Edward L. Kessel
Encyclopedia
Edward Luther Kessel was an American biologist known for his work as an entomologist
and writings to reconcile science and religion.
to George Grant Kessel and Hattie Levon Kessel, but the family moved to South Africa
in 1908, and later in 1916 to San Joaquin County, California
where he grew up in the farming community of Ripon
. The elder Kessel was a Free Methodist
preacher, sparking Kessel's lifelong interest in the reconciliation of science and religion. Kessel began studies for the ministry at Greenville College
in Illinois and Church Divinity School of the Pacific
before finishing his B.S. degree in agriculture at the University of California, Berkeley
in 1925. His M.A. (1927) and Ph.D. degrees (1936) were also earned at the University of California, Berkeley
.
(1927-1932), but he spent most of his professional career in San Francisco
as a faculty member at the University of San Francisco
(1936-1974), and as curator of the entomological
collections at the California Academy of Sciences
(1945-1959). He served as the managing editor of the Wasmann Journal of Biology from 1950 to 1974, and during his 30-year association with the California Academy of Sciences, he was the editor of 370 technical papers and monographs published by the Academy. Kessel is considered to be one of the leading authorities on the Platypezidae
or flat-footed flies, with entomologists mailing specimens to him from around the globe. Kessel's collections, which are housed at the California Academy of Sciences, are the most comprehensive collection of this taxon
in the world. Kessel died at his retirement home in Milwaukie, Oregon
on 30 September 1997. The University of San Francisco annually bestows the Edward L. Kessel Award to an undergraduate student with high potential for a professional career in the biological sciences.
Kessel was a Fellow
of American Association for the Advancement of Science
, and a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, and he served as president of the Pacific Coast Entomological Society.
and phenotypic
sex-reversal as a possible explanation for the virgin birth of Christ. Some of his publications included:
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
and writings to reconcile science and religion.
Early life and education
Kessel was born on 27 April 1904 in Osborne, KansasOsborne, Kansas
Osborne is a city in and the county seat of Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,431.-History:...
to George Grant Kessel and Hattie Levon Kessel, but the family moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1908, and later in 1916 to San Joaquin County, California
San Joaquin County, California
San Joaquin County is a county located in Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 685,306. The county seat is Stockton.-History:...
where he grew up in the farming community of Ripon
Ripon, California
Ripon is a city located in . The population was 14,297 at the 2010 census.-History:Ripon, on the site previously known as Murphy's Ferry, Stanislaus City, & Stanislaus Station, was renamed for , which was itself named for a city in Yorkshire, England...
. The elder Kessel was a Free Methodist
Free Methodist Church
The Free Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination within the holiness movement. It is evangelical in nature and has its roots in the Arminian-Wesleyan tradition....
preacher, sparking Kessel's lifelong interest in the reconciliation of science and religion. Kessel began studies for the ministry at Greenville College
Greenville College
Greenville College is located in Greenville, Illinois, a small Illinois city, located 45 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri on Interstate 70...
in Illinois and Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific is one of the eleven seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is located in Berkeley, California, and is a member of the Graduate Theological Union...
before finishing his B.S. degree in agriculture at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1925. His M.A. (1927) and Ph.D. degrees (1936) were also earned at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Career
Kessel began his teaching career at Marquette UniversityMarquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
(1927-1932), but he spent most of his professional career in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
as a faculty member at the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
(1936-1974), and as curator of the entomological
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
collections at the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
(1945-1959). He served as the managing editor of the Wasmann Journal of Biology from 1950 to 1974, and during his 30-year association with the California Academy of Sciences, he was the editor of 370 technical papers and monographs published by the Academy. Kessel is considered to be one of the leading authorities on the Platypezidae
Platypezidae
Platypezidae is a family of true flies of the superfamily Platypezoidea. The more than 250 species are found worldwide primarily in woodland habitats...
or flat-footed flies, with entomologists mailing specimens to him from around the globe. Kessel's collections, which are housed at the California Academy of Sciences, are the most comprehensive collection of this taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
in the world. Kessel died at his retirement home in Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
on 30 September 1997. The University of San Francisco annually bestows the Edward L. Kessel Award to an undergraduate student with high potential for a professional career in the biological sciences.
Kessel was a Fellow
Fellow of the AAAS
Fellow of the AAAS is an honor accorded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science to distinguished persons who are members of the Association. Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council for "efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications [which] are...
of American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, and a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, and he served as president of the Pacific Coast Entomological Society.
Selected publications
Edward L. Kessel was the author of about 100 scientific publications mostly on entomology, many of which were co-authored by his spouse Berta B. Kessel (10 Feb 1911 - 20 Jul 1995). However he also is known for a 1983 paper proposing parthenogenesisParthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...
and phenotypic
Phenotype
A phenotype is an organism's observable characteristics or traits: such as its morphology, development, biochemical or physiological properties, behavior, and products of behavior...
sex-reversal as a possible explanation for the virgin birth of Christ. Some of his publications included:
- Kessel E.L. and B.B. Kessel. 1939. Diptera associated with fungi. Wasmann Collector 3: 73-92.
- Kessel, E.L. and J.V. Karabinos. 1947. Empimorpha geneatis Melander, a balloon fly from California with a chemical examination of its balloons (Diptera; Empididae). Pan-Pacific Entomology 23:181-192.
- Kessel E.L. 1948. Australian sod fly introduced into California (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Science 108(2813):607.
- Kessel, E.L. and B.B. Kessel. 1951. A new species of balloon-bearing Empis and an account of its mating activities (Diptera:Empididae). Wasmann Journal of Biology 9:137-146.
- Kessel, E. L. 1955. The mating activities of balloon flies. Systematic Zoology 4:97-104.
- Kessel E.L., Buegler M.E. and Keyes P.M. 1973. A survey of the known larvae and puparia of Platypezidae, with a key to ten genera based on the immature stages (Diptera). Wasmann Journal of Biology 31: 233-261.
- Kessel, E.L. 1983. A proposed biological interpretation of the Virgin birth. Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation 35:129-136. web version