Smithsonian Institution Archives

Correspondence, circa 1953-1988

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0400
Creators:
National Museum of Natural History. Division of Mammals
Dates:
circa 1953-1988
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
8.5 cu. ft. (8 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence of the staff of the Division of Mammals and primarily concern the identification, loan, and acquisition of specimens; requests for information from colleagues and the public; the publication of scientific papers; and research projects of the staff.

Historical Note

Historical Note
The Department of Mammals of the United States National Museum was formally created in 1880. Prior to that time, the Smithsonian held an extensive collection of mammals which had been obtained from the private collection of Spencer F. Baird, from the United States Exploring Expedition and other government explorations, and from the collections of the National Institute which was dissolved in 1861. Upon the formation of the Department, Elliott 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. True also remained Curator of Mammals until 1909. In 1898, Gerrit Smith Miller, Jr. was appointed Assistant Curator of Mammals and from 1908 until his retirement in 1940 served as Curator. Other staff of the Division of Mammals have included Marcus Ward Lyon, Jr., Aid, 1898-1906, and Assistant Curator, 1906-1909; Ned Hollister, Assistant Curator, 1910-1916; A. Remington Kellogg, Assistant Curator, 1928-1941, and Curator, 1941-1948; David H. Johnson, Associate Curator, 1941-1957, and Curator, 1957-1967; Raymond M. Gilmore, Associate Curator, 1944-1947; Henry W. Setzer, Associate Curator, 1949-1969, and Curator, 1969-1979; Charles O. Handley, Jr., Assistant Curator, 1950-1954, Associate Curator, 1954-1965, and Curator, 1965- ; Richard W. Thorington, Jr., Associate Curator, 1969-1976, and Curator, 1976- ; James G. Mead, Assistant Curator, 1972-1976, Associate Curator, 1976-1982, and Curator, 1982- ; and Michael D. Carleton, Assistant Curator, 1979-1983, Associate Curator, 1983-1987, and Curator, 1987- .

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 400, National Museum of Natural History. Division of Mammals, Correspondence

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Setzer, Henry W. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Handley, Charles O. (Charles Overton), 1924-2000 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Thorington, Richard W. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mead, James G. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Carleton, Michael D. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mammalogy Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Zoology Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mammalogists Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mammals Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Vertebrates Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
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