Accession data for the Benjamin W. Arnold Oological (Bird's Egg) Collection A3161

Accession data for the Benjamin W. Arnold Oological (Bird's Egg) Collection

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

Original data slips, a collection listing, and some correspondence and photographs relate to the Benjamin W. Arnold Collection of Birds Eggs donated by Arnold to the State Museum in 1917. The small quantity of correspondence, 1908-1917, is between Arnold and other collectors and concerns the acquisition of specimens by Arnold. The photographs were sent to Arnold by fellow collector Walter Raines and depict specimens in Raines' collection, including displays, as well as nests observed in the field.

Creator:

New York (State). Division of Science and State Museum

Title:

Accession data for the Benjamin W. Arnold Oological (Bird's Egg) Collection

Quantity:

1 cubic feet

39 photographs

Inclusive Dates:

1880-1917

Series Number:

A3161

Arrangement

Arranged by form of record. Correspondence and photographs unarranged. Collection listing is arranged in numerical order by American Ornithological Union (AOU) number. The data slips are roughly arranged by geographic region (North America, South America, Europe, etc.) and thereunder numerically by AOU number.

Scope and Content Note

Original data slips, a collection listing, and some correspondence and photographs relate to the Benjamin W. Arnold Collection of Birds Eggs donated by Arnold to the State Museum in 1917.

The small quantity of correspondence, 1908-1917, is between Arnold and other collectors and concerns the acquisition of specimens by Arnold. The photographs were sent to Arnold by fellow collector Walter Raines and depict specimens in Raines' collection, including displays, as well as nests observed in the field.

The collection listing is a draft that provides the following information on specimens in the Arnold Collection: American Ornithological Union number; common and scientific names; date and location where collected; museum specimen number; and occasional notes about the nest from which the specimen was taken.

The original data slips were prepared by the person who collected the specimens and supplied them to Arnold. There is an individual slip for each of the several hundred specimens. The slips vary slightly in format but provide the following information on specimens collected ca. 1880-1917: American Ornithological Union number; "set mark"; name of bird; date and location where collected; number of eggs in clutch; name of collector; how the specimen was identified; incubation status; description of nest; and annotation indicating the Museum's accession and specimen numbers.