Finding Aid to the Reid Moran Collection, 1957-1982 LA.1993.1220

Finding aid prepared by Marie Myers
San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library
2016-04-30
1788 El Prado, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
library@sdnhm.org


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library
Title: Reid Moran Collection
Creator: Moran, Reid (Reid Venable), 1916-2010
Identifier/Call Number: LA.1993.1220
Physical Description: 11.0 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1957-1982
Abstract: The Reid Moran Collection consists of botanical research material including field notes, manuscripts, and reprints. In addition, the collection includes biographical information on Moran and one oral history interview (audio tape).

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of four series of research files maintained by botanist Reid Moran, Curator of Botany at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Series 1 includes Moran's original field notebooks, and other research notes arranged by subject in folders. Series 2 includes four boxes of manuscripts by Moran. Series 3 consists of four boxes of reprints arranged in numbered folders (not alphabetical). Series 4 contains biographical material about Moran and and includes an oral history interview of Moran conducted in 1998.

Biographical/Historical note

Reid Venable Moran (1916–2010) was the curator of botany at the San Diego Natural History Museum from 1957 to 1982. Born in Los Angeles, California on June 30, 1916, he attended Stanford University (B.A. 1939) and Cornell University (M.S. 1942), before wartime service as a navigator in the Army Air Corps (1942-1946). Moran completed his Ph.D. in Botany at the University of California, Berkeley in 1951. He returned to Cornell and worked at the Bailey Hortorium before joining the San Diego Natural History Museum in 1957. Moran specialized in the systematics of the Crassulaceae (the stonecrop family) and was a well-known expert on succulents and especially the genus Dudleya. His published works include The Flora of Guadalupe Island, the treatment of the Crassulaceae for the Flora of North America (Vol. 8, published in 2009), The Grasses of Baja California, Mexico (1981, with Frank W. Gould), and The Vascular Flora of Isla Socorro, Mexico (1989, with Geoffrey A. Levin) in addition to a large number of technical research papers on the floristics of the Baja California peninsula. Moran died on January 21, 2010 in Lake County, California.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers by appointment. Contact the Research Library Director, San Diego Natural History Museum.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright may be reserved. Consult the San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library Director for more information.

Related Materials

Moran's field notebooks have been digitized and indexed by the Botany Department. The Flora of Baja California (BajaFlora.org).

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Reid Moran Collection (LA 1993.1220). Research Library, San Diego Natural History Museum.

Processing Information

This is an unprocessed collection in the archives of the San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library; not all of the contents of this collection have been fully inventoried. Please consult the Library Director.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Belvedere Scientific Fund--Expedition
Botany -- Mexico -- Baja California (Peninsula)
Botany -- Research
Crassulaceae
Plants -- Mexico -- Guadalupe Island
Field notes
Gilmore, Raymond M. (Raymond Maurice), 1907-1983
Harbison, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1904-1989
Higgins, Ethel Bailey, 1866-1963
Klauber, Laurence M. (Laurence Monroe), 1883-1968

 

Series I: Research and field notes

Physical Description: 3.0 Linear Feet
Box 89

Field notes

The Field Notes of Reid Moran

Scope and Contents

70 stenography pads of handwritten field notes; dates from 1936 to 1993. Moran's field notes have been transcribed (18 volumes), digitized, and indexed by the Botany Department.
Box 90

Mexican Crassulaceae notes

Scope and Contents

34 labeled folders of notes on the family Crassulaceae (Stonecrop).
Box 91

Cactaceae and Crassulaceae notes

Scope and Contents

File folders arranged by subject; not in alphabetical order.
Box 92-95

Series II: Manuscripts

Physical Description: 4 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents

4 boxes of manuscripts. Contents have not been inventoried.
 

Series III: Reprints

Physical Description: 4 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents

4 boxes of reprints, dates from 1942 to 1975. In numbered folders, not in alphabetical order. Contents have not been inventoried. Boxes 96-99.
Box 96

Reprints 1943-1963

Scope and Contents

20+ folders of reprints. Bibliography folder in front of box. Folders are numbered but are not in alphabetical order.
Box 97

Reprints 1964-1969

Scope and Contents

20+ reprints in folders. Folders are numbered by are not in alphabetical order.
Box 98

Reprints 1970-1975

Scope and Contents

20+ reprints in folders. Folders are numbered but are not in alphabetical order.
Box 99

Reprints 1975

Scope and Contents

Folders are numbered but are not in alphabetical order.
 

Series IV: Biographical material

Physical Description: 3 Items
Box AV

Oral History Interview 1998

Physical Description: 1 Item Stored with audio-visual materials.

Scope and Contents

Oral history interview, conducted June 18, 1998. One audio cassette. Includes Moran remarks on his career at the Museum and colleagues Laurence Klauber, Charles Harbison, and Raymond Gilmore.
Vertical File

Profile and photograph

Scope and Contents

2 file folders, assembled by Museum staff, about Moran's tenure as curator of botany at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Includes photocopy profile of Moran in Environment Southwest; photograph of Moran with Ethel Bailey Higgins.