Edmund C. Jaeger papers
Finding aid prepared by Reajinae Jenkins and Alysia Thind, Student Processing Assistants.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2016
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Edmund C. Jaeger papers
Date (inclusive): 1836-1984, undated
Date (bulk): 1960-1969
Collection Number: MS 110
Creator:
Jaeger, Edmund C. (Edmund Carroll), 1887-1983
Extent:
11.79 linear feet
(29 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, photographs, documents, and other materials pertaining to the desert ecologist Edmund
C. Jaeger. Included is correspondence regarding Jaeger's research in the desert, photographs of plant and animal species and
desert palavers, reports on ecological findings, and more.
Languages: The collection is in English.
Access
This collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction,
and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by
copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions
apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for
obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Edmund C. Jaeger papers (MS 110). Special Collections & University Archives,
University of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
Provenance unknown.
Processing History
Processed by Reajinae Jenkins and Alysia Thind, Student Processing Assistants, 2016.
Processing of the Edmund C. Jaegar papers was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside
as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded
by the UCR Library and administered by Bergis Jules, University and Political Papers Archivist, and Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts
Curator.
Biographical Note
Edmund Jaeger was born in Loup, Nebraska in 1887 to Katherine and John Philip Jaeger. Edmund finished high school by the age
of fifteen and later graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. After his schooling, Jaeger went on to get his
teaching credentials and he taught at elementary and high schools. He moved to Riverside, CA in 1906 and taught at Riverside
Community College, where he worked for over thirty years before retiring. Jaeger took on many careers during his life: he
was a teacher, a mentor, a philanthropist, an ecologist, a botanist, and a naturalist.
Jaeger was well known for his work outside of the classroom. He conducted a lifetime of ecological research and can be credited
with the discovery of hibernation in bird species through his observations of the Desert Poorwill. He was well respected and
was invited to the White House on more than one occasion. In his spare time, Jaeger hosted annual palavers and was a member
of various nature and wildlife conservation committees. Jaeger spent the majority of his life in Riverside, CA where he became
a respected member of the community.
Edmund Jaeger published books and pamphlets pertaining to nature and established a scholarship fund. Jaeger was one of the
top desert ecologists and naturalists, he is often referred to as "the father of modern desert ecology." Jaeger passed his
knowledge on to his students in the classroom and to the participants of the palavers he hosted annually starting in 1954
up until his death in 1983.
Collection Scope and Contents
This collection contains correspondence, documents, photographs, and other material pertaining to American ecologist Edmund
C. Jaeger. Materials document Jaeger's professional life and personal interests covering a wide range of topics that include
nature conservation, desert ecology, wildlife research, environmentalism, and geographic landscapes. A substantial amount
of both professional and personal correspondence is present in the collection between Jaeger and governmental entities, academic
institutions, professional colleagues, and friends. Of additional significance are numerous publications and articles pertaining
to botany and ecology, photographs documenting natural landscapes, animals, and Jaeger's personal life, and research notes
pertaining to flora and fauna. Lastly, there is select material documenting Jaeger's travels throughout the world including
brochures, booklets, and maps as well as reports from staff travels, research, and sabbaticals in Europe, Africa, South America,
the South Pacific, and Australia.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged into seven series as follows.
- Series 1. Correspondence, 1910-1984
- Series 2. Documents, 1905-1979
- Series 3. Financial records, 1922-1975
- Series 4. Photographs, 1836-1980
- Series 5. Brochures and booklets, 1932-1977
- Series 6. Periodicals, 1910-1989
- Series 7. Maps, 1932-1971
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Desert animals
Desert ecology
Desert plants
Nature conservation
Cahuilla Indians
Genres and Forms of Materials
Articles
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Photographs
Series 1. Correspondence
1910-1984, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series consist of both professional and personal correspondence. The professional correspondence in this series comes
from places such as schools, government departments, and publishing houses. The topics discussed range from teaching and writing
to state park preservation and wildlife research. The personal correspondence in this series is mostly from family, friends,
and colleagues.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 1, Folder 1
Professional correspondence regarding the University of California, Berkeley and other institutions
1910-1919
Box 1, Folders 2-3
Professional correspondence regarding museums and other professional institutions
1920-1929
Box 1, Folder 4
Professional correspondence from various Boards of Agriculture
1930-1939
Box 1, Folder 5
Professional correspondence from the Department of the Interior, University of California, and other organizations
1940-1949
Box 1, Folders 6-7
Professional correspondence from publishers, universities, and wildlife services
1950-1959
Box 1, Folders 8, Box 2, Folder 1
Professional correspondence from Loma Linda University, the Nature Conservancy, the Department of Game and Fish and various
others
1960-1969
Box 2, Folder 2
Professional correspondence from various Universities and colleges
1970-1979
Box 2, Folder 3
Professional correspondence regarding universities, and pamphlets
undated
Box 2, Folder 4
Personal correspondence with handwritten letters from friends and aquaintances
1912-1919
Box 2, Folder 5
Personal correspondence from colleagues, acquaintances, and friends
1920-1929
Box 2, Folder 6
Personal correspondence from colleagues, acquaintances, and friends
1930-1939
Box 3, Folder 1
Personal correspondence from colleagues, acquaintances, and friends
1940-1949
Box 3, Folders 2-4
Personal correspondence from colleagues, acquaintances, and friends
1950-1959
Box 3, Folders 5-6, Box 4, Folder 1-2
Personal correspondence from colleagues, acquaintances, and friends
1960-1969
Box 4, Folder 3
Personal correspondence from colleagues, acquaintances, and friends
1970-1979
Box 4, Folder 4
Personal correspondence from colleagues, acquaintances, and friends
1980-1984
Box 4, Folders 5, Box 5, Folder 1
Personal correspondence from colleagues, acquaintances, and friends
undated
Series 2. Documents
1903-1979, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of notes, manuscripts, reports, and other material created and or used by Jaeger in his professional
work as a biologist who specialized in desert ecology. Materials primarily pertain to plants, animals, and the geographic
landscapes that Jaeger studied. A selection of directories and membership lists from various organizations that Jaeger was
affiliated with are also included in this series.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 19, Folder 4
Lists of railroads
undated
Box 19, Folder 5
Relics from Jaeger's travels
1936-1977, undated
Box 20, Folders 1-7, Box 21, Folders 1-5, Box 22, Folders 1-2
Notes pertaining to animals, plants and other aspects of nature
undated
Box 22, Folder 3
Illustrations of plants, animals and landscapes pertaining to Jaeger's research
undated
Box 23, Folders 6-9
Manuscripts written by Edmund Jaeger and acquaintances
1962, undated
Box 23, Folder 1
Sabbatical Logs - Lloyd Smith
September 1966 - April 1967
Scope and Contents
Materials document travels during sabbatical to destinations that include: South Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Australia,
Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, India, Middle East, Kenya, Uganda, Madagasscar, Tanzania, the Comoros,
and Mauritius.
Box 23, Folder 2
Sabbatical Logs - Harold Pohl
September 1967 - April 1968 and May - June 1971
Scope and Contents
Materials document travels during sabbatical including destinatios such as: Italy, Germany, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Canary
Islands, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
Box 23, Folders 3-4
Sabbatical Logs - Lloyd Mason Smith
February - July 1974 and Spring 1975
Scope and Contents
Materials document travels during sabbatical to destinations that include: folder 3 contains reports from Namibia; folder
four covers Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Easter Island, Bolivia, and Peru.
Box 23, Folder 5
Travel writings
1929, 1972, undated
Box 24, Folders 1-7
Reports about locations and wildlife written by Jaeger and others
1913-1979, undated
Box 25, Folder 1
Articles written by Edmund Jaeger and others
1948, undated
Box 25, Folder 2
Bibliographies for writings by Edmund Jaeger and others
undated
Box 25, Folder 3
Poems and recreational writings
1953, undated
Box 25, Folder 4
Outlines for various writings
1963, undated
Box 25, Folder 5
Book reviews and proof of advertisements
1931-1969, undated
Box 25, Folder 6
Pamphlets and informational booklets on locations and wildlife
undated
Box 25, Folder 7
Personal Certificates, Contracts, and Awards
1903-1974
Box 29, Folder 3
Mock up for book written by Jaeger
undated
Box 25, Folder 8
Teaching materials
1968-1972, undated
Box 25, Folder 10
Culinary Recipes
1964, undated
Box 26, Folders 1-5
Blank postcards from various locations across the world
undated
Box 27, Folders 1-2
Official statements and news releases regarding environmental departments
1937-1969, undated
Box 27, Folders 3-4
Directories and membership lists of various organizations
1954-1975, undated
Box 27, Folder 5
Programs and invitations from events Jaeger attended
1951-1969, undated
Box 27, Folder 6
Minutes from organizations and meetings
1959-1971
Scope and Contents
Minutes from meetings of the Board of Trustees for The Municipal Museum; Death Valley '49ers, Inc; and Desert Protective Council.
Box 27, Folder 7
Rules and regulations for groups and environmental departments
1942, 1961, and undated
Box 27, Folder 8
Flyers and handouts for events
1952-1977, undated
Scope and Contents
Handouts and fliers, many including maps and directions, for meetings, events, and palavers.
Series 3. Financial records
1922-1976, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains financial documents such as trust fund agreements, inventory documents, bank statements, receipts, and
contracts.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 28, Folders 1-2
Financial records
1949-1976, undated
Scope and Contents
Trust areements, financial inventories and ledgers, and other financial records. Organizations include Southeastern California
Association of Seventh-Day Adventists,
Box 28, Folder 3
Receipts and checks
1949-1975, undated
Box 28, Folder 4
Various bank and financial statements
1949-1975, undated
Box 28, Folder 5
Financial contracts
1922-1971
Series 4. Photographs
1836-1983, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series consists of photographs, negatives, and other visual mediums. Subjects of the photographs include Edmund Jaeger,
Jaeger's aquaintances and family members, landscapes, nature, Jaeger's work as a desert ecologist. This series also includes
unidentified negatives and magnetic tape.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged by content and format.
Box 11, Items 1-3
Photograph albums
1913-1923, undated
Scope and Contents
Three photo albums (two bound, one three-ring folder)
Box 11, Folder 1
Printer's block plates of Edmund Jaeger
undated
Box 12, Folders 1-4
Unidentified negatives
undated
Box 12, Folder 5
Audio Reel of Lecture
1962
Scope and Contents
Audio reel tape of lecture on "Insects and Reptiles of the Plains and Brushlands" given by Edmund Jaeger at Dewey School.
Box 13
Glass slides of Samuel Bonsal Parish
undated
Physical Description:
3 Items
(three glass lantern slides)
Scope and Contents
Three glass lanter slides with portraits of Parish
Box 14, Folders 1-3
Photographs
1836-1980, undated
Scope and Contents
Photographs in these folders are primarily portraits (both group and individual)
Box 15, Folders 1-2, Box 29, Folder 1
Photographs of natural landscapes
1919-1968, undated
Box 15, Folder 3
Photographs of buildings and other objects
1900-1977, undated
Box 15, Folder 4
Photographs of animals
1915-1946, undated
Box 15, Folders 5-7, Box 29, Folder 2
Photographs of Edmund Jaeger and acquaintances
1880-1983, undated
Series 5. Periodicals
1912-1983, undated
Series Scope and Contents
The periodicals in this series consist of newspapers, journals, magazines and newsletters. The newspapers in this series contain
articles written about Edmund Jaeger and clippings of stories that were of interest to Jaeger. The journals are primarily
related to botany and ecology. The magazines are mostly article clippings and a few full issues of National Geographic. The
Newsletters are largely pertaining to groups and institutions that Jaeger was either part of or took interest in.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by format.
Box 5, Folders 3-5
Newsletters
1928-1974, undated
Box 5, Folder 6
Newsletters -
The Nature Conservancy
1961-1974
Box 5, Folder 7
Newsletters -
El Paisano
1960-1971
Box 6, Folders 1-6, Flat-File-Folder 1
Newspaper articles
1914-1969
Box 6, Folders 7-8, Box 7, Folder 1, Flat-File-Folder 3
Newspaper articles
1970-1983, undated
Flat-File-Folder 2
Newspaper articles -
Brewery Gulch Gazette
1960-1961
Box 7, Folders 2-3, Flat-File-Folder 4
Magazine and journal articles
1927-1976, undated
Box 8, Folders 1-6
Journals and pamphlets
1912-1959, undated
Box 9, Folders 1-6
Journals and pamphlets
1960-1969
Box 10, Folders 1-4
Journals and pamphlets
1960-1973
Series 6. Brochures and booklets
1948-1973, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series consists of brochures and booklets from Jaeger's travels, locations include North America, Europe, Africa, and
South America. They are largely from the 1960s.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.
Box 16, Folders 1-4
Travel brochures and booklets for North American destinations
1951-1962, undated
Box 17, Folder 1
Travel brochures and booklets for European destinations
1948-1973, undated
Box 17, Folder 2
Travel brochures and booklets for South American destinations
1967-1973, undated
Box 17, Folder 3
Travel brochures and booklets for African destinations
1966-1971, undated
Box 17, Folder 4
Travel brochures and booklets for Australian destinations
1966-1967, undated
Series 7. Maps
1932-1971, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series consist of maps from assorted locations including North America, Australia, South America, Europe, and Africa.
The maps in this series are mostly from North American states and cities. Some maps are published while others are hand drawn.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged sequentially by box and folder number.
Box 18, Folder 1
Maps of Australian destinations
1955-1966, undated
Box 18, Folder 2
Maps of South American destinations
1963-1966, undated
Box 18, Folder 3
Maps of European destinations
1971, undated
Box 18, Folder 4
Maps of African destinations
1971, undated
Box 18, Folders 5-8, Box 19, Folders 1-3
Maps of North American destinations
1932-1962, undated
