Introduction

Record unit 7308 contains biographical materials assembled by the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). A portion of these materials were transferred to the Smithsonian Archives in 1974 and 1975 as part of the main body of AOU records. The AOU has named the Smithsonian Archives as repository for its official records. In 1983, the Archives secured the agreement of the AOU Council to separate the biographical files from the official AOU records and establish an active biographical collection. Periodic additions are made to this record unit.

Descriptive Entry

This collection consists of biographical files, arranged alphabetically, of past and present ornithologists and naturalists, not all of whom were members of the American Ornithologists' Union. The older files, preceded in the list by an asterisk, contain varying amounts and types of material, including reminiscences, articles, clippings, pamphlets, obituaries, press releases, memorials, and correspondence. For some persons, the information is quite limited. The more recent files generally consist of completed biographical forms and bibliographies submitted in response to the requests issued by the Biography Committee of the AOU. Some respondents have also sent curricula vitae and photographs. Box 19 contains correspondence attached to incoming forms, 1983-1984. Some biographies and images are available in electronic form.

Historical Note

The finding aid to record unit 7150, records of the American Ornithologists' Union, contains an administrative history of the AOU. The introduction to this finding aid provides an explanation of the provenance of the materials in this collection.