Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of records of fossils borrowed, loaned, or exchanged by state paleontologist James Hall in the course of his research for the Paleontology of New York.

Hall borrowed fossils from the American Museum of Natural History, the New York State Museum of Natural History (formerly State Cabinet of Natural History), and various other institutions and individuals. In addition to the interchange of fossils for scientific study, the legislature authorized the Board of Regents (governing body of the State Museum) to donate sets of duplicate fossils to colleges and secondary schools. Included in this series are lists of the fossils contained in some of these sets and correspondence between Hall and school officials and the Board of Regents concerning the disposition of these sets.