Guide to the Alvin Seale Diaries M0172
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1999 ; revised 2022
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Alvin Seale diaries
Creator:
Seale, Alvin
Creator:
Alexander, Annie Montague, 1867-1950
Creator:
Eastwood, Alice, 1859-1953
Creator:
Hancock, Allan, 1875-
Creator:
Bryan, E. H. (Edwin Horace), 1898-1985
Creator:
Forbes, W. Cameron (William Cameron), 1870-1959
Identifier/Call Number: M0172
Identifier/Call Number: 861
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
(5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): circa 1890-1955
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Biographical / Historical
Alvin Seale (1871–1958) was an ichthyologist and naturalist known for his aquarium design. Seale was born on July 8, 1871,
in Fairmount, Indiana, to a family of Quakers. In 1892, he attended Stanford University, and was tutored by David Starr Jordan.
Four years later, the year that Seale would have graduated with a degree in zoology, he was picked by Jordan along with fellow
student Norman B. Scofield, to go to Point Barrow in Alaska in search of salmon in the Mackenzie River. Before returning to
Stanford Seale collected sea birds along the Alaskan coast on behalf of the British Museum. In 1899 Seale briefly returned
to Stanford but left to take the job of field naturalist at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii. Within two years he was
promoted to Curator of Fishes. a position he held until 1904, when he returned to Stanford. While still curator, Seale made
the first zoological survey of Guam in 1900. He returned to Hawaii via Manila, Hong Kong, China, and Japan. From the time
of his return until 1903 Seale collected specimens from all over Polynesia. He went exploring in the Society Islands, the
Tuamotu Archipelago, and the Marquesas, Gambier, Austral, Cook, and Samoan islands. He also visited New Zealand, Australia,
the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands. In May, 1905 he finally received his degree from Stanford, 13 years after beginning
his studies.
In 1906 Seale undertook another Alaskan expedition, this time for the University of California's Anna Alexander Museum. Then
in 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him chief of the Division of Fisheries of the Philippine Bureau of Science.
He spent the next 10 years in the Philippines conducting many first studies on fish, shellfish, and sponges. He drew plans
for an aquarium in Manila, supervised its construction, and collected fish for its displays. He resigned his post in Manila
in 1917 and accepted a job as ichthyologist at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. He retired from that position in
1920, and returned to California, settling on a ranch in Corallitos. However, the next year he was recruited by Barton W.
Evermann of the California Academy of Sciences to assist in the planning of the Steinhart Aquarium being built in Golden Gate
Park. When it opened in 1923, he was appointed Superintendent, and held that post until his final retirement in 1941, at the
age of 70. During these years he traveled to Hawaii, Samoa and the Galapagos as head of scientific staff on the 1932 G. Allan
Hancock Expedition, where he encountered and photographed the German ex-pats Friedrich Ritter and Dore Strauch.
By this time he was already recognized as an authority on the fishes of Polynesia, as well as an expert ichthyologist. He
knew more about Polynesia and its fish and fisheries than anyone else in the United States, publishing several important papers
on the subject. He was the author or co-author of some 162 books and articles, including
Systematic Icthyology,
Icthyology of the Pacific Islands, and
Aquarium Building and Management.
Widowed in 1936, he donated 1300 volumes from his personal library in memory of his wife Ethel Prouty, to the Pacific Grove
Public Library. Two years later he married Jessie Frapwell. He traveled with her on a worldwide tour of aquariums in Ceylon,
Italy, Germany, Holland, France, England, and the one he had built in the Philippines. Alvin Seale died on July 28, 1958 at
his ranch in Corallitos, California.
adapted from various sources including https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvin_Seale and https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/library/special/bios/Seale.pdf.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Elvis Frapwell, 1967.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item] Alvin Seale Diaries, M0172, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Scope and Contents
Alvin Seale's diaries were recorded from 1901 to 1940, with accounts of travel to various parts of the world including the
Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska, the South Seas, Mexico, and the Galapagos, as well as the United States. While the diaries are
generally personal in nature, with many photos of Seale and his wife rather than scientific documentation, there are some
notes on fish and bird specimens. Most volumes contain large quantities of captioned photographs and some postcards. Entries
and photographs are frequently not in chronological order, and there is some duplication of images among volumes. Newspaper
clippings include an editorial by Seale arguing for annexation of the Philippines, followed by rebuttals by Filipino nationals.
Some correspondence is included in the diaries as well. Note that a few photographs depict images of corpses, executed criminals,
and the Bud Dajo massacre.
Publication Rights
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. Some of
these materials are believed to be in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use of public domain materials.
Separated Materials
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ichthyologists.
Diaries.
Scientific expeditions
Oceania.
American Samoa
Philippines -- History -- 1898-1946.
Asia -- Description and travel
Galapagos Islands -- Description and travel
Mexico -- Description and travel
Public marine aquariums -- History
United States -- Description and travel.
Alaska -- Description and travel
California Academy of Sciences
Steinhart Aquarium (San Francisco, Calif.)
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Stanford University
Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. -- Photographs
box 1, folder 1
Diary of Alvin Seale in South Seas 1901-1903 288339
Scope and Contents
Created later. Contains sketches and 11 photographs.
box 1, folder 2
Diary of Alvin Seale: The Philippine Years, 1905-1915 288337
Scope and Contents
Stanford University; Pickwick Club; Death of Mrs. Stanford; David Starr Jordan; Hawaii; Canada; New York and east coast; appointment
to post in Philippines concerning fisheries; Anna Alexander's Expedition to Alaska for Berkeley Museum; Big Game; Earthquake
in San Francisco Stanford University; photographs and postcards of Philippine Islands, Hawaii.
box 1, volume 3
In Distant Lands, by Alvin and Ethel Seale 288335
1911
Scope and Contents
Photo album including pictures taken shortly after wedding; Pacific Grove, California; Fairmount, Indiana; Colorado; Stanford;
Wyoming; Utah; photos & postcards of Hong Kong and Philippines; Hawaii (one photo of David Starr Jordan).
box 2, volume 1
Under Pine and Palm, by Alvin Seale 288333
1911
Scope and Contents
Photo album including pictures of Alvin and Ethel Seale; the Anna Alexander expedition to Alaska for big game 1906; Scenes
from the Arctic 1896; Indiana; Stanford University; Santa Cruz Mountains; Hawaiian Islands; Guam, Marquesas, Solomons, Tahiti
and other South Sea Islands; Australia
box 2, folder 2
Diary of Alvin Seale in Samoa, 1929 288329
Scope and Contents
"This book is devoted entirely to the Samoan Islands and includes our diary and pictures taken during our expedition to Tutuila
and the Manua Group after live fishes for the Steinhart Aquarium in 1929. - Alvin Seale, Superintendent of Aquarium."
Includes maps; photos; S.S.Ventura April 25, 1929 passenger list; Hawaii, New Royal Hawaiian Hotel; crossing the equator;
Pago Pago; summaries; bibliography.
Also includes photos of Hawaii and California 1928-1929; envelope in back containing newspaper clippings on South Sea Islands,
Philippines travel visa, letter from student at Poeyer School June 21, 1929.
box 3, folder 1
Diary of Alvin Seale in California, 1930 288327
Scope and Contents
Handwritten diary (probably rewritten later). Aquarium routing; cataloging library; I expect to leave these all to my alma
mater Stanford University; Bob Prouty; Mariposa County; Dr. Herre; Crane Expedition; Swain Wilbur; Hoover; references to Stanford
University and its people; Prohibition; recovery of Stanford Axe; New Zoo; David Starr Jordan; clipping from Ripley's Believe
It or Not" "A Seale is superintendent of the S.F. Aquarium"; W. Cameron Forbes telegram. Also includes postcards and photos
of Oregon trip.
box 3, folder 2
Diary of Alvin Seale in California 288325
1931
Container Summary: "Notes along the way" Handwritten diary of West Coast travel and events with some photos; postcards; programs; postcards;
clippings in envelope.
box 3, folder 3
Diary of Alvin Seale, G. Allen Hancock Expedition to Galapagos Islands, Cocos Island, Mexico 288323
1931-1932
Scope and Contents
"The Captain G. Allan Hancock Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the Coast of Mexico, Central America, and
the Galapagos Islands, From December 1, 1931 to March 1, 1932."
Topics include collecting species; Mexico; Panama; Canal Zone; Dr. Friedrich Ritter and Dore Strauch; Cocos Island; and Nicaragua.
Includes map; diary; typed list of members; photographs; postcards; lecture outline. Accompanying packet contained 5/17/32
ALS W.C. Forbes from Barrel P.O. Bay Galapagos and 2/25/1932 letter from Seale sent to his wife c/o California Acadamy of
Sciences with Tahiti postmark; photographs; news clippings of voyages and the Galapagos affair, radiogram news, programs for
musical performances by Velero Ensemble.
box 3, folder 4
Diary of Alvin Seale, Trip to Salt Lake 288321
1933
Scope and Contents
Rough Log; Bum Town Sacramento; photos; William Beele; research on brine shrimp; national affairs; wild flowers; Salt Lake;
AAAS convention; Nevada; beginning of Bay Bridge.
box 4, folder 1
Diary [world tour] 288319
1938
Scope and Contents
Trans-global voyage diary on Dollar steamship
President. Japan, Hong Kong; signs of war; Philippines; Manila; visiting several aquariums; Singapore; Penang; Ceylon; Bombay; Suez;
Cairo; Naples; Rome, Interlaken; Frankfort; Berlin; Amsterdam; Brussels; Paris; London; Brighton; New York; Indiana; Chicago
passport signed H.L. Hershey; map of cruise.
box 4, folder 2
Diary of Alvin Seale, Aquarium 288317
1934-1937
Scope and Contents
"Ethel's death November 13, 1936." Postcards; S.F. general strike; Reds; notes signed from J. Diviny, V.P. of Teamsters local
85; Crocker collection (fish); China Clipper, first airmail flight to Manila; motion picture of fish in color gift of and
dedication Seale; South Sea library to Pacific Grove; clipping of Mr. Belloli.
box 4, folder 3
Diary for 1940 Air Trip U.S.- Mexico [etc.] 288315
Scope and Contents
Itinerary for air trip engagements; costs; New York Aquarium; St. Augustine Marineland, Mexico; approaching retirement, postcards
and photos,some from earlier dates including Stanford prior to construction of chapel; professors; Julius Seminole; Stanford
and Palo Alto etc.; construction of Steinhart Aquarium; South Seas and Hawaii; Eclipse Expedition Aquarium Society outings;
Stanford portrait of Seale.
box 4, folder 4
Pacific Exploration and Voyages 288313
Scope and Contents
Hand copied maps; typed notes with ms corrections and additions re. historic voyages.
box 4, folder 5
The Seale South Sea Library 288311
circa 1934
Scope and Contents
lists 1292 volumes by author, publisher, date, and price.
box 3, folder 5
Miscellaneous correspondence, ephemera & photographs 288283
a. commencement program of Fairmont Academy 288309
24 June 1892
b. photos of Patterson Family 288307
1930
c. photo of Joseph Mailliard, Naturalist 288305
1931
d. photo of Alvin Seale (Miles, Fairmount Indiana cabinet card) 288303
1882
e. Jacqueline Perry to A. Seale 288301
1942, 25 Nov
f. W.C. Forbes to A. Seale 288299
1942, 30 Dec
g. Alice Eastwood to A. Seale 288297
1943, 3 Jan
h. Annie M. Alexander to A. Seale 288295
1943, 6 Jan
i. Edwin H. Bryan, Jr. to A. Seale 288293
1944, 4 Apr
j. Page of Diary, Philippines 288291
1947-1948
k. 3 Pages of Diary 288289
1948-1949
l. Lady-in-waiting of Queen Elizabeth II to A. Seale with diary entry on reverse 288285
1952
box 3, folder 6
Miscellaneous correspondence, ephemera & photographs 288257
a. Alice Eastwood to A. Seale 288281
4-Feb-50
b. Jose Montilla to Seale 288279
19 July 1952
c. Allan Hancock to Seale 288277
20-Nov-52
d. Page from Diary 288275
1952
e. Page from Diary and Photo of Bathysphere 288273
1953
f. Pages from Diary and Photos of Deep Sea Bottom 288271
1953
g. Allan Hancock to Seale 288269
29-Jun-54
h. Bettencourts to Seales 288267
21 July 1954
i. Notice from Calif. Acad. of Sci. informing Seale of his election as Fellow 5, 288265
Oct. 1955
j. William Dennis to Seale 288263
28-Nov. 1955
k. Robert R. Harry to Seale 288261
29-Dec. 1955
l. W. Cameron Forbes to Seale 288259
23-Jan. 1956
m. Page of Diary re: Teddy Roosevelt, Philippines 288287
1955
box 3, folder 7
Miscellaneous correspondence, ephemera & photographs 288255
Scope and Contents
Photos, letters, clippings, photo of David S. Jordan with his dog Jock, poem "Galapagos" by Edwin O. Palmer.
Box 5, Folder 1-2
Film book: The Moro Country
1914
Scope and Contents
Notebook with captions for negatives originally present here but transferred for a preservation project currently filed under
MSS PHOTO 0100 General Photograph Collection (https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4083653). Three portraits of women were
also in the notebook, although they appear unrelated to it.
