Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Alexander, Annie Montague, 1867-1950
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
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Collection contains correspondence between Annie M. Alexander and key figures in the Museum and Department of Paleontology from 1901 to 1949. Much of this correspondence consists of information about paleontological research in the field, of Miss Alexander and others. Further correspondence is with the President's Office and Museum and Department directors regarding personnel and organizational issues. Letters also cover financial information about Miss Alexander's support for individual researchers, and ultimately the endowment of the Museum of Paleontology.
Other correspondence of Miss Alexander can be found in collections of John C. Merriam and those relating to the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Also included in the collection are Annual Reports and Budgets of the Department and Museum of Paleontology for the years 1906-1948, often with a letter to Miss Alexander accompanying the report.
A scrapbook documenting the 1905 Saurian expedition to the Humbolt Range, Nevada is included, with text by Miss Alexander and captioned photographs.
Important correspondents include David Barrows, Charles Camp, William Wallace Campbell, Ralph Chaney, Bruce Clark, Eustace Furlong, William Matthew, John C. Merriam, Robert Sproul, Ruben Stirton, Chester Stock, Samuel Welles, and Benjamin Wheeler. The collection is not complete.
The papers are primarily professional in nature, although since Miss Alexander was personally involved with the workings of the Museum and Department of Paleontology, the correspondence includes personal matters as well.
- Biographical / historical:
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Annie Montague Alexander became interested in paleontological work while attending John C. Merriam's lectures at the University of California in 1900. From then on, she was closely associated with the Department and Museum of Paleontology, as well as the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. She supported and participated in many field expeditions up until the year of her death, and advised museum directors on financial matters, policies, and personnel decisions.
Date Event December 29, 1867 Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the third of four children born to Samuel Thomas and Martha Cook Alexander 1882 Alexander family moves to Oakland, CA 1886 AMA enrolls in La Salle Seminary for girls in Auburn, MA Summer, 1888 Alexander family travels abroad, AMA remains to study art and music in Paris. She abandons her studies due to headaches caused by eye strain 189? AMA enters Fabiola Hospital as student nurse, again leaves due to eyestrain and headaches 1896 Travels to South Pacific, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Canton Fall 1900 Attends lectures at University of California, including paleontology class taught by John C. Merriam, becomes fascinated with paleontology and vertebrates. Summer 1901 Finances and participates in Merriam's fossil collecting expedition to Fossil Lake, OR Summer 1902 Finances and participates in Merriam's fossil collecting expedition to Shasta County, CA Summer 1903 Finances and participates in Merriam's fossil collecting expedition to Shasta County, CA Summer 1905 Finances and participates in Merriam's "Saurian expedition" to Humbolt Range, NV, which reveals great Triassic ichthyosaur skeleton deposits 1906 Begins monthly contributions to support research in paleontology at the University of California Summers 1906-8 Hunting and collecting expeditions to Alaska 1908 Provides funds to establish the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California 1919 Establishes an endowment fund for the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology 1921 Provides funds to establish the Museum of Paleontology as a separate unit of the University of California 1934 Establishes an endowment fund for the Museum of Paleontology to "safeguard for the future the care of collections on which I have already expended many thousands of dollars." Continues to be active in her own fieldwork. 1948 Provides funds for student research fellowships in the Museum of Paleontology and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology September 10, 1950 Death, following illness and a cerebral hemorrhage - Physical description:
- Number of containers: 3 boxes, 2 volumes Linear feet: 1.2
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
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Museum of Paleontology1101 Valley Life Sciences BuildingBerkeley, CA 94720, US
- Contact:
- (510) 642-1821