Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biographical/historical note
Scope and contents note
Related archival materials
Arrangement note
Descriptive Summary
Title: Ward C. Russell papers
Identifier/Call Number: MVZA.MSS.0221
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.7 Linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1928-1995
Abstract: The Ward C. Russell papers consist of field notes, correspondence, and oral histories. The field notes cover the years 1928-1969,
mostly overlapping the time that Russell served as the MVZ's preparator and collector. The correspondence dates from 1931-1967.
The oral histories, which include transcriptions of interviews with Russell and his wife Virginia Miller Russell, date from
1991-1995.
Creator:
Russell, Ward C., 1907-2000
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], Ward C. Russell papers, MVZA.MSS.0221, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California,
Berkeley.
Biographical/historical note
Ward C. Russell (1907-2000) began his UC Berkeley studies in 1924, at first focusing on Chemistry and Forestry before settling
on Zoology. He was hired by the MVZ in 1929, temporarily filling in for Chester Lamb. Russell ended up serving as the MVZ’s
preparator and collector for forty years. While at MVZ, he spent two weeks on Joseph Grinnell’s final field trip, collected
numerous bird and mammal specimens, and cleaned roughly 80,000 skeletons. Russell brought to the museum the dermestid beetle
approach to cleaning bones, a practice that proved to be quite effective. He primarily focused on collecting birds and mammals
in the western United States and Mexico.
Oral histories, Ward C. Russell papers, MVZA.MSS.0221, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California, Berkeley.
Scope and contents note
The Ward C. Russell papers include thirteen standard-bound volumes of fieldnotes, including specimen, habitat, and map sketches.
The volumes cover the years 1928-1969 and detail localities in Arizona, California, Idaho, Mexico, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. There is also one folder of correspondence spanning the years 1931-1967. Additionally, there
is a separate folder containing oral histories featuring Russell and his wife, Virginia Miller Russell, that date from 1991-1995.
Related archival materials
Original oral history recordings can be found in MVZA.REC.0014, Oral histories.
Arrangement note
The collection has been arranged in the following series: Field notes, Correspondence, and Oral histories. 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--Idaho
Scientific expeditions--Mexico
Scientific expeditions--Montana
Scientific expeditions--Nevada
Scientific expeditions--New Mexico
Scientific expeditions--Oregon
Scientific expeditions--Washington
Scientific expeditions--Wyoming
University of California (1868-1952). Museum of Vertebrate Zoology