Robert C. Stebbins papers

Finding aid created by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology staff using RecordEXPRESS
UC Berkeley. Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
3101 Valley Life Sciences Bldg, #3160
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, California 94720-3160
(510) 642-3567
mvzarchives@berkeley.EDU
http://mvz.berkeley.edu/
2024


Descriptive Summary

Title: Robert C. Stebbins papers
Dates: 1942-2003
Collection Number: MVZA.MSS.0238
Creator/Collector: Stebbins, Robert C. (Robert Cyril), 1915-
Extent: 14 cubic feet
Repository: UC Berkeley. Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Berkeley, California 94720-3160
Abstract: The extensive Robert C. Stebbins papers collection consists of field notes, field books, correspondence, photographs, theses and doctoral dissertation papers, study data and reports, valuable research notes, original maps, publication manuscripts, the manuscript and papers for the Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, unpublished papers, conference papers, grant and contract records, as well as EBMUD papers and documentation concerning work done in the East Bay Regional Parks of California from the 1980s-1990s. The collection also contains many bound volumes of field notes from Stebbins' long career as well as the collection of artwork from his career as an accomplished artist. The Stebbins collection ranges between the dates 1942 and 1998, with some of his data dating back to 1898.
Language of Material: English

Access

The collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Robert C. Stebbins papers. Collection Number: MVZA.MSS.0238. UC Berkeley. Museum of Vertebrate Zoology

Biography/Administrative History

Stebbins came to the MVZ in 1945, and became Curator of Herpetology in 1948; he retired as Emeritus Professor in 1978. He is the author of more than a dozen books on herps, the best known being the Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, now in its Third Edition. He is currently working on a book on teaching science and ecology in grade schools. His extensive work on reptiles in the southern California desert led to his working with state and federal officials for the creation of the Mojave Scenic Preserve, which in 1994 became the Mojave National Preserve. In an effort to protect the desert tortoise, he has worked hard to limit the destructive impacts of off-road vehicles in the desert. Stebbins is an accomplished artist, having drawn and painted all of the illustrations for his Field Guide. After retirement he expanded his subject to include landscapes; his paintings and prints are prized by collectors. References "MVZ Biographies." Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at Berkeley. 17 July 2013. http://mvz.berkeley.edu/Biographies.html.

Scope and Content of Collection

The extensive Robert C. Stebbins papers collection consists of field notes, field books, correspondence, photographs, theses and doctoral dissertation papers, study data and reports, valuable research notes, original maps, publication manuscripts, the manuscript and papers for the Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, unpublished papers, conference papers, as well as grant and contract records. The collection also contains many bound volumes of field notes from Stebbins' long career, spanning the second half of the 20th century and locations all over the globe. However, a large body of the field notes focuses on work done in California. The Stebbins papers also contain extensive alphabetized correspondence from throughout his career, some of which includes photographs. Additionally the collection also contains Stebbins' EBMUD papers and documentation concerning work done in the East Bay Regional Parks of California from the 1980s-1990s, including: correspondence with EBRP, biological survey maps, Management Programs, Master Plans, and study proposals. Notably, this collection also contains a large amount of artwork (mainly prints and paintings) from Stebbins' career as an accomplished artist; many of his notes and papers contain original sketches. The majority of the Stebbins collection concerns work done in the Western United States with reptiles and amphibians and this collection contains the original papers and manuscripts for Stebbins' most well-known work, the Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, now in its Third Edition, including the color swatches for the artwork he did for the guide from 2003. The collection ranges between the dates 1942 and 2003, with some of his data dating back to 1898. The collection is 14 cubic feet.

Indexing Terms

Reptiles--North America--Identification
Reptiles--West (U.S.)-- Identification
Amphibians--North America--Identification
Ensatina
University of California (1868-1952). Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Tilden Regional Park (Calif.)

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