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C. Hart Merriam Collection

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Merriam

C. Hart Merriam was an American zoologist, ornithologist, entomologist, and ethnographer. In 1886, he became the first chief of the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the United States Department of Agriculture, predecessor to the National Wildlife Research Center and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He was one of the original founders of the National Geographic Society in 1888. In 1899, he helped railroad magnate E. H. Harriman to organize an exploratory voyage along the Alaska coastline. He died in Berkeley, California in 1942.

The collection contains approximately 300 gravures of Alaska and 103 silver gelatin and albumen photographs (ranging from 5x8 to 38x28 cm.), the majority of which are attributed to Merriam. Other photographers include Walter D. Wilcox, O.J. Murie, and Donald R. Dickey. There are also a number of maps, diagrams, some correspondence, and typewritten manuscripts related to publication.

Arranged in four boxes.

Purchased from Gary Edwards in 1997 (WA1997-92).

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Finding aid updated by Valerie Addonizio in 2009.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Valerie Addonizio
Finding Aid Date
2008
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Miscellaneous, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Contains documents and illustrations pertaining to botany, specifically sets of proofs of black-and-white and color prints (including photogravures) of Alaskan flora. Illustrations of Alaskan wildlife are also included, as well as other illustrations (maps, diagrams, etc.) and headpieces, all for publication. A proof-draft of the C.C. Nutting's 1901 publication of The Hydroids (Washington Academy of Sciences) is also included, with illustrations.

Physical Description

1 box

Miscellaneous, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Contains approximately 165 black-and-white prints (prints on paper) and photogravures of Alaskan environs, fauna, and the dwellings and lifestyles of Native Americans in the region. Most of the images are attributed to Merriam and seem to be the result of the proofing process of a publication.

Physical Description

1 box

Miscellaneous, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Contains over 70 gravures and photogravures of Alaskan environs and fauna, along with documents and typewritten manuscripts related to publication. There is also some correspondence and over 35 printed maps, some of which are duplicates. This box also contains 10 silver gelatin and albumen photographs of varying sizes, from 20x24 cm. to a stereograph (17x8 cm.). Some materials in this box pre-date the Harriman Expedition (1899).

Physical Description

1 box

Miscellaneous, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Contains 93 silver gelatin and albumen photographs of varying sizes, ranging from 38x28 cm. to 5x8 cm., and dating between 1891 and 1925. 42 of the images are loose and include images of Alaska and its environs, as well as some images of California. Photographers other than Merriam include Walter D. Wilcox (1899), O.J. Murie (1925), and Donald R. Dickey (1918). 17 of these images are of totem poles. Also present is an album of 51 Merriam snapshots dedicated to zoology, namely the fur seals and sea lions of the Bering Sea, very likely taken in 1891. Additionally, there are heliotypes and other photomechanical and printed materials.

Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest