William J. Clench
Encyclopedia
William James Clench (24 October 1897 - 22 February 1984) was an American
malacologist, professor at Harvard University
and curator of the mollusk collection in the malacology department of the Museum of Comparative Zoology
at Harvard.
Clench was born in Brooklyn
, but was largely raised in Massachusetts
. In 1913 he entered the Huntington School in Boston
. While there he often engaged in bug collecting, and would show his collections to Charles Johnson
at the Boston Society of Natural History
. Johnson introduced Clench to such men as William F. Clapp
, who was the curator of mollusks at the Museum of Comparative Zoology
(MCZ).
Clench received his undergraduate education at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University
), graduating in 1921. He spent the summer studying mollusks on Sanibel Island
and then began study at Harvard under William Morton Wheeler
. He received his master's degree in entomology
in 1923. He then went on to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan
, in Ann Arbor, in mollusk study, with a Hinsdale Fellowship. In 1924 Clench married Julia Helmich, a resident of East Lansing, Michigan
whom he had met while attending Michigan Agricultural College. Their eldest son, Harry Kendon Clench (1925–1979), would become a well-known lepidopterist
at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
in Pittsburgh.
Clench left Ann Arbor in 1925, to take a position at the Kent Scientific Museum. In 1926 he joined the Museum of Comparative Zoology
, where he remained until 1966. He did not actually finish work on his Ph.D. until 1953. Much of Clench's work was done with Ruth D. Turner. Jointly they introduced about 70 new taxa, and the two of them (together and independently) introduced a total of approximately 500 new taxa.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
malacologist, professor at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and curator of the mollusk collection in the malacology department of the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Museum of Comparative Zoology
The Museum of Comparative Zoology, full name "The Louis Agassiz Museum of Comparative Zoology", often abbreviated simply to "MCZ", is a zoology museum located on the grounds of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is one of three museums which collectively comprise the Harvard Museum...
at Harvard.
Clench was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, but was largely raised in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. In 1913 he entered the Huntington School in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. While there he often engaged in bug collecting, and would show his collections to Charles Johnson
Charles W. Johnson (naturalist)
Charles Willison Johnson was an American naturalist who specialized in Entomology and Malacology, making significant contributions in both fields....
at the Boston Society of Natural History
Boston Society of Natural History
The Boston Society of Natural History in Boston, Massachusetts, was an organization dedicated to the study and promotion of natural history. It published a scholarly journal and established a museum. In its first few decades, the society occupied several successive locations in Boston's Financial...
. Johnson introduced Clench to such men as William F. Clapp
William F. Clapp
William Frederick Clapp was a specialist in mollusks at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology and one of the people who influenced William J. Clench to go into the study of mollusks....
, who was the curator of mollusks at the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Museum of Comparative Zoology
The Museum of Comparative Zoology, full name "The Louis Agassiz Museum of Comparative Zoology", often abbreviated simply to "MCZ", is a zoology museum located on the grounds of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is one of three museums which collectively comprise the Harvard Museum...
(MCZ).
Clench received his undergraduate education at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
), graduating in 1921. He spent the summer studying mollusks on Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is an island located on the Gulf coast of Florida, just offshore of Fort Myers. In 2000, it had an estimated population of 6,064 people...
and then began study at Harvard under William Morton Wheeler
William Morton Wheeler
William Morton Wheeler, Ph.D. was an American entomologist, myrmecologist and Harvard professor.-Early life:...
. He received his master's degree in entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
in 1923. He then went on to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, in Ann Arbor, in mollusk study, with a Hinsdale Fellowship. In 1924 Clench married Julia Helmich, a resident of East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
whom he had met while attending Michigan Agricultural College. Their eldest son, Harry Kendon Clench (1925–1979), would become a well-known lepidopterist
Lepidopterist
A lepidopterist is a person who specialises in the study of Lepidoptera, members of an order encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, located at 4400 Forbes Avenue in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, was founded by the Pittsburgh-based industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1896...
in Pittsburgh.
Clench left Ann Arbor in 1925, to take a position at the Kent Scientific Museum. In 1926 he joined the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Museum of Comparative Zoology
The Museum of Comparative Zoology, full name "The Louis Agassiz Museum of Comparative Zoology", often abbreviated simply to "MCZ", is a zoology museum located on the grounds of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is one of three museums which collectively comprise the Harvard Museum...
, where he remained until 1966. He did not actually finish work on his Ph.D. until 1953. Much of Clench's work was done with Ruth D. Turner. Jointly they introduced about 70 new taxa, and the two of them (together and independently) introduced a total of approximately 500 new taxa.