Wells had the ‘perennial seed of new beginnings’

By Rose McIlveen

(Editor’s note: In addition to his Wells biographical project, Capshew teaches a course on the history of IU. He approaches the university as a cultural artifact, as something produced by a human community and thus amenable to interpretation. Read about the course at the Web site at the end of this story.)

Capshew, who teaches the history and philosophy of science at IU Bloomington, has a unique perspective on Wells, since the professor was one of a succession of student assistants who lived in Wells’ home and had the opportunity of seeing him at close range. Beginning in 1977, Capshew was both waiter and dinner companion to Wells, who didn’t care to dine alone.

Prior to his death, Wells named Capshew as his official biographer and gave him unlimited access to personal and professional papers. Though the research brings back memories, he is still profoundly affected by the absence of Wells from the Bloomington campus.

“I remember last year’s Founders Day event when Dr. Wells wasn’t there—an event he did so much to nurture and maintain. That was winter, literally as well as figuratively. He died a few weeks later, on the cusp of his 98th spring,” said Capshew.

He recalls that Wells was animated by the changing of the seasons.

“Born in the last month of spring, he had that perennial sense of new beginnings, of irrepressible energy and drive. Wells looked forward to the quickening of autumn and the return of students coming on campus,” Capshew recalled.

In his Wells’ research and writing, the professor said he asks himself, “Have I done well for the university? Have I evoked the spirit that Wells embodied? Would Dr. Wells have approved?”

Capshew expects it will take two years to catalog and read two rooms full of Wells’ papers. He is being assisted by Faye Marks, a former staff member at the IU Archives.

http://www.indiana.edu/~memento/