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Finding Aid to the Florence Merriam Bailey Papers, 1887-1940
BANC MSS 79/139 cz
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Collection Title: Florence Merriam Bailey papers
Date (inclusive): 1887-1940
Collection Number: BANC MSS 79/139 cz
Creator:
Bailey, Florence Merriam, b. 1863
Extent:
Number of containers: 12 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 4 vols.
Linear feet: 5
1 Digital Object (1 image)
Repository: The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: Consists of field notes and journals, drafts of primarily unpublished books and articles, plus a small amount of correspondence
to her father, Clinton Levi Merriam and other naturalists and ornithologists. The majority of the field notes and journals
deal with the West but also cover areas in North Dakota, New York, Washington D.C., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida and elsewhere.
Of particular note are her notes on the Grand Canyon and writings about the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and the Apache Indians
of Arizona.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection is open for research.
Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html .
[Identification of item], Florence Merriam Bailey papers, BANC MSS 79/139 cz, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley
Digital reproductions of selected items are available.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog
Bailey, Florence Merriam, b. 1863--Archives
Apache Indians--Arizona
Bird watching
Birds--West (U.S.)
Ornithology
Pueblo Indians--New Mexico
Wildlife refuges--United States
Grand Canyon National Park (Ariz.)
Diaries
Field notes
Manuscripts for publication
The Florence Merriam Bailey Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Mrs. William Penn Mott III and Dr. Lee Talbot in
1979.
Born in Locust Grove, New York during the Civil War, Florence Merriam Bailey (1863-1948), devoted her life to the study and
protection of birds. From her work in ornithology she authored over ten books, including several field guides to birds, and
close to one hundred articles. Though interested in birds as a child, she gained recognition as a naturalist while at Smith
College. Disgusted by the use of feathers and whole birds in fashion, she started the Smith College Audubon Society.
Her later accomplishments include establishing the Washington, D. C. Audubon Society and becoming the first female associate
member of the Ornithologists Union (1885). Within that organization she was the first female fellow (1929) and the first female
recipient of the Brewster Medal (1931). In 1908 a variety of California Mountain Chickadee was named
Parus gambeli baileyae in her honor.
Bailey's relations with prominent scientists augmented her own distinguished career. C. Hart Merriam, her brother, was the
first chief of the U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey, as well as a co-founder of the National Geographic Society. His work
also led to Florence's introduction, and subsequent marriage, to fellow Bureau naturalist, Vernon Bailey. From their travels
to the Western United States the Bailey's produced several works on the distinctive, and largely unexplored, flora and fauna
in that region. As an amateur ornithologist Florence Bailey was at the forefront of the movement to use binoculars, rather
than shotguns, to observe birds. She died in Washington, D. C. on September 22, 1948.
[From the finding aid to the Florence Merriam Bailey Papers, at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.]
The Florence Merriam Bailey Papers, 1887-1940, consist of field notes and journals, drafts of primarily unpublished books
and articles, and a small amount of correspondence with her father, Clinton Levi Merriam and with naturalists or ornithologists.
The majority of the field notes and journals cover field trips in the West, but also include North Dakota, New York, Washington
D. C., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida and elsewhere. Of particular note are the materials on the Grand Canyon National Park,
and her writings about the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, and the Apaches of Arizona.
Arranged in three series: Correspondence, Field Notes and Journals, and Writings. Correspondence is arranged with letters
to her father first, followed by an alphabetical listing by last name and a miscellany folder at the end. Field Notes and
Journals are arranged chronologically. Writings are divided into: Books and Longer Works, Articles and Shorter Works, and
Writings and Notes by Others. Books and Longer Works and Articles and Shorter Works are arranged alphabetically by first word
of title ignoring articles. Writings and notes by others are arranged hierarchally.