August 20, 1999
LAWRENCE -- An exhibit on evolution titled "Is Man an Ape or an Angel?" is now on display at a University of Kansas library.
The exhibit highlights the Kenneth Spencer Research Library's first-edition copy of Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species." Also featured in the exhibit is a letter written by Darwin to James E. Todd, who was on the geology staff at KU from 1907 until he died in 1922. A copy of Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's play "Inherit the Wind," which is based on the Scopes "Monkey Trial" of 1925, also is presented with the exhibit.
The exhibit's title comes from a quote by former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. Responding to the idea of evolution, Disraeli proclaimed: "Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels."
James Helyar, curator in graphics, said the quote was Disraeli's way of saying he was opposed to the theory of evolution.
William Crowe, Spencer librarian at KU, said the library's copy of Darwin's controversial scientific publication is important because it demonstrates exactly how the ideas came to people. Displaying the book, Crowe said, gives individuals a chance to examine the evidence and to make informed judgments.
"Any library in the university intends to make available the best evidence for its readers," Crowe said.
The idea for an evolution exhibit was fueled by the recent Kansas State Board of Education decision to remove mention of evolution from its science curriculum and not include questions about evolution in state standardized tests, said librarian Sally Haines. The exhibit will be displayed until around mid-September. It also is posted on the Web at: http://www.ku.edu/~spencer/exhibits/darwin/darwin.html.
Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858 or e-mail tcohen@ukans.edu