Smithsonian Institution Archives

Herbert Girton Deignan Papers, 1916-1970

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU7465
Creators:
Deignan, H. G. (Herbert Girton), 1906-1968
Dates:
1916-1970
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These papers consist of photographs, including images of Deignan in Siam in the 1930s and on the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition; letters written by Deignan to his mother from Siam, Central America, and Europe, 1931-1939; letters written by Deignan to family members, 1942-1948, including a few from Australia while serving on the Arnhem Land Expedition; official letters concerning his USNM career; certificates; and biographical materials on Deignan.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Herbert Girton Deignan (1906-1968), ornithologist and authority on the birds of Thailand, received the B.A. degree from Princeton University in 1928. That same year he took a position as Master in the Prince Royal College in Chiengmai, northern Siam. Deignan remained in Siam intermittently until 1937 and amassed a large collection of birds for the United States National Museum (USNM). In 1938, he was appointed Scientific Aid in the Division of Birds, USNM. He was promoted to Assistant Curator in 1940, Associate Curator in 1942, and Curator in 1959. Deignan retired in 1962.
During World War II, Deignan served in the Office of Strategic Services, 1944-1946, primarily in southern Asia. In 1948, he went to northern Australia as a member of the Commonwealth of Australia-National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Expedition to Arnhem Land. He also conducted field work for the USNM in Thailand, 1952-1953, and Madagascar, 1962.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7465, Herbert Girton Deignan Papers

More Information

Notes

Personal Papers


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Deignan, H. G. (Herbert Girton), 1906-1968 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Weber, Walter Alois, 1905 or 1906- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Princeton University Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Prince Royal's College (Chiang Mai, Thailand) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Division of Birds Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Office of Strategic Services Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Commonwealth of Australia-National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Expedition to Arnhem Land (1948) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ornithology Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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