Swarth (Harry S.) field notes, 1896-1930

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Summary

Title:
Harry S. Swarth field notes
Dates:
1896-1930
Creators:
Swarth, Harry S., 1878-1935
Abstract:
The Harry S. Swarth field notes include field notes and a bound photocopy of a diary. These materials offer insight into the work done by Swarth between 1896-1930.
Extent:
1.0 Linear feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

Harry S. Swarth field notes, MVZA.MSS.0251, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

The Harry S. Swarth field notes include eight standard-bound volumes of field notes, including specimen and habitat sketches. The volumes cover the years 1908-1930, with localities in Alaska, Arizona, California, and Canada. A separate folder containing non-standard bound field notes features a photocopied transcription made by Swarth’s son, Christopher. The transcription is from a diary kept by Swarth that chronicles three months of a bird and egg collecting trip in Cochise County, Arizona during the year 1896.

Biographical / historical:

Harry S. Swarth (1878-1935) conducted significant research in the fields of ornithology and mammalogy. Gaining experience in fieldwork when he was just 17, Swarth’s first professional position was with the Field Columbian Museum in Chicago in 1904. In 1908, at Grinnell’s invitation, Swarth came to the MVZ, where he was Curator of Birds from 1910-1927, interrupted only by his 1913-1916 tenure as Assistant Director with the Museum of History, Science and Art in Los Angeles. From 1927 until his death in 1935, Swarth served as Curator in the Department of Mammalogy and Ornithology with the California Academy of Sciences. Swarth pursued fieldwork throughout his life, undertaking most of this work in California, Arizona, the U.S. northwest coast, and the Galapagos Islands.

Sources Consulted:

Linsdale, Jean M. “Harry Schelwald Swarth with three illustrations.” The Condor, 38, 4 (1936): 155-168. Accessed July 22, 2013. "http://www.jstor.org/stable/1363599"

Mailliard, Joseph. “In Memoriam: Harry Schelwald Swarth 1878-1935.” The Auk, 54, 2 (1937): 127-134. Accessed July 22, 2013. "http://www.jstor.org/stable/4078544"

Arrangement:

The collection has been arranged in one series, titled Field notes. Within Field notes, there are two subseries: MVZ standard binding and MVZ non-standard binding.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Greg Borman
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection was made possible through funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.
Date Prepared:
July 2013
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-08-12T14:51-0700

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:

Harry S. Swarth field notes, MVZA.MSS.0251, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California, Berkeley.

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