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Finding Aid to the Seth B. Benson papers
MVZA.MSS.0029
MVZA.MSS.0029
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Table of contents
Title: Seth B. Benson papers
Identifier/Call Number: MVZA.MSS.0029
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives
Language of Material:
English
Container: 1-13
Container: 14-25
Physical Description:
3.4 Linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1928-1981
Abstract: The Seth B. Benson papers include field notes, correspondence, and visual materials. These materials provide information regarding
Benson's work between 1928-1981.
Creator:
Benson, Seth B. (Seth Bertram), 1905-2005
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Copyright restrictions may apply. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted to the Museum of Vertebrate
Zoology Archives in writing for approval. Please contact the Museum Archivist for further information.
The collection has been arranged in the following series: Field notes, Correspondence, and Visual Materials.
The Seth B. Benson papers contain 25 volumes of field notes, correspondence, and visual materials. The volumes cover the years
from 1928-1981, relating to Benson’s scientific expeditions in Alaska, Arizona, California, Canada, Colorado, Idaho, Mexico,
Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Peru, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The correspondence contains
letters related to Benson’s work at the MVZ as well as personal letters to colleagues and friends. The visual materials include
photographs, glass lantern slides dated 1935, modern slides, and negatives.
Seth B. Benson (1905-2005) was a field researcher and professor with the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley. Benson
earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Berkeley in 1928, and a Ph.D. in 1933 under Joseph Grinnell. His MVZ career began
as a research assistant in 1929, then assistant curator 1932-34. In 1934, he became assistant curator of mammals at the University
of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology. In 1935, Benson returned to the MVZ as an instructor of invertebrate zoology and assistant
curator of mammals. He was promoted to assistant professor of zoology in 1940, and became associate curator of mammals in
1945. Benson retired from UC Berkeley in 1969.
[Identification of item], Seth B. Benson papers, MVZA.MSS.0029, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California,
Berkeley.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Biological specimens--Collection and preservation.
Biological specimens--Identification
Biology Fieldwork
Cataloging--Specimens.
Correspondence
Field notes
Photographs
Scientific expeditions--Alaska
Scientific expeditions--Arizona
Scientific expeditions--California
Scientific expeditions--Canada
Scientific expeditions--Colorado
Scientific expeditions--Idaho
Scientific expeditions--Mexico
Scientific expeditions--Michigan
Scientific expeditions--Montana
Scientific expeditions--Nebraska
Scientific expeditions--Nevada
Scientific expeditions--New Mexico
Scientific expeditions--Oregon
Scientific expeditions--Peru
Scientific expeditions--Texas
Scientific expeditions--Utah
Scientific expeditions--Washington
Scientific expeditions--Wyoming