Applegarth, Arnold G. (1909-2001)
Date Updated
8-10-2019
Department
Biology
Academic Rank
Professor
Year Retired from SJSU
1976
Educational Background
Stanford University, 1952 Ph.D.
Stanford University, 1937 MA & Gen. Sci. Cred.
San Jose State College, 1935 BA
Teaching Experience
San Jose State College/University, 1946-1977
Summers: 1968-1973
Hayward State University - 4 summers
San Jose State: Space Science for Teachers - 2 summers
Fresno State: Hands on Science & Field Trips- 1 summer
National Science Foundation, San Jose State- 1 summer
San Mateo City Schools: Weekly Science Radio Prog. - 6 years
Campbell High School, 1940-1941
Redlands Secondary Schools, 1937-1939
Administrative and Professional Experience
Assistant Scout Master, 1937‑1939.
Yosemite National Park Ranger, 6 weeks, 1941.
U.S. Forest Service, 4 summers.
World War II military service (see "Personal Commentary").
Selected Publications
"The Morphology & Life History of Apterobittacus apterus, published in Mtcroentomology, 1938 (MA thesis).
"The Morphology & Comparative Study of Pseudolithobius megaloporus, published in Microentomology, 1952 (Ph.D. dissertation).
Vessel and Applegarth, Experiences with Living Things. A Laboratory Manual and Field Guide for the Study of Our Natural Environment.
Files
Personal Commentary
During the last year that I taught school in Redlands (1939), I made, as one of my extracurricular activities, an hour long (1600') colored movie that was a cross section of the teaching activities in all grades from Kindergarten through High School. This movie was shown at the California State Superintendents Convention two successive years.
In the years that I taught at SJSU, I taught 60 or more weeks in the Field Studies Program. One year I took colored movies for a 60 minute publicity show to promote this program in various communities.
In 1941, I attended the Naturalist Training School in Yosemite Park for U.S. National Park Rangers, after which I accepted a summer ranger job in Tuolumne Meadows. This job, however, was of short duration as I was asked to join the U.S. Army's Flight Training School in Santa Ana. My assignment was to be a civilian instructor teaching Meteorology and Physics. In that year, I was inducted into the Army as a buck private but soon rose to Staff Sergeant.
I was generously released from the Army to accept a commission in the U.S. Navy. After naval training, I served during part of WWII in Central America, initially as an Aerial Gunnery Instructor in the Panama Canal Zone, then, in turn, as a Communications Officer, a Briefing Officer, and finally as an Executive Officer in Nicaragua.
I was next transferred to Florida to be a Recognition Training Officer for a Naval Air Transport Squadron. From Florida I was eventually sent to the Philippines, where I was promoted to lieutenant Commander.
When the war ended, I returned to my family in Palo Alto and completed work at Stanford for the Ph.D. This I received in 1951. For income, I sold real estate and worked four summers doing reconnaissance and field mapping for the U.S. Forest Service.
Date Completed: 8/96
Adapted from: Biographies of Retired Faculty San Jose State University 1997: A Project of the Emeritus Faculty Association of San Jose State University. San Jose, CA: The University, 1997.