Introduction

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

Descriptive Entry

This collection includes notes, correspondence, information, and photographs accumulated by Bent while writing the "Life Histories." Bent corresponded with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of ornithologists while accumulating information for his life histories. Many of his correspondents sent information on many different species, therefore the correspondence or notes of any individual are likely to be spread throughout the collection, making name control cumbersome and impractical. However, Bent was scrupulous about crediting his contributors. The researcher is urged to consult the Introduction to each volume (in which major contributors are listed) as well as the index at the back of each volume. The index, however, contains only references to individuals quoted in the text, whereas the papers contain many contributions not quoted and therefore not indexed.

Historical Note

Arthur Cleveland Bent (1866-1954) began his multi-volume Life Histories of North American Birds in 1910 and spent the remaining years of his life attempting to complete the project. A prominent businessman and citizen of Taunton, Massachusetts, Bent had been an amateur ornithologist since his childhood. In 1910 he offered to undertake, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution and at his own expense, the completion of the Life Histories of North American Birds begun in the 1890s by Charles Emil Bendire (1836-1897). Between 1910 and his death Bent completed 20 volumes, one of which was published posthumously, and had accumulated notes for three other volumes, which were published in 1968 under the editorship of Oliver L. Austin, Jr.

The "Life Histories" were published as a series of "Bulletins" of the United States National Museum as follows:

107. Life Histories of North American Diving Birds, August 1, 1919.

113. Life Histories of North American Gulls and Terns, August 27, 1921.

121. Life Histories of North American Petrels and Pelicans and Their Allies, October 19, 1922.

126. Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl (part), May 25, 1923.

130. Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl (part), June 27, 1925.

135. Life Histories of North American Marsh Birds, March 11, 1927.

142. Life Histories of North American Shore Birds (pt. 1), December 31, 1927.

146. Life Histories of North American Shore Birds (pt. 2), March 24, 1929.

162. Life Histories of North American Gallinaceous Birds, May 25, 1932.

167. Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey (pt. 1), May 3, 1937.

170. Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey (pt. 2), August 8, 1938.

174. Life Histories of North American Woodpeckers, May 23, 1939.

176. Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds, and Their Allies, July 20, 1940.

179. Life Histories of North American Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, and Their Allies, May 8, 1942.

191. Life Histories of North American Jays, Crows, and Titmice, January 27, 1947.

195. Life Histories of North American Nuthatches, Wrens, Thrashers, and Their Allies, July 7, 1948.

196. Life Histories of North American Thrushes, Kinglets, and Their Allies, June 28, 1949.

197. Life Histories of North American Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos, and Their Allies, June 21, 1950.

203. Life Histories of North American Wood Warblers, June 15, 1953.

211. Life Histories of North American Blackbirds, Orioles, Tanagers, and Allies, February 27, 1958.

237. Life Histories of North American Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, Towhees, Finches, Sparrows, and Allies (in 3 volumes), 1968.

Bent regarded the "Life Histories" as collaborative works, and he solicited information, data, notes, and photographs from hundreds of professional and amateur ornithologists throughout North America.