Finding Aid to the Chester C. Lamb papers
MVZA.MSS.0166
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
December 2013
Descriptive Summary
Title: Chester C. Lamb papers
Identifier/Call Number: MVZA.MSS.0166
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
14.0 Volumes
Date (inclusive): 1925-1955
Abstract: The Chester C. Lamb papers consist of field notes and correspondence. The field notes span the years 1925-1932, during which
Lamb took on the roles of field assistant and Assistant Curator of Mammals at the MVZ. The correspondence dates from 1931-1955,
during which he spent a significant amount of time collecting in Mexico for Dr. Robert T. Moore, an independent ornithologist.
Creator:
Lamb, Chester Converse, 1883-
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
[Identification of item], Chester C. Lamb papers, MVZA.MSS.0166, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California,
Berkeley.
Biographical/historical note
Born in 1883, Chester C. Lamb’s tenure with the MVZ lasted from 1925-1932, during which he served as a field assistant and
Assistant Curator of Mammals. While with the MVZ, Lamb collected birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The majority of
his fieldwork occurred in the Western U.S. and Lower California, where his Spanish language skills served him well. Having
completed his work with the MVZ, Lamb collected and prepared over 40,000 specimens from 1933-1955 while in Mexico. Dr. Robert
T. Moore, a businessman and independent ornithologist, funded Lamb’s work. The specimens that Lamb collected eventually became
part of Occidental College’s Moore Laboratory of Zoology, which opened in 1952.
Sources Consulted:
Correspondence 1931-1955,
Chester C. Lamb papers, MVZA.MSS.0166, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University of California, Berkeley.
Scope and contents note
The Chester C. Lamb papers include fourteen standard-bound volumes of field notes with map sketches. These volumes cover the
years 1925-1932 and feature localities in Arizona, California, Mexico, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. The 1925-1932
dates coincide with Lamb's time at the MVZ, where he served as a field assistant and Assistant Curator of Mammals. Also included
in this collection are two folders of correspondence spanning the years 1931-1955, which cover both his MVZ tenure and his
years in Mexico collecting specimens that eventually became part of Occidental College's Moore Laboratory of Zoology.
Arrangement note
The collection has been arranged in the following series: Field notes and Correspondence. There are no subseries.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Biological specimens--Collection and preservation.
Biological specimens--Identification
Biology Fieldwork
Cataloging--Specimens.
Correspondence
Field notes
Mammalogy--Fieldwork.
Scientific expeditions--Arizona
Scientific expeditions--California
Scientific expeditions--Mexico
Scientific expeditions--Nevada
Scientific expeditions--New Mexico
Scientific expeditions--Texas
Scientific expeditions--Utah
University of California (1868-1952). Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Field Notes
1925-1932
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
14.0 Volumes
Volume 1
Volume 1 1416
1925
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
168.0 Pages
Volume 1, Section 1
Lower California, Mexico, between latitude 30 degree-32 degree N, Expedition 1 1416_s1
1925
Physical Description:
166.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accessions #2500 and #2528. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Bound map, MVZ 12207, placed prior to p. 1.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
View digitized field notes.
Volume 2
Volume 2 1415
1925
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
180.0 Pages
Volume 2, Section 1
Lower California, Mexico: San Martin and Cedros islands; Expedition 2 1415_s1
1925
Physical Description:
37.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #2631. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Gulf of California, Mexico, Baja California, Gulf of California Islands, Isla San Martin
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California, Isla Cedros
View digitized field notes.
Volume 2, Section 2
Los Angeles, California; Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1415_s2
1925
Physical Description:
10.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section were collected between 8/8/1925 and 9/2/1925. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
View digitized field notes.
Volume 2, Section 3
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 3 1415_s3
1925
Physical Description:
45.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #2651. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
View digitized field notes.
Volume 2, Section 4
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 4 1415_s4
1925-1925
Physical Description:
79.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #2641. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
View digitized field notes.
Volume 3
Volume 3 1417
1926
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
138.0 Pages
Volume 3, Section 1
Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1417_s1
1926
Physical Description:
2.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section were collected between 1/16/1926 and 3/4/1926. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
View digitized field notes.
Volume 3, Section 2
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 5 1417_s2
1926
Physical Description:
132.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #2703. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Bound map, MVZ 12208, placed prior to p. 336.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, United States, California, Riverside County
View digitized field notes.
Volume 4
Volume 4 1418
1926
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
136.0 Pages
Volume 4, Section 1
San Diego and Los Angeles, to Berkeley, California 1418_s1
1926
Physical Description:
3.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section were collected between 7/15/1926 and 9/22/1926. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Volume 4, Section 2
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 6 1418_s2
1926
Physical Description:
129.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #2784. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
Volume 5
Volume 5 1419
1927
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
153.0 Pages
Volume 5, Section 1
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 6 continued 1419_s1
1927
Physical Description:
38.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #2784. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Holotype of
Aimophila ruficeps sanctorum listed on p. 615. See
MVZ Birds 50124 .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
North America, Mexico, Baja California, Islas de Todos Santos, Isla Todos Santos
Volume 5, Section 2
Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1419_s2
1927
Physical Description:
3.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section were collected between 2/1/1927 and 3/26/1927. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Volume 5, Section 3
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 7 1419_s3
1927
Physical Description:
105.0 Pages
creator:
Lamb, Chester Converse, 1883-
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #2914. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Bound map, MVZ 12209, placed prior to p. 635A.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
Volume 6
Volume 6 1420
1927
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
190.0 Pages
Volume 6, Section 1
Berkeley, Alameda County, California; Petaluma, Sonoma County, California; Courtland and Elkhorn Ferry, Sacramento County,
California
1420_s1
1927
Physical Description:
42.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section were collected between 6/14/1927 and 9/14/1927. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Bound map, MVZ 12226, assigned page number 740. Bound map, MVZ 12227, placed following p. 767. Bound map, MVZ 12228, also
placed following p. 767.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Sacramento County
North America, United States, California, Sonoma County
Volume 6, Section 2
San Miguel Island, Santa Barbara County, California 1420_s2
1927
Physical Description:
40.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #2997. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Holotype of
Melospiza melodia micronyx listed on p. 775. See
MVZ Birds 51535 .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Santa Barbara County
North America, United States, California, Santa Barbara County, Channel Islands
Santa Barbara County, Channel Islands, San Miguel Island
Volume 6, Section 3
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 8 1420_s3
1927
Physical Description:
101.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3006. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Bound map, MVZ 12229, placed between pp. 798-799.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
Volume 7
Volume 7 1421
1928
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
164.0 Pages
Volume 7, Section 1
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 8 (continued from previous volume, 1927, part 2) 1421_s1
1928
Physical Description:
119.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3006. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
View digitized field notes.
Volume 7, Section 2
Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1421_s2
1928
Physical Description:
2.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section were collected between 3/27/1928 and 5/14/1928. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
View digitized field notes.
Volume 7, Section 3
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 9 1421_s3
1928
Physical Description:
37.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3126. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico
North America, Mexico, Baja California
View digitized field notes.
Volume 8
Volume 8 1422
1928
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
187.0 Pages
Volume 8, Section 1
Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1422_s1
1928
Physical Description:
2.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3135. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
View digitized field notes.
Volume 8, Section 2
Lassen Section, California, in Lassen County 1422_s2
1928
Physical Description:
41.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3155. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
View digitized field notes.
Volume 8, Section 3
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 10 1422_s3
1928
Physical Description:
138.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3219. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
View digitized field notes.
Volume 9
Volume 9 1423
1929
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
171.0 Pages
Volume 9, Section 1
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 10 continued 1423_s1
1929
Physical Description:
170.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3219. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Bound map, MVZ 12231, placed prior to p. 1233.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Gulf of California, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Gulf of California Islands, Isla San Francisco
North America, Gulf of California, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Gulf of California Islands, Isla San Jose
North America, Gulf of California, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Gulf of California Islands, Isla San Juan Nepomuceno
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
North America, Mexico, Nayarit, Isla Isabela
View digitized field notes.
Volume 10
Volume 10 1424
1929
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
174.0 Pages
Volume 10, Section 1
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 10 continued 1424_s1
1929
Physical Description:
173.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3219. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Holotype of
Zenaida asiatica clara listed on p. 1428. See
MVZ Birds 54990 .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
View digitized field notes.
Volume 11
Volume 11 1425
1930
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
203.0 Pages
Volume 11, Section 1
Nevada: Nye and Lander Counties 1425_s1
1930
Physical Description:
124.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3511. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Note prior to p. 1574: "For map, see field notes of E.R. Hall, 1930.”
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, Nevada, Lander County
North America, United States, Nevada, Nye County
View digitized field notes.
Volume 11, Section 2
Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1425_s2
1930
Physical Description:
2.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accessions #3510, #3529, #3530, #3535, #3536, and #3541. These specimens can be
found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
View digitized field notes.
Volume 11, Section 3
Nevada: White Pine County; Utah 1425_s3
1930
Physical Description:
70.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3545. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Note prior to p. 1701: "For map, see field notes of E.R. Hall, 1930.”
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, Nevada, Elko County
North America, United States, Nevada, White Pine County
North America, United States, Utah, Tooele County
View digitized field notes.
Volume 12
Volume 12 1426
1930-1931
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
156.0 Pages
Volume 12, Section 1
Los Angeles County, California 1426_s1
1930
Physical Description:
4.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3651. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Los Angeles County
View digitized field notes.
Volume 12, Section 2
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 11 1426_s2
1930-1931
Physical Description:
148.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3592. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Folded map, MVZ 12233, attached prior to p. 1777.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
North America, Mexico, Baja California, Isla Cedros
View digitized field notes.
Volume 13
Volume 13 1427
1931
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
151.0 Pages
Volume 13, Section 1
Lower California, Mexico; Expedition 11 1427_s1
1930-1931
Physical Description:
150.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3592. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Folded map, MVZ 12375, attached between pp. 1993-1994.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Isla de Santa Margarita
North America, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Isla Magdalena
View digitized field notes.
Volume 14
Volume 14 1428
1931-1932
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
204.0 Pages
Volume 14, Section 1
Berkeley, Alameda County, California 1428_s1
1931
Physical Description:
2.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3744. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
View digitized field notes.
Volume 14, Section 2
Nevada: Lander, Nye, Clark Counties 1428_s2
1931
Physical Description:
55.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accessions #3754 and #3770. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Note prior to p. 2073: "For map, see field notes, E.R. Hall, 1931.” Holotype of
Thomomys bottae nanus listed on p. 2124. See
MVZ Mammals 49077 .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, Nevada, Clark County
North America, United States, Nevada, Lander County
North America, United States, Nevada, Nye County
View digitized field notes.
Volume 14, Section 3
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas 1428_s3
1931
Physical Description:
19.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section were collected between 10/5/1931 and 3/12/1932. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, Arizona, Coconino County
North America, United States, Arizona, Graham County
North America, United States, Arizona, Maricopa County
North America, United States, Arizona, Mohave County
North America, United States, Arizona, Yuma County
North America, United States, California, San Bernardino County
North America, United States, California, San Diego County
North America, United States, New Mexico, Eddy County
North America, United States, Texas, El Paso County
View digitized field notes.
Volume 14, Section 4
Trinity County, California 1428_s4
1932
Physical Description:
120.0 Pages
Related materials
Specimens collected in this section include accession #3892. These specimens can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Scope and contents note
Folded map, MVZ 12426, attached following p. 2264. Holotype of
Neotoma cinerea pulla listed on p. 2261. See
MVZ Mammals 57077 .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Trinity County
View digitized field notes.
Correspondence
1931-1955
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.0 Folder
Box 1, Folder 1
Correspondence
1931-1951
Physical Description:
1.0 Folder
Box 1, Folder 2
Correspondence
1952-1955
Physical Description:
1.0 Folder