about the Galapagos in historical, scientific, and research capacities for over thirty years.

Reviews
The author's focus upon the activities of the young collectors lends an attractive sense of concreteness to his narrative. He leaves no reason to doubt that collecting in the field can be difficult, dangerous, and exhausting work, amid vomit, bed bugs, and swamping boats. * Michael T. Ghiselin, The Quarterly Review of Biology *
James's study is a lucid, often lively, contribution to an episode in the annals of evolution that is less well known than perhaps it should be. The book benefits from the author's extensive utilization of the diaries, field notes, journals, photographs, and correspondence of the eight biologists aboard Academy. * Professor Martin Fichman, Isis Journal *
For readers, Charles Darwin, born in 1809, apparently never gets old... Currently we get about 160 a year - a Darwin tome every 2.3 days. Even with a book population so large, most years bring notable additions, and so it is in 2017...the geologist Matthew J. James's Collecting Evolution recounts a 1905-6 Galapagos visit in which the legendary field naturalist Rollo Beck, wielding shotgun, burlap bags and camera, made observations that provided crucial support for Darwins work in those islands. * David Dobbs, New York Times Book Review *
James writes well and delivers a stimulating account of evolutionary thought through the years * Publishers Weekly *
An excellent read on the last collection voyage to Galapagos * Jenny Vidler, Galapagos Matters *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199354597
Author Matthew J. James
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 567g
Dimensions(mm) 236mm * 163mm * 28mm