Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Inventory to the papers of Betsey Cutler at the California Academy of Sciences
- Dates:
- 1955-2000
- Creators:
- Cutler, Betsey
- Abstract:
- Extent:
- 8 boxes, 3.36 linear ft
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
Inventory to the papers of Betsey Cutler at the California Academy of Sciences. California Academy of Sciences
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains the research materials of Betsey Cutler, who had a lifelong interest in ornithology and contributed to the studies of avian syringes. Betsey Cutler's research focused on using the syrinx as a classification tool to determine the taxonomic affinities of birds at the Order and Family levels. Cutler worked at the California Academy of Sciences in the 1960s, and returned in the 1980s. The collection contains bird lists, field notes, journals and lab notes, and nearly 1,500 photographic slides. The collection also includes Cutler’s 1961 research paper “A Bank Swallow Colony on an Eroded Cliff” and a scrapbook from the 1964 Galapagos International Scientific Project (GISP).
- Biographical / historical:
-
Betsey Cutler held a lifelong interest in ornithology. She grew up in Sacramento, California, and spent her summers in Placer County, where she observed local wildlife. Her family supported her interest by fostering a strong connection and understanding of local wildlife. A significant connection was with local expert Waleland Smith "Lee" Smith, an aviculturist specializing in pheasants, and who advised Cutler on literature and resources on Western birds. In the 1930s and into the 1940s, Cutler studied arts at Carnegie Technical and earned a BA in drama from Stanford. Cutler studied ornithology on the side. After moving to Marin County, she became acquainted with Bay Area naturalists through her children’s outdoor activities. One expert that played a significant role in Cutler’s ornithological education was Junea Kelly. Kelly was known for her bird walks and for teaching species and song recognition. Since the mid to late 1950s, Betsey Cutler had been a member of ornithological and birding clubs–The Cooper Society, the American Ornithologist’s Union, and The Wilson Society. The Cooper Society, an American ornithological club founded in California, is headquartered at UC Berkeley. They publish a journal called The Condor. Butler has spoken and presented papers at The Cooper Society, on topics such as the bank swallows (Riparia riparia). Bank Swallows of Lake Merced (1960-1961) Cutler also added to existing research on bank swallows, focusing on one colony that makes it to Lake Merced to feed. Unlike the rest of the species, this colony does not nest on the shore of their feeding place. Cutler speculated that the reason for the travel to a feeding site might be because Lake Merced once fed into the Pacific before it was dammed. Furthermore, the bank swallow colony moved along the cliff over the years, establishing new nesting sites where sand is falling. Cutler also observed that the swallows all had a single reaction to birds with black feathers, such as Brewer’s Blackbird, which is probably related to something predatory, like a crow. Betsey Cutler’s 1961 research paper “A Bank Swallow Colony on an Eroded Seacliff” highlighted bank swallows’ behaviors and how they interacted with the environment. The paper mentions the behaviors of Cedar Waxwings, Northern Rough-winged Swallows (Stelgidopteryx serripennis), Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)--as they all feed on the lake, have similar styles of feeding, and all get gull feathers to line their nests. Although unpublished, the paper was significant in conservation efforts of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Work at the Academy and Galapagos International Scientific Project (GISP) (1961-1964, 1980s) Cutler first started working at the Academy in 1961-1964. Cutler's first job at the Academy was working for Drs. Hamilton and Sauer, feeding their animals. Cutler took care of birds that were in a sick bay, kept the cages clean in the house, in the sound chambers. At times, Cutler was included in some of Dr. Hamilton’s experiments, helping with cages and changing the movement recorder in the sound chambers. Cutler, a Graduate student at the time, was invited to go on the 1964 Galapagos International Scientific Project (GISP) trip organized by Bob Bowman. The trip marked the inauguration of the Charles Darwin Research Station, on the 21st of January 1964. The trip included around 60 and 70 multidisciplinary experts. While there, Cutler collected birds and took syringes out of them and pickled what was left. The specimens collected from the trip would be incorporated into Cutler’s master’s thesis. Returning from the Galapagos, Cutler stayed on at San Francisco State University and worked for Bob Bowman and his research, as well as taking over his classes and teaching when he was not available. When her husband John retired, they relocated to the Bay Area. Cutler would return to work at the Academy in the Department of Mammalogy & Ornithology in the 1980s. Cutler worked one day a week providing administrative support, although the job wasn’t close to her own interests. PhD & Research goals Cutler imagined that she would be doing research and maybe teaching. In an oral interview, Cutler says “I just wanted to find out all I could about whatever I was interested in at the time.” Cutler kept and shared her notebooks. After Cutler raised her children, she had to take care of her husband, John. John had a history of illnesses, and finally ended up with cancer at the age of seventy-six. While Betsey Cutler would be described as having a strong and powerful personality, and very organized, she wrote few papers on account of the difficulty focusing and taking care of an ill loved one. Material, such as the specimens collected by others, from the GISP expedition would be incorporated into Cutler’s thesis on Finches. Betsey Cutler's research focused on using the syrinx as a classification tool to determine the taxonomic affinities of birds at the Order and Family levels. Her Master's thesis, completed at San Francisco State University, gained support from Bob Bowman, a retired Professor of biology at San Francisco State University and an expert of Galapagos Finches. Cutler's Doctorate was interrupted by prioritizing her spouse's employment and health. Syrinx Cutler did not have special instruction in biological drawing, yet was able to develop her techniques for staining and illustration. Cutler drew what she saw through a microscope without any special training in biological illustration. She created detailed drawings by hand, initially putting them into notebooks with notes. It would be a page with a drawing on it, then pages of written notes. Then she would copy the drawing onto something suitable for an illustration page, and it was done by hand, Indian ink and pens. Cutler used Radiograph pens, which she found effective for her drawing. Cutler has an extensive collection of whole avian syringes that have not been dissected or illustrated. The collection includes Geospiza and birds like them, and other songbirds. Cutler has stuck to oscines because they are distinct.
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Ornithology
Birds--Research
Swallows
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- 1955-2000
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Access is unrestricted
- Preferred citation:
-
Inventory to the papers of Betsey Cutler at the California Academy of Sciences. California Academy of Sciences
- Location of this collection:
-
55 Music Concourse DriveGolden Gate ParkSan Francisco, CA 94118, US
- Contact:
- (415) 379-5487