Description
The Joseph Grinnell papers include field notes, miscellaneous notes, publications, biographical materials, correspondence,
Thomomys manuscripts and research, and graphic materials. These materials provide insight into the work done by Grinnell and
his peers between 1894-1944.
Background
Joseph Grinnell was born on February 27, 1877 at an Indian Territory near old Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Grinnell’s interest in
zoology started very early on. When Grinnell was just a preteen, his first specimen for his collection was a “cotton-stuffed
toad,” from his middle school time spent in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1893, Grinnell enrolled in the college division of
Throop Polytechnic Institute, known today as California Institute of Technology or “Caltech.” There the young Grinnell received
careful scientific training from the botanist Alfred James McClatchie. Almost all of his Saturdays and holidays were spent
“in the field, as his old notebooks—[all 18 of them then]—testify” He carefully recorded each field experience he spent by
himself, with his friends, or with his professors. Even then, Grinnell realized that “the record had a definite historical
value.” He said, “[this] I realize is assuming a very difficult and tedious task… but even if I cannot bring such a thing
to publication myself, I shall keep the bibliography and citation symmetrically arranged, so that anyone else can take up
the work where I leave off.” This belief would eventually give rise to the famed “Grinnell Method.” In 1895, Grinnell’s name
was cited in Dr. Hiram A. Reid’s 700-pages published work “History of Pasadena”: “[young] Joseph Grinnell…has won the reputation
of having captured, preserved, labeled and classified more specimens of our native birds than any other person. He seems to
have a specimen of every species and variety of avian fauna ever found here, all nicely preserved, and nearly labeled with
both its common and its scientific name.”
Restrictions
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.