Description
The field notes consist of bound notebooks, and their
13-reel microfilm copy, of observations made about birds and mammals found in
various locations in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Latin America, and
a few in Michigan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Some additional notes,
carbons, typescripts, drawings, and a very few photographs and maps were also
contributed by Dickey and others. The notebook entries (with time range of
coverage) were made by: Donald R. Dickey (1909-29), A.J. van Rossem (1911-48),
W.H. Burt (1928-31), H.H. Sheldon (1928-30), R.A. Stirton (1925-26), G.A.
Stirton (1925) and L.M. Huey (1915-33). Van Rossem's notes are mostly related to
the work published in 1938 under his and Dickey's names, "The Birds of El
Salvador".
Background
DONALD RYDER DICKEY (March 31, 1887-April 15, 1932) was an adventurous
wildlife photographer as well as an ornithologist and mammalogist. He was well
known in his time for: his photographs (both still and moving) of birds and
mammals; for his lectures on wildlife; and eventually for his substantial
specimen collection of birds and mammals. He was drawn to outdoor life in his
childhood and youth, but considered this nothing more than a hobby. During his
senior year at Yale, having already achieved election to Phi Beta Kappa, he
experienced a serious heart collapse and was sentenced to immediate and complete
bed rest. Allowed to graduate with his class because of his high academic
standing, he returned after graduation to his parents' home in Pasadena for two
years of inactivity. After about a year he began to visit a friend's ranch in
the Ojai Valley and there, from his steamer chair, he began to observe, and
after a time to photograph, local birds and their nests.
Extent
6 linear feet
( 4 document boxes)
Restrictions
Property rights in the physical objects belong to the UCLA Biomedical
Library. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and
their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission
to publish if the Biomedical Library does not hold the copyright.
Availability
The collection is open for research. Contact the History and Special
Collections Division, Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, UCLA, for
information.