The David Starr Jordan Prize

photo of DSJ prize (medallion)

The David Starr Jordan Prize

David Starr Jordan with his dog Jock. Photo courtesy of the Indiana University Archive.

The Life and Times of David Starr Jordan:

Jordan at Cornell University
Jordan at Indiana University
Jordan at Stanford University

Historical Comments on Dr. Jordan by Donald Kennedy, past president of Stanford University

Jordan at Cornell

David Starr Jordan matriculated to Cornell in 1869 after having shown considerable talent in plant taxonomy, history, and poetry in his hometown of Gainesville, New York. His skill in botany earned him an instructorship in that subject the next year, and by his third year there, he had already become the president of the Cornell Natural History Society. In 1872, a Master of Science degree was conferred on Jordan upon the completion of his undergraduate course of study.

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Jordan at Indiana

After graduating from Cornell, Jordan continued his roles as student, researcher, and educator at a number of institutions of higher learning throughout the East and Midwest. During this period, Jordan was influenced considerably by the naturalist Louis Agassiz at Penikese Island, Massachusetts. While a Professor of Biology at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, Jordan published one of his most important biological works: A Manual of Vertebrates of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi River and North of North Carolina and Tennessee, Exclusive of Marine Species. Dr. Jordan also found the time to obtain a medical degree while teaching in Indianapolis, feeling it would help his understanding of physiology.

In 1879, Dr. Jordan came to Indiana University as a Professor of Zoology. One of his first actions as Professor at Indiana was to take leave to survey marine industries of the Pacific for the U.S. Fish Commission. Such expeditions, both in Indiana and farther afield were characteristic of Jordan's tenure at I.U.

Dr. Jordan's academic notoriety and his skill at oratory and administration made him an ideal candidate for the school's presidency in 1884. This elevation came as a surprise to Jordan, but rising to the challenge, he proceeded to lead Indiana University in a series of sweeping reforms which secured a strong academic and monetary base from which today's institution has grown. Despite his administrative duties, Jordan continued to contribute original works to the field of ichthyology.

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Jordan at Stanford

Jordan's growing reputation as a progressive educator led Senator Leland Stanford to recruit him as the first president of Stanford University. Jordan accepted, and began his tenure there in 1891 taking many of the faculty and students of Indiana University with him. At Stanford, he was instrumental in the founding of the Hopkins Marine Station. He served Stanford as President until 1913 and as Chancellor until 1916 whereupon he retired as Chancellor Emeritus.

From the turn of the century on, Jordan spent much of his time in an effort to promote education and world peace, including speaking tours and the publication of a number of books. He also continued to publish papers and books on ichthyological topics throughout his life, and served the U.S. government and many biological, and world peace organizations in a professional capacity well into his formal retirement. He died in 1931 in Palo Alto, California.

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Last Updated: 11 March 2003
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