Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, circa 1867-1971

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0208
Creators:
National Museum of Natural History. Division of Mammals
Dates:
circa 1867-1971
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
31.24 cu. ft. (59 document boxes) (3 tall document boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Introduction

Introduction
This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
The records of the Division of Mammals include annual reports of the division from 1905-1945; incoming and outgoing correspondence of the staff of the division, chiefly the curators, 1882-1971; invoices for shipments; manuscripts of Gerrit Smith Miller, Jr., and Marcus Ward Lyon, Jr.; and a biographical file on prominent naturalists and scientists.

Historical Note

Historical Note
The Department of Mammals at the United States National Museum was formally created in 1879 with the organization of the United States National Museum by George Brown Goode. Work in mammalogy had been possible prior to that time, however, as a result of the large collection of mammals the Smithsonian had accumulated.
The earliest basis for the mammals collection was the natural history collection of Spencer F. Baird, which he brought with him when he joined the Smithsonian Institution in 1850. In addition to these specimens, the Smithsonian began to receive mammals from naturalists and others assigned to the United States government exploring expeditions. In 1858, the Smithsonian received what remained of the collections of the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, which had been stored in the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. Another large collection was acquired upon the dissolution of the National Institute in 1861.
Upon the formation of the Department in 1879, Elliot Coues was appointed honorary curator of mammals. He continued as honorary curator until Frederick William True became curator in 1883. In 1897, a major reorganization of the museum made the department a division within the new Department of Biology, and True became head curator of biology. The following year Gerrit Smith Miller, Jr., was appointed assistant curator of mammals and from 1908-1940 was curator. Following his retirement, A. Remington Kellogg was curator until 1948. From 1948-1965, the division was headed by David H. Johnson, who was associate curator from 1941-1957 and curator from 1957-1965. Charles O. Handley became curator in 1965, and Henry W. Setzer was appointed curator in 1969.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 208, National Museum of Natural History. Division of Mammals, Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Hollister, N. (Ned), 1876-1924 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gilmore, Raymond M. (Raymond Maurice), 1907-1983 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Thorington, Richard W. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Miller, Gerrit S. (Gerrit Smith), 1869-1956 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lyon, Marcus Ward, 1875-1942 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Muir, John, 1838-1914 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
True, Frederick William, 1858-1914 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kellogg, Remington, 1892-1969 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Johnson, David H. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Setzer, Henry W. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Handley, Charles O. (Charles Overton), 1924-2000 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Institute Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Department of Biology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mammalogists Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mammalogy Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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Washington, D.C.
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