Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biographical/historical note
Scope and contents note
Arrangement note
Descriptive Summary
Title: Chester C. Lamb papers
Identifier/Call Number: MVZA.MSS.0166
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
14.0 Volumes
Date (inclusive): 1925-1955
Abstract: The Chester C. Lamb papers consist of field notes and correspondence. The field notes span the years 1925-1932, during which
Lamb took on the roles of field assistant and Assistant Curator of Mammals at the MVZ. The correspondence dates from 1931-1955,
during which he spent a significant amount of time collecting in Mexico for Dr. Robert T. Moore, an independent ornithologist.
Creator:
Lamb, Chester Converse, 1883-
Administrative Information
Conditions governing access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions governing use
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], Chester C. Lamb papers, MVZA.MSS.0166, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California,
Berkeley.
Biographical/historical note
Born in 1883, Chester C. Lamb’s tenure with the MVZ lasted from 1925-1932, during which he served as a field assistant and
Assistant Curator of Mammals. While with the MVZ, Lamb collected birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The majority of
his fieldwork occurred in the Western U.S. and Lower California, where his Spanish language skills served him well. Having
completed his work with the MVZ, Lamb collected and prepared over 40,000 specimens from 1933-1955 while in Mexico. Dr. Robert
T. Moore, a businessman and independent ornithologist, funded Lamb’s work. The specimens that Lamb collected eventually became
part of Occidental College’s Moore Laboratory of Zoology, which opened in 1952.
Sources Consulted:
Correspondence 1931-1955,
Chester C. Lamb papers, MVZA.MSS.0166, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California, Berkeley.
Scope and contents note
The Chester C. Lamb papers include fourteen standard-bound volumes of field notes with map sketches. These volumes cover the
years 1925-1932 and feature localities in Arizona, California, Mexico, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. The 1925-1932
dates coincide with Lamb's time at the MVZ, where he served as a field assistant and Assistant Curator of Mammals. Also included
in this collection are two folders of correspondence spanning the years 1931-1955, which cover both his MVZ tenure and his
years in Mexico collecting specimens that eventually became part of Occidental College's Moore Laboratory of Zoology.
Arrangement note
The collection has been arranged in the following series: Field notes and Correspondence. There are no subseries.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Biological specimens--Collection and preservation.
Biological specimens--Identification
Biology Fieldwork
Cataloging--Specimens.
Correspondence
Field notes
Mammalogy--Fieldwork.
Scientific expeditions--Arizona
Scientific expeditions--California
Scientific expeditions--Mexico
Scientific expeditions--Nevada
Scientific expeditions--New Mexico
Scientific expeditions--Texas
Scientific expeditions--Utah
University of California (1868-1952). Museum of Vertebrate Zoology