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Guide to the Miklos D. F. Udvardy papers
MSS 2011/11
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Table of contents
Title: Miklos D. F. Udvardy papers
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 2011/11
Contributing Institution:
California State University, Sacramento Special Collections & University Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
22.5 Linear feet
(18 record cartons)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1951-1997
Date (inclusive): 1868-1998
Language of Materials note: Collection materials for the Miklos Udvardy Papers are in English and other foreign languages that could include German, Swedish,
Spanish, French, Hungarian, Latin, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, and Norwegian.
Abstract: Miklos Udvardy was a research biologist, curator, and professor that specialized in the study of Ornithology and Biogeographical
research. He was a professor at the University of British Columbia and at California State University, Sacramento. He was
a visiting professor at the University of Hawaii, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Bonn, Germany, and
the National University of Honduras. His papers consists of correspondence, reports, research data, teaching materials, maps,
photographs, negatives, slides and artifacts. Dr. Udvardy contributed 191 papers, 8 books, and 3 maps to scientific literature,
mostly in the fields of ornithology, biogeography, and vegetation classification.
creator:
Udvardy, Miklos D. F., 1919-
The collection contains documents, letters, research data, photographs, and artifacts relating to the personal and professional
life of Miklos D. F. Udvardy. The language of the materials included in this collection is English and other foreign languages
such as German, Swedish, Spanish, some French and his native Hungarian. The collection consists of 18 cartons (22.5 linear
feet).
There are 9 main series pertaining to the Miklos Udvardy papers. Included are the following: Correspondence; Personal (General,
Conferences, Organizations and Memberships, and Year Folders); Writings (Own Work Published, Written Reviews Published, Written
Reviews Unpublished, Drafts/Speeches/Notes (Realms, Other)); Research (State Data, Locations/Species Descriptions (States,
Map Binders, Other), Other); Teaching (Handout Boxes, Phylum/Other Groups, Other Teaching/Educational Materials; Maps, 1958-1996;
Photographs, Negatives, and Slides; Cards and Labels; and Artifacts.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The Miklos D. F. Udvardy Papers were donated to the Department of Special Collections & University Archives in 2011. Additions
were donated in 2012.
1919 – Born in Debrecen, Hungary (March 23)
1942 – Earned Doctorate from Debrecen University
1948 – Left Hungary. Secured a postdoctoral fellowship at Helsinki University, Finland
1950 – Moved to Uppsala, Sweden
1951 – Married Maud Bjorklund (Feb 11)
1952 – Emigrated to Canada and began working at the University of British Columbia as a professor in Zoology, teaching comparative
anatomy and ornithology
1958-1959 – Visiting professorship at University of Hawaii
1963-1964 – Lida Scott Brown Lecturer in Ornithology at the University of California, Los Angeles
1966 – Left University of British Columbia
1967 – Began teaching at California State University, Sacramento as a Professor of Biological Sciences (1967-1991)
1991 – Retirement. Consultant for IUCN and spent time on his ranch.
1998 – Died January 27
Miklos D.F. (Dezso Ferenc) Udvardy (1919-1998) Also Miklos “Nick” Udvardy. He was born in Debrecen, Hungary, on March 23, 1919. His mother was Elizabeth Komlossy and his
father was Miklos Udvardy. His wife was Maud Bjorklund and they were married on Feb 11, 1951 and had three children: Beatrix,
Andrew, and Monica.
Udvardy settled on a career in ornithology when he was 7, after his grandfather gave him a book about birds. His father wanted
him to study law. After studying law for two years he then switched to studying Biology. He earned a Doctorate in 1942 from
Debrecen University in Hungary. Udvardy's first position was a research biologist at the Tihanyi Biological Station on Lake
Balaton in western Hungary. He spent WWII in occupied Hungary but escaped conscription by German forces. He fled Hungary in
1948 when he was warned of a communist takeover. He then secured a postdoctoral fellowship at Helsinki University, Finland.
By 1950 he moved to Uppsala, Sweden and met his wife Maud. He was briefly a curator of Marine Invertebrates at the Swedish
Museum of Natural History, Stockholm. After getting married in 1951, the Udvardys immigrated to Canada and Udvardy began working
at the University of British Columbia in 1952? as an assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, teaching comparative
anatomy and ornithology. He remained at UBC until 1966. While there he sponsored 12 master’s and 6 doctoral students. He then
taught at the California State University, Sacramento from 1967-1991. He was a Professor of Biological Sciences. He sponsored
8 graduate students.
He also had a visiting professorship at the University of Hawaii (1958-1959); Lida Scott Brown Lecturer in Ornithology at
the University of California, Los Angeles (1963-1964); Visiting professor at the University of Bonn, Germany; and Fulbright
Lecturer at the National University of Honduras.
In retirement, Udvardy was a consultant for International Union for Conservation of Nature and Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN). He also spent time on his ranch, Trollbegerg (“Troll Hill” in Swedish) with his cow herd. Miklos D. F. Udvardy passed
away on January 27, 1998.
Dr. Udvardy contributed 191 papers, 8 books, and 3 maps to scientific literature, mostly in the fields of ornithology, biogeography,
and vegetation classification.
Examples of his published works include: “The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region (1977)”;
“Dynamic Zoogeography (1969)”; and other Ornithological articles.
Udvardy was fluent in 6 languages – English, German, Swedish, Spanish, some French and his native Hungarian. He could read
Latin, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, and Norwegian.
[Identification of item including date], [Folder Title], MSS 2011/11, Miklos D. F. Udvardy papers, Department of Special Collections
and University Archives, University Library, California State University, Sacramento.
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce
from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives.
Permission for publication is given on the behalf of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives, University
Library, California State University, Sacramento as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission
of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources .
IUCN.
Udvardy, Miklos D. F., 1919-
Udvardy, Monica L., Dr.
Environmentalism
Maps
Ornithology.
Photographs
Writings
Zoology.