Florence Merriam Bailey papers, 1887-1940

Summary

Creators:

Bailey, Florence Merriam, b. 1863

Abstract:

Consists of field notes and journals, drafts of primarily unpublished books and articles, plus a small amount of correspondence to her father, Clinton Levi Merriam and other naturalists and ornithologists. The majority of the field notes and journals deal with the West but also cover areas in North Dakota, New York, Washington D.C., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida and elsewhere. Of particular note are her notes on the Grand Canyon and writings about the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and the Apache Indians of Arizona.

Extent:

Number of containers: 12 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 4 vols. Linear feet: 5 1 Digital Object (1 image)

Language:

Collection materials are in English

Background

Scope and content:

The Florence Merriam Bailey Papers, 1887-1940, consist of field notes and journals, drafts of primarily unpublished books and articles, and a small amount of correspondence with her father, Clinton Levi Merriam and with naturalists or ornithologists. The majority of the field notes and journals cover field trips in the West, but also include North Dakota, New York, Washington D. C., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida and elsewhere. Of particular note are the materials on the Grand Canyon National Park, and her writings about the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, and the Apaches of Arizona.

Arranged in three series: Correspondence, Field Notes and Journals, and Writings. Correspondence is arranged with letters to her father first, followed by an alphabetical listing by last name and a miscellany folder at the end. Field Notes and Journals are arranged chronologically. Writings are divided into: Books and Longer Works, Articles and Shorter Works, and Writings and Notes by Others. Books and Longer Works and Articles and Shorter Works are arranged alphabetically by first word of title ignoring articles. Writings and notes by others are arranged hierarchally.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Locust Grove, New York during the Civil War, Florence Merriam Bailey (1863-1948), devoted her life to the study and protection of birds. From her work in ornithology she authored over ten books, including several field guides to birds, and close to one hundred articles. Though interested in birds as a child, she gained recognition as a naturalist while at Smith College. Disgusted by the use of feathers and whole birds in fashion, she started the Smith College Audubon Society.

Her later accomplishments include establishing the Washington, D. C. Audubon Society and becoming the first female associate member of the Ornithologists Union (1885). Within that organization she was the first female fellow (1929) and the first female recipient of the Brewster Medal (1931). In 1908 a variety of California Mountain Chickadee was named Parus gambeli baileyae in her honor.

Bailey's relations with prominent scientists augmented her own distinguished career. C. Hart Merriam, her brother, was the first chief of the U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey, as well as a co-founder of the National Geographic Society. His work also led to Florence's introduction, and subsequent marriage, to fellow Bureau naturalist, Vernon Bailey. From their travels to the Western United States the Bailey's produced several works on the distinctive, and largely unexplored, flora and fauna in that region. As an amateur ornithologist Florence Bailey was at the forefront of the movement to use binoculars, rather than shotguns, to observe birds. She died in Washington, D. C. on September 22, 1948.

[From the finding aid to the Florence Merriam Bailey Papers, at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.]

Acquisition information:

The Florence Merriam Bailey Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Mrs. William Penn Mott III and Dr. Lee Talbot in 1979.

Physical location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Rules or conventions:

Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

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