Cooper Ornithological Society, Southern Division records, 1895-1935

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Summary

Creators:
Cooper Ornithological Society, Southern Division.
Abstract:
The Cooper Ornithological Society was founded in 1893, and was named after the zoologist James G. Cooper. The collection contains 3 volumes of incoming correspondence from various ornithologists to Frank Slater Daggett, the accessions records of the Dickey Ornithological Library, and the specimen catalogs and field notes of Daggett and Wright M. Pierce who were both active members in the society.
Extent:
3 boxes (1.5 linear ft.)
Language:
Finding aid is written in English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection contains 3 volumes of incoming correspondence from various ornithologists and bird enthusiasts to Frank Slater Daggett. The collection also includes of the accessions records of the Dickey Ornithological Library as well as the specimen catalogs and field notes of Frank S. Daggett and Wright M. Pierce.

Biographical / historical:

The Cooper Ornithological Society Southern Division was founded in Los Angeles in 1893 by a small group of individuals in southern California who were interested in the study of birds. The society was named after Dr. James G. Cooper, zoologist and avid bird collector. To facilitate communication between members, the society developed a publication called The Condor, which is still in existence today. One of the society's most active members was Frank Slater Dagett, who served as the society's vice president from 1898-1900 and president from 1901-1903. The bird species Sphyrapicus varius dagetti is named after him. He was an avid bird collector who amassed a collection of approximately 8,009 bird skins. Wright M. Pierce was also a prominent member of the Cooper Ornithological Society Southern Division who served on the society's board of governors for many years.

This collection also includes the accession records of the Dickey Ornithological Library, which consists of 10,000 natural history books and was donated by his wife Florence Van Vechten Dickey to UCLA in 1940. Donald R. Dickey was a nature photographer and filmmaker who dedicated the later part of his life collecting books and photographs of wildlife, as well as collecting mammals and birds.

Acquisition information:
Gift of the Cooper Ornithological Society, 1945.
Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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