Smithsonian Institution Archives

Meredith Leam Jones Oral History Interview, 1990

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU9573
Creators:
Jones, Meredith L., interviewee
Dates:
1990
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
6 audiotapes (Reference copies).
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Introduction

Introduction
The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives’ record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Jones was interviewed for the Oral History Collection because of his long association with the NMNH and outstanding research career in invertebrate zoology.

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
Jones was interviewed by Pamela M. Henson on October 23, 1990 at his home in Washington State. This interview discusses his education, his years at Florida State University and AMNH, his career at the NMNH, research on polycheate worms, especially the eastern Pacific hydrothermal rift fauna of giant tube worms, field work, and reminiscences of colleagues. The collection consists of 5.5 hours of audiotape recording and 186 pages of transcript.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Meredith Leam Jones (1926-1996), invertebrate zoologist, received the B.A. in 1948, M.S. in 1952, and Ph.D. in 1956 from the University of California at Berkeley. From 1957 to 1960, he was an Assistant Professor at Florida State University. From 1960 to 1964, he was Assistant Curator in the Department of Living Invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City. In 1964, he accepted a position as Associate Curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). In 1970, he advanced to Curator in the Division of Worms, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, a position he held until his retirement in 1989. Jones' research focused on systematics of polycheate worms, especially those found at the hydrothermal vents in the eastern Pacific.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9573, Meredith L. Jones Oral History Interview
Use Restriction
Restricted. Contact SIHistory@si.edu to request permission.

More Information

Notes

Oral Histories


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Jones, Meredith L. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hyman, Libby Henrietta Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smith, Ralph Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Squires, Donald Fleming Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Henson, Pamela M. interviewer Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Florida State University Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Museum of Natural History Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Department of Invertebrate Zoology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Division of Worms Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Department of Zoology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum curators -- United States -- Interviews Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hydrothermal vents Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Invertebrate zoology Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oceanography Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oral history Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tube worms Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transcripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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Washington, D.C.
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