Introduction

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

Descriptive Entry

These papers document the professional career of A. Remington Kellogg, and to a lesser extent, his personal life. A small amount of material, which mostly post-dates Kellogg's death in 1969, was created by his wife, Marguerite H. Kellogg. The papers include incoming and outgoing correspondence concerning his research on recent and fossil marine mammals, circa 1921-1969; personal correspondence, especially with his wife, circa 1932-1963; photographs of Kellogg, colleagues, fossil whales, and American Society of Mammalogists meetings; reports and miscellaneous materials regarding the International Whaling Commission, 1956, 1964-1965; files documenting his work on the National Geographic Society's Committee for Research and Exploration, 1969; field notes, diaries, journals, account books, passports, address books, and expense accounts, circa 1903-1958; biographical information on Kellogg; a scrapbook containing personal photographs and memorabilia, circa 1930-1960; diplomas, certificates, and awards; class notes and papers from Kellogg's college days at the University of Kansas and University of California; official documents concerning appointments and ratings from his career in the federal government; files regarding the International Congress of Zoology, 1963; an oil painting of Kellogg; an information file on mammals which includes extensive correspondence and other records documenting Philip Hershkovitz's collecting work in South America, circa 1941-1943; and notes, lists, manuscripts, publications, newspaper clippings and related materials concerning Kellogg's research.

Historical Note

A. Remington Kellogg (1892-1969) was born in Davenport, Iowa. Kellogg studied mammalogy at the University of Kansas and later at the University of California, where he concentrated on the evolution of marine mammals. At California, Kellogg met John Campbell Merriam, later President of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, who was instrumental in supporting Kellogg's studies in cetology. In 1920, Kellogg joined the Bureau of Biological Survey of the United States Department of Agriculture as an Assistant Biologist. Kellogg also held a research appointment at the Carnegie from 1921 to 1943. He transferred from the Biological Survey to the United States National Museum in 1928 to become Assistant Curator of Mammals, and became Curator in 1941 on Gerrit Smith Miller, Jr.'s, retirement. In 1948, Kellogg was named Director of the United States National Museum and held that post until his retirement in 1962. He was also an Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian from 1958 to 1962. After his retirement, the Smithsonian appointed Kellogg to an honorary position in the Division of Vertebrate Paleontology where he continued his studies in evolutionary marine mammalogy until his death in 1969.

Kellogg was also extensively involved with the international regulation of whaling from 1930 to 1967. During this period, he served as delegate to the League of Nations whaling conference, 1930; State Department representative to the International Conference on Whaling at London, 1937; Chairman of the Washington Conference, 1946; United States Commissioner on the International Whaling Commission, 1947-1967; and Chairman of the International Whaling Commission, 1952-1954.