Inventory to the field notes of Harry S. Swarth at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at University of California, Berkeley MVZA.MSS.0251

Finding aid prepared by Greg Borman

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.

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives

3101 Valley Life Sciences Building

University of California

Berkeley

mvzarchives@berkeley.edu

July 2013

Descriptive Summary

Title: Harry S. Swarth field notes

Identifier/Call Number: MVZA.MSS.0251

Contributing Institution: Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 1.0 Linear feet

Date (inclusive): 1896-1930

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.

Creator: Swarth, Harry S., 1878-1935

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

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

Biographical/historical note

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"

Scope and Contents note

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.

Arrangement note

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Biological specimens--Collection and preservation.

Biological specimens--Identification

Biology Fieldwork

Cataloging--Specimens.

Field notes

Scientific expeditions--Alaska

Scientific expeditions--Arizona

Scientific expeditions--California

Scientific expeditions--Canada

University of California (1868-1952). Museum of Vertebrate Zoology

MVZ standard binding 1908-1930

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 8.0 Volumes

Volume 1

Volume 1 1678 1908

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 161.0 Pages

Volume 1, Section 1

San Jacinto area, southern California 1678_s1 1908-1908

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 115.0 Pages

Related Materials note

Specimens collected in this section include accession #6. These specimens can be found in Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.

Scope and Contents note

Folded map, MVZ 10037, attached in introductory section prior to p. 1. Folded map, MVZ 10038, attached between pp. 6-7.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

North America, United States, California, Riverside County

North America, United States, California, Yuba County

View digitized field notes.