Finding Aid to the Chester C. Lamb papers MVZA.MSS.0166

Finding aid prepared by Greg Borman
The processing of this collection was made possible through funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives
3101 Valley Life Sciences Building
University of California
Berkeley
mvzarchives@berkeley.edu
December 2013


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.
DeMaria, Richie. "Rare Birds, Sweet Rats and a Magic School Bus." The Occidental Weekly. March 22, 2010. Accessed December 11, 2013. http://occidentalweekly.com/uncategorized/2010/03/22/rare-birds-sweet-rats-and-a-magic-school-busbr-2/ 
"MVZ Biographies." Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. Accessed December 11, 2013. http://mvz.berkeley.edu/Biographies.html 

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

 

Field Notes 1925-1932

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 14.0 Volumes
Volume 1

Volume 1 1416 1925

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 168.0 Pages
Volume 1, Section 1

Lower California, Mexico, between latitude 30 degree-32 degree N, Expedition 1 1416_s1 1925

Physical Description: 166.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accessions #2500 and #2528. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Bound map, MVZ 12207, placed prior to p. 1.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 2

Volume 2 1415 1925

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 180.0 Pages
Volume 2, Section 1

Lower California, Mexico: San Martin and Cedros islands; Expedition 2 1415_s1 1925

Physical Description: 37.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #2631. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Gulf of California, Mexico, Baja California, Gulf of California Islands, Isla San Martin
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California, Isla Cedros
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 2, Section 2

Los Angeles, California; Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1415_s2 1925

Physical Description: 10.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section were collected between 8/8/1925 and 9/2/1925. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 2, Section 3

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 3 1415_s3 1925

Physical Description: 45.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #2651. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 2, Section 4

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 4 1415_s4 1925-1925

Physical Description: 79.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #2641. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 3

Volume 3 1417 1926

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 138.0 Pages
Volume 3, Section 1

Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1417_s1 1926

Physical Description: 2.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section were collected between 1/16/1926 and 3/4/1926. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 3, Section 2

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 5 1417_s2 1926

Physical Description: 132.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #2703. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Bound map, MVZ 12208, placed prior to p. 336.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, United States, California, Riverside County
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 4

Volume 4 1418 1926

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 136.0 Pages
Volume 4, Section 1

San Diego and Los Angeles, to Berkeley, California 1418_s1 1926

Physical Description: 3.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section were collected between 7/15/1926 and 9/22/1926. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Volume 4, Section 2

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 6 1418_s2 1926

Physical Description: 129.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #2784. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
Volume 5

Volume 5 1419 1927

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 153.0 Pages
Volume 5, Section 1

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 6 continued 1419_s1 1927

Physical Description: 38.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #2784. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Holotype of Aimophila ruficeps sanctorum listed on p. 615. See MVZ Birds 50124 .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
North America, Mexico, Baja California, Islas de Todos Santos, Isla Todos Santos
Volume 5, Section 2

Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1419_s2 1927

Physical Description: 3.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section were collected between 2/1/1927 and 3/26/1927. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Volume 5, Section 3

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 7 1419_s3 1927

Physical Description: 105.0 Pages
creator: Lamb, Chester Converse, 1883-

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #2914. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Bound map, MVZ 12209, placed prior to p. 635A.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
Volume 6

Volume 6 1420 1927

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 190.0 Pages
Volume 6, Section 1

Berkeley, Alameda County, California; Petaluma, Sonoma County, California; Courtland and Elkhorn Ferry, Sacramento County, California 1420_s1 1927

Physical Description: 42.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section were collected between 6/14/1927 and 9/14/1927. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Bound map, MVZ 12226, assigned page number 740. Bound map, MVZ 12227, placed following p. 767. Bound map, MVZ 12228, also placed following p. 767.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, California, Sacramento County
North America, United States, California, Sonoma County
Volume 6, Section 2

San Miguel Island, Santa Barbara County, California 1420_s2 1927

Physical Description: 40.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #2997. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Holotype of Melospiza melodia micronyx listed on p. 775. See MVZ Birds 51535 .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, California, Santa Barbara County
North America, United States, California, Santa Barbara County, Channel Islands
Santa Barbara County, Channel Islands, San Miguel Island
Volume 6, Section 3

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 8 1420_s3 1927

Physical Description: 101.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3006. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Bound map, MVZ 12229, placed between pp. 798-799.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
Volume 7

Volume 7 1421 1928

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 164.0 Pages
Volume 7, Section 1

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 8 (continued from previous volume, 1927, part 2) 1421_s1 1928

Physical Description: 119.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3006. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Holotype of Otus asio yumanensis listed on p. 1009. See MVZ Birds 52107 .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 7, Section 2

Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1421_s2 1928

Physical Description: 2.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section were collected between 3/27/1928 and 5/14/1928. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 7, Section 3

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 9 1421_s3 1928

Physical Description: 37.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3126. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico
North America, Mexico, Baja California
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 8

Volume 8 1422 1928

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 187.0 Pages
Volume 8, Section 1

Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1422_s1 1928

Physical Description: 2.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3135. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 8, Section 2

Lassen Section, California, in Lassen County 1422_s2 1928

Physical Description: 41.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3155. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, California, Lassen County
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 8, Section 3

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 10 1422_s3 1928

Physical Description: 138.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3219. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 9

Volume 9 1423 1929

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 171.0 Pages
Volume 9, Section 1

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 10 continued 1423_s1 1929

Physical Description: 170.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3219. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Bound map, MVZ 12231, placed prior to p. 1233.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Gulf of California, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Gulf of California Islands, Isla San Francisco
North America, Gulf of California, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Gulf of California Islands, Isla San Jose
North America, Gulf of California, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Gulf of California Islands, Isla San Juan Nepomuceno
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
North America, Mexico, Nayarit, Isla Isabela
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 10

Volume 10 1424 1929

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 174.0 Pages
Volume 10, Section 1

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 10 continued 1424_s1 1929

Physical Description: 173.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3219. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Holotype of Zenaida asiatica clara listed on p. 1428. See MVZ Birds 54990 .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 11

Volume 11 1425 1930

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 203.0 Pages
Volume 11, Section 1

Nevada: Nye and Lander Counties 1425_s1 1930

Physical Description: 124.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3511. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Note prior to p. 1574: "For map, see field notes of E.R. Hall, 1930.”

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, Nevada, Lander County
North America, United States, Nevada, Nye County
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 11, Section 2

Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1425_s2 1930

Physical Description: 2.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accessions #3510, #3529, #3530, #3535, #3536, and #3541. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 11, Section 3

Nevada: White Pine County; Utah 1425_s3 1930

Physical Description: 70.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3545. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Note prior to p. 1701: "For map, see field notes of E.R. Hall, 1930.”

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, Nevada, Elko County
North America, United States, Nevada, White Pine County
North America, United States, Utah, Tooele County
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 12

Volume 12 1426 1930-1931

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 156.0 Pages
Volume 12, Section 1

Los Angeles County, California 1426_s1 1930

Physical Description: 4.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3651. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, California, Los Angeles County
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 12, Section 2

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 11 1426_s2 1930-1931

Physical Description: 148.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3592. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Folded map, MVZ 12233, attached prior to p. 1777.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
North America, Mexico, Baja California, Isla Cedros
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 13

Volume 13 1427 1931

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 151.0 Pages
Volume 13, Section 1

Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 11 1427_s1 1930-1931

Physical Description: 150.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3592. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Folded map, MVZ 12375, attached between pp. 1993-1994.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Isla de Santa Margarita
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Isla Magdalena
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 14

Volume 14 1428 1931-1932

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 204.0 Pages
Volume 14, Section 1

Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1428_s1 1931

Physical Description: 2.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3744. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 14, Section 2

Nevada: Lander, Nye, Clark Counties 1428_s2 1931

Physical Description: 55.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accessions #3754 and #3770. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Note prior to p. 2073: "For map, see field notes, E.R. Hall, 1931.” Holotype of Thomomys bottae nanus listed on p. 2124. See MVZ Mammals 49077 .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, Nevada, Clark County
North America, United States, Nevada, Lander County
North America, United States, Nevada, Nye County
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 14, Section 3

California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas 1428_s3 1931

Physical Description: 19.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section were collected between 10/5/1931 and 3/12/1932. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, Arizona, Coconino County
North America, United States, Arizona, Graham County
North America, United States, Arizona, Maricopa County
North America, United States, Arizona, Mohave County
North America, United States, Arizona, Yuma County
North America, United States, California, San Bernardino County
North America, United States, California, San Diego County
North America, United States, New Mexico, Eddy County
North America, United States, Texas, El Paso County
 

View digitized field notes.

Volume 14, Section 4

Trinity County, California 1428_s4 1932

Physical Description: 120.0 Pages

Related materials

Specimens collected in this section include accession #3892. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and contents note

Folded map, MVZ 12426, attached following p. 2264. Holotype of Neotoma cinerea pulla listed on p. 2261. See MVZ Mammals 57077 .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, California, Trinity County
 

View digitized field notes.

 

Correspondence 1931-1955

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 2.0 Folder
Box 1, Folder 1

Correspondence 1931-1951

Physical Description: 1.0 Folder
Box 1, Folder 2

Correspondence 1952-1955

Physical Description: 1.0 Folder