Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists primarily of research material and articles written by Dr. Donald W. Fisher, New York State Paleontologist (1955-1982). The articles were written for a variety of popular publications, such as "The Conservationist," as well as journals of professional scholarship.

Topics of the material vary widely and include taxonomy, classification, and description of fauna and flora fossils; descriptions of strata; geology of specific localities throughout New York State; tectonics; and geological nomenclature. Articles for popular periodicals deal with such topics as where to look for fossils; regional prehistory; recent discoveries; and explanations of the origins of local geological features.

The records also include copies of articles written by other authors and reviews of them by Dr. Fisher; material related to professional conferences; exhibit design; administrative files; and subject and research material apparently unrelated to publication topics. A small amount of material dates from Dr. Fisher's tenure as Senior Paleontologist and Stratigrapher.

Types of material in the series include hand drawn maps; correspondence and memoranda; printed maps with notations and corrections; handwritten rough drafts; typed copies with notations and corrections; carbon copies; field notes; photographs; drawings; diagrams; galleys; and reprints of published articles.

A significant amount of correspondence related to publications includes letters and copies of replies to publishers, coauthors, reviewers, editors, members of the geological community, and members of the general public; comments by colleagues on manuscripts and published articles; and comments by Dr. Fisher on articles written by other authors.

B1511-09: This accretion, similarly, consists of correspondence, reviews, photographs, and draft material chiefly related to the scientific publications of Dr. Donald W. Fisher and his colleagues. Other records include proposals and timetables for field and research projects, requests for reprints of published articles, and newspaper articles on recent local geologic discoveries.