Finding aid to the Clinton Hart Merriam papers, 1822-1939

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Summary

Creators:
Merriam, C. Hart (Clinton Hart), 1855-1942 University of California (1868-1952). Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Abstract:
Extent:
1.8 linear feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

Finding aid to the Clinton Hart Merriam papers. UC Berkeley, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology

Background

Scope and content:

This is an unprocessed collection containing correspondence, manuscripts, illustrations, photographs, and reprints of articles.

Biographical / historical:

Clinton Hart Merriam (1855-1942) was born in New York City. He studied at Yale’s Sheffield Scientific School and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, in 1879. After graduating, he practiced medicine and surgery in upstate New York. However, eventually he became mainly interested in natural history and helped put into motion numerous important field expeditions. In 1891, President Benjamin Harrison appointed Merriam as Fur Seal Commissioner. Following this, he served as Chief of the U.S. Biological Survey for 25 years, doing field work in every U.S. state as well as abroad. Over the course of his lifetime, Merriam acted as president of the American Society of Naturalists, Anthropological Society, Biological Society of Washington, Linnaean Society of New York, and the American Society of Mammalogists. He was also one of original founders of the National Geographic Society, and served on its Board of Directors for 54 years. A perfectionist by nature when pursuing writing, he still managed to publish more than 400 times overall. Towards end of his life, his bird collection was acquired by the British Museum, while his mammal collection was donated to the U.S. National Museum. Sources Consulted: Palmer, T.S. "In Memoriam: Clinton Hart Merriam." The Auk, 71, 2 (1954): 130-136. Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4081567 Talbot, Z.M. and Talbot, M.W. "C. Hart Merriam." Science, 95, 2474 (1942): 545-546. Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1668698

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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:

Finding aid to the Clinton Hart Merriam papers. UC Berkeley, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology

Location of this collection:
3101 Valley Life Sciences Bldg, #3160
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-3160, US
Contact:
(510) 642-3567
mvzarchives@berkeley.EDU
Website