CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ARCHIVES
Guide to the Museum History Files and Staff Biographical Records
of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Prepared by Susan Miller, July 29, 2005
Collection Number:
2005-2
Title:
Museum History Files and Staff Biographical Records of the Carnegie Museum of
Natural History
Inclusive Dates:
1891-1978 [Bulk 1948-1975]
Creator:
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, administrative and curatorial staff
Extent:
This collection comprises 5.5 linear feet.
Repository:
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
calleryb@CarnegieMNH.org
Abstract:
This collection contains staff biographical files and administrative records of the
Carnegie Museum of Natural History and ranges in date from the earliest days of the
museum into the 1970s. Approximately half of the collection is made up of staff
biographical files that are believed to have been compiled by director William J. Holland
(director from March, 1898-May, 1926) and director M. Graham Netting (director from
Jan. 1954 to March 1975). These files contain photographs, newspaper clippings and
sometimes correspondence and other associated material. The rest of the collection
contains diverse museum administrative records ranging in subject from financial
documents to plans for future exhibits to records from several nature censuses performed
by museum personnel. Much of the administrative portion of the collection deals with
the business of director Netting, and involves his ideas and the documents that he
purposely saved. Other interesting material includes the incomplete but still useful
minutes of the museum committee (approximately 1891-1920), a Pennsylvania Game
Commission Hearing from 1904, and the biographical files of museum trustees, visiting
museum specialists and employees of the Carnegie Institute.
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Acquisition Information:
Records believe to have been assembled by former CMNH director M. Graham Netting
(director from Jan. 1, 1954 to March 31, 1975) and including biographical information
initially assembled by former CMNH director W.J. Holland (director from March 18,
1898 to May 21, 1926). Records transferred from CMNH Annex storage to the Archives
in May 2005.
Preferred Citation:
Museum History Files and Staff Biographical Records of the Carnegie Museum of
Natural History, 2005-2
Access Restrictions:
The collections of the museum shall be available for examination and study by any
qualified individual under the normal museum security procedures and other special
procedures established by the section for the protection of the specific collection.
Copyright:
Property rights reside with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. For information
about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Bernadette Callery, Museum
Librarian, at the address listed above.
History:
In 1890, wealthy industrialist Andrew Carnegie provided 1 million dollars in support of a
cultural complex that would include a library, a music hall, art galleries and a museum.
Carnegie’s complex opened to the public in 1895, and was enlarged in 1907 to include
more exhibit space. The development of the new museum’s collections was energetically
supported by Carnegie himself, who bought many specimens, including the famous
dinosaurs, for the museum.
The first director of the museum, Frank H. Gerrodette, served for only three months, and
was succeeded by Dr. William J. Holland, who served from March 18, 1898 to May 21,
1926, and who began to build this collection. Dr. Holland has been described as a
“Renaissance man” because of his diverse activities. He was a minister at the Bellefield
Presbyterian Church, as well as a naturalist and authority on paleontology and
entomology. During his time as director he also served as chancellor of the Western
University of Pennsylvania (later the University of Pittsburgh).
Over time, the museum’s collection grew to include birds, reptiles, fish and mollusks,
botany, paleontology, mineralogy and geology and much more. The museum is now one
of the largest natural history museums in the United States, and has established itself as a
center for scientific research. One individual who had a hand in the museum’s success
was M. Graham Netting, who served as director from January 1, 1954 until March 31,
1975. A herpetologist and a naturalist, Dr. Netting had a long career at the museum, and
was responsible for large portions of this collection. He began work at the CMNH as a
student assistant in the department of ornithology in 1923. Subsequently working as an
assistant, assistant curator, and finally curator of the Herpetology department, he became
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assistant director in 1949. Assuming the role of acting director in 1953 he accepted the
position of director in 1954 and retained the post until his retirement in 1975. During his
tenure as director Dr. Netting oversaw many developments in the museum’s history
including expeditions, the development of new exhibits, and the establishment of the
Powdermill Nature Reserve in 1956. The reserve serves as an outpost for scientific
research and is located on land between the Chestnut and Laurel ridges of the Allegheny
Mountains near Rector, Pennsylvania. After his retirement from the directorship, Dr.
Netting continued work at the museum as Director Emeritus and Honorary curator of the
Animal Portraiture collection until his death at the age of 91 in August of 1996.
Scope and Content Notes:
The Museum History Files and Staff Biographical Records of the CMNH include diverse
information ranging from the early days of the museum into the 1970s. The bulk of the
collection is made up of the staff biographical files, which are arranged by the name of
the employee. These files contain photographs, newspaper clippings and sometimes
correspondence, reports and the records of projects conducted by the employee. The
collection also contains biographical files for visitors, associates, trustees of the museum,
visiting scholars, and employees of the Carnegie Institute.
Also included in the collection are museum administrative records. These records
concern finances as well as internal and external business. Included is such diverse
information as financial reports and invoices, exhibit plans and ideas, and correspondence
with external agencies like the Smithsonian. These should not be considered the
complete administrative records of the museum as many subjects are not complete or
accounted for. There is not a complete collection of administrative correspondence,
complete sets of reports, or complete financial records. However, the material, as diverse
as it is, was originally stored together and under similarly constructed headings, and does
offer insight into the internal and external business of the museum.
Other notable documents include the incomplete but still useful records of the Museum
Committee, a collection of contracts and agreements regarding collecting and other
museum business (1896-1916), the records of nature censuses performed by museum
staff for families outside of Pittsburgh in 1953-1954, and a copy of a 1904 PA Game
Commission hearing implicating the museum for the destructive collecting of birds.
The collection also includes what could be described as the beginnings of a scrapbook.
This section contains newspaper clippings and ephemera that appear to be collected by
Dr. Netting during his tenure as museum director (Jan. 1, 1954- March 31, 1975).
Conservation Notes:
Most of the collection is in good condition. Exceptions include newspaper clippings that
had to remain folded given the size of the available file folders, and several older
documents such as the ones contained in series 6. There are many photographs in this
collection that are not preserved in sleeves and are in the same folders as other documents
such as letters. This could cause future conservation concerns.
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Series Descriptions:
Series 1: Carnegie Museum staff biographical files. These are the staff biographical
records of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. These records include photographs,
newspaper clippings and sometimes correspondence, reports and the records of projects
conducted by the employee. Cross-reference information and indications of an unusual
bulk of information are included. Subseries 1 is miscellaneous volunteers and associates,
subseries 2 is staff group photographs.
Series 2: Trustee biographical files.
Series 3: Carnegie Institute – Associated Biographical Files. This series is divided into
the following subseries: Carnegie Institute Staff, Carnegie Library, visitors, visiting
museum experts, visiting museum specialists, visiting museum specialists from Africa
and visiting museum specialists from Europe. The subseries divisions were determined
by respecting the original order of the documents.
Series 4: Museum Administrative Business. This series deals with very diverse museum
business, but seems to have been purposely kept together. Includes financial reports,
information about suppliers of materials such as plastics necessary for exhibit design,
information about legislation that effected the museum, personnel matters, plans for the
future of the museum, and various other subjects. Covers the years 1947-1972. This
series is broken up into the following subseries: Finances, Internal Business, External
Business, Daily summaries and Museum Collection Reports.
Series 5: Department Reports and Plans: 1948-1949. Reports, correspondence, exhibit
plans and ideas, memos and new policy notifications from the years 1948 and 1949. It
appears that all of this material was originally housed together in a three-ring binder. The
material may have been meant to serve as a transitional tool between the directorships of
Dr. O.E. Jennings (director Oct. 22, 1946- December 31, 1948) and Wallace Richards
(director Jan. 1, 1949- December 31, 1953).
Series 6: Museum Contracts and Agreements: 1896-1916. Contracts and agreements for
the manufacture of exhibit cases, collecting of specimens, and other financial agreements.
Series 7: Nature Censuses. Correspondence, preliminary reports and final reports from
the census of the Frazer-Lockhart property (Aug., 1953), the A.W. Schmidt property
(May 1954) and the Leland Hazard property (May 1954). These one-day surveys were
preformed by staff of the Carnegie Museum, and at least in the case of the Schmidt
property, appear to be compensated with a $100 donation to the museum.
Series 8: Pennsylvania Game Commission Hearing, 1904. This series contains testimony
and evidence of charges made against the Carnegie Museum by Dr. Joseph Kalbfus who
was the secretary of the Board of Game Commissioners of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kalbfus
4
alleged that the Carnegie Museum was abusing its collecting license and contributing to
the “wanton destruction” of birds.
Series 9: Carnegie Museum Committee: 1891; 1901-1903; 1912-1913; 1919-1920; 1960
The minutes, reports and associated correspondence of the Carnegie Museum Committee.
Includes financial business such as the authorization of the committee to the director to
purchase collections and organize expeditions; lists of members of the museum
committee and museum staff; and director and departmental reports. This series is
organized by year, except where the year could not be determined. It appears that the
Committee met monthly during these periods, but not all months are accounted for. The
most complete year is 1912. There is very little included in the years 1891, 1913 and
1919-1920. The year 1960 is only a copy of the Convocation of the Carnegie Museum
Committee at Rachelwood on Oct. 14, 1960.
Series 10: CMNH Clippings. The newspaper clippings were housed in several folders and
cover diverse material, mostly focusing on museum exhibits and other goings on.
Articles related to specific individuals can be found in their biographical files in series 1.
Also included in this series are clippings from magazines such as the Carnegie Magazine.
Series 11: Museum Ephemera. This series is made up of ephemera relating to the
museum such as, lecture announcements, bulletins, obituaries, newsletters from other
institutions and other related material.
Finding Guide:
Box 1
Series 1: Carnegie Museum staff biographical files
Series note 1: A * indicates that the biographical file contains a photograph of the staff
member. Most photographs are large black and white prints, many including an
identifying label and Carnegie Museum negative number. Many of the photographs were
taken by staff member Leo T. Sarnaki, who worked as administrative photographer at the
museum from Aug. 1964 to his May, 1975 retirement. For the purposes of this
collection, photos included in newspaper articles are also considered “photographs.”
Series note 2: When group photographs contain more than one staff member, crossreference information is included in the finding guide as a parenthetical (see also)
citation.
A
Adam, Elenor K. *
Adams, Elliott D.S. *
Agostini, Charles *
5
Agostini, Serafino *
Alexander, William L.
Alter, David
Anderson, Elaine *
Atkinson, D.A. *
Avinoff, Andrey * (2 folders)
B
Bauer, John *
Black, Craig C. *
Black, LeRoy
Blake, Emmett R. *
Brown, Betty J. *
Brown, Dr. F. Martin *
Buchsbaum, Ralph *
Buker, Werner E.
Burns, Jack F. *
C
Caffrey, Robert *
Carriker, M.A., Jr.
Casey, Harold C. *
Cassidy, James Porter *
Catizone, Olga G.
Chalufour, Michel *
Chapin, Ruth *
Chartron, Annette *
Clark, John *
Clayton, Matilda *
Clement, Harold J. * (Includes sizeable collection of correspondence, 19531965)
Clench, Harry K. *
Clench, Mary A. (Heimerdinger) *
Coggeshall, Arthur S. *
Coggeshall, L.S.
Cohen, Alvin J. *
Covington, James T. *
Crossin, Richard S. *
Cunningham, James G.
D
Darrah, W.C. *
Dawson, Mary R. *
De la Fuente, Murray *
Dierdorf, Anna M. *
Doherty, Will
Douglass, Earl *
Doutt, J.K. *
Dragoo, Donald Wayne *
6
E
Eigenmann, Carl H. *
Eller, E.R. *
Epping, Otto M. *
Ertzmann, Joanne *
F
Feitler, Florence C. and Stanley *
Fierst, Leo J. *
Fisher, George *
Flinn, Marjorie *
Fort, Florence L. *
Fox, Richard M. *
Freedman, David N. *
Freni, Richard *
Friedline, Hugh *
Frick, Childs *
Fricke, R.L. *
G
Garnwood, Vaughan
Gans, Carl *
Goin, Coleman *
Good, A.I. *
Graham, E.H.
Griffin, Lawrence E.
Guilday, John E. *
Gulyas, Paul *
Guttenberg, Gustave
H
Hamilton, Harold *
Hamilton, Rodgers D.
Hart, Forest O. *
Hartman, C.V. *
Harwig, Steve
Haseman, John D.
Hassler, Mildred Mathias *
Haseman, J.D.
Hatcher, Earl *
Henry, Leroy K. *
Heppenstall, Caroline A. * (See also: Clench, Harry K.)
Holland, W.J. *
Holt, Ernest G.
Hughs, D.C. *
I
Isensee, Ruth *
J
Jennings, O.E. * (Three Folders. Includes extensive correspondence,
7
mostly letters to Dr. Holland: 1904-1922)
K
Kahl, Hugo *
Katagoata, Zenji *
Kay, J. LeRoy *
Kelso, James Leon
Kiefer, George C. *
Kish, Joseph M. *
Klages, Frederick W.
Klages, Henry*
Klages, Samuel M.
Krautwurm, Bernard *
L
Lanz, Stanley W. *
Leberman, Robert C. *
Leffler, Ross L. *
Lenhart, Gilbert *
Lloyd, A.C. *
Lindsay, James W. *
Link, G.A. Jr. *
Link, G.A. Sr. * (See also: Fisher, George)
Link, John *
Little, Robert W. *
Long, Frank *
Lowen, Brenda *
M
Marlier, George F. *
Matternes, Jay *
Mayer-Oakes, Wm.J.*
McClelland, E.H.
McCoy, Clarence J., Jr. *
McElroy, George S.
McPherron, Alan *
McGuire, Edd Sr. *
McGuire, Hilda *
Mellon, Richard P. *
Miller, James R. *
Miller, P. Schuyler *
Milliron, Herbert E. *
Mills, Theodore A. *
Moran, William
Morrow, Clifford J. *
Murdoch, George P. *
Myers, Elizabeth D. *
8
N
Netting, M. Graham * (Two folders)
Niedringhaus, Elizabeth P. *
Nieser, Ann R. *
O
O’Malley, Margaret *
Ortmann, Arnold E. * (Includes monthly reports from the section of
Invertebrate Zoology: 1921)
Orton, Grace L. *
Oswald, Delbert L. *
BOX 2
P
Parkes, Kenneth C. *
Parodiz, Juan Jose * (See also: Clench, Henry K.)
Pearth, Dorothy
Peterson, Olaf A. *
Pfrogner, Beverly D. *
Phillips, Wendell
Polis, Louis O. *
Prentice, Sydney *
Q
Quil, Joseph Y. *
Quil, Rosalie *
R
Real, Herman G. *
Reed, W.H. *
Reeves, William C. *
Rhall, Janice *
Rial, David W.
Richards, Wallace *
Richardson, James B. *
Richmond, Neil D. *
Ripper, Charles *
Roslund, Dan E. *
S
Santens, Joseph A. *
Santens, Remi H. *
Sarnaki, Leo T. *
Satterwhite, Richard T. *
Schwartz, Albert *
Schwartz, Paul *
Scott, J. Lewis and Ruth * (Mr. and Mrs. Scott. 2 folders)
Schell, Florence B. *
Seaman, David M. *
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Shafer, John D.
Simpson, John R. *
Spoehr, Alexander *
Steinbach, Jose
Sterki, Victor
Stewart, Douglas
Stewart, Howard B. *
Stoehr, Mary *
Stribling, Florence *
Sumstine, David R. *
Sutton, George M. *
Sweadner, Walter R. *
Swauger, James Lee *
T
Tishlarich, O.M. *
Todd, W.E. Clyde * (2 folders containing numerous photographs and
clippings)
Tolmachoff, I.P. *
Trimble, Ruth *
Twomey, Arthur C. *
U
Ulke, Henry
V
Vivio, Mary *
Von Fuehrer, Ottmar F. *
Von Fuehrer, Hanne *
W
Wallace, Birgitta L. *
Wallace, George C.
Wallace, George E. *
Weick, Walter E.
White, Jane *
Wiegman, Paul G.*
Wise, Ferdinand R. *
Woodside, William W. *
Wortman, J.L. *
Wuerthele, Norman *
Wulff, Mrs. V.J. (Maiden name was Sally Broone as indicated by a note in
her file).
Y
Yarmer, Joseph * (see also: Caffrey, Robert)
Z
Zakucia, John A. *
Zappia, Joseph C. *
10
Subserie 1: Misc. Volunteers and Associates (all in one folder)
Boyd, Spencer *
Grom, Joseph A. *
Johnson, F. Bice *
Steffey, Stewart H.
Stewart, Paul Rich (Mr. Steffey and Mr. Stewart were both members of the
Museum Council)
Subseries 2: Staff Group Photos
1. Group Staff Feb. 1, 1966
2. Museum hands (These are photographs of the hands of staff members doing their
work. One is of Mrs. Betty Niedringhaus working on a Puccoon flower. The
others are not labeled).
3. Other Group Photos
Staff Picnic: 1942
Photos for annual report: 1951
Staff photo: 1966
Miscellaneous unnamed, undated group photos
Series 2: Trustee Biographical Files
Benedum, Paul *
Bigelow, Edward Manning *
Bovard, James M. *
Carnegie, Andrew *
Church, Samuel Harden *
Clapp, George H. *
Frew, William *
Hazlett, Theodore L. Jr. *
Jordon, Hon. James A.
Mellon, Richard K. *
Mellor, C.C. *
Oliver, William R. *
Waters, Robert S. *
Whetzel, Joshua C. Jr. *
Woods, Lawrence *
Subseries 1: Trustee group photographs
Included in this file are pictures associated with the Oct. 14, 1960 meeting of the
Museum Committee at Rachelwood.
Series 3: Carnegie Institute – Associated Biographical Files
Subseries 1: Carnegie Institute Staff
11
Abromitis, Vincent *
Bailey, Beatrice K. *
Bidwell, Marshall *
Brevak, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander *
Copetas, John *
Gregg, Howard C. *
Scott, Margaret M. *
Succop, Ernest *
Susany, Louis M. *
No Name Listed *
Subseries 2: Carnegie Library
Behr, Casper
Demorest, Rose *
Doms, Keith *
Mason, Charles W.
Munn, Ralph *
Pfoutz, Daniel R. *
Unidentified Photos*
Subseries 3: Visitors
4. Visitors – Misc: Includes photos of unnamed visitors looking at exhibits. May
1965. Photos by T. Coffin-Grey.
5. Visitors – Groups: Group photo of a tour group from Dunfermline, Scotland.
July, 1966 and a class group photo, 1928.
6. Visitors – Meetings: American Society of Entomologists
7. Visitors – Scientists: Includes information on the following scientists
Alter, Dr. David *
Gilmore, C.W. *
Ulke, Henry *
Unidentified photos*
Subseries 4: Visiting Museum Experts
Note for subseries 4-7: All are photos that have labels on the back. Most labels include
country of origin and year of visit. Many labels include specialty. Most photos also list
the CMNH negative number on the back of the photo.
Nair, Madhavan S. *
12
Chou, Hung-Hsiang *
Subseries 5: Visiting Museum Specialists
Ahmadi, Abbas *
Arcay, Jose Luis * (See also: Dean, Ignatius)
Dean, Brother Ignatius *
Dovrat, Baruch E. *
Garcia-Sanchez, Daniel *
Goulding, Jeanne H. *
Gupte, Padmakar G. *
Hsu, Jen-jen *
Jain, S.L. *
Lohavankjaya, Prasert *
Ojeda, Ricardo *
Oliver, Zoleta Patricia *
Prasad, K.N. *
Miscellaneous: Includes collage of museum staff working, no names are
given
Subseries 6: Visiting Museum Specialists – Africa
Agyei-Henaku, David *
Aziz, Abdul Hafeez *
Coffin-Grey, Terence*
Hanna, Hanna Rizk *
Mensah, Philip E. *
Taylor, Olive *
Subseries 7: Visiting Museum Specialists – Europe
Blench, Brian J.R. *
Carcelles, Alberto R.*
Clifton, Michael*
Fahlbusch, Volker*
Fuchs, Karlheinz *
Kal, Wilhelmina *
Lyster, Ian H.J. *
Magnusson, Thor *
Meinander, Martin *
Morlion, Marie L. *
Naess, Jenny-Rita *
Rasmussen, Inga Flemming *
Schreiber, Harald *
13
Sudre, Claudine *
Swiecimski, Jerzy *
Tomlinson, Arthur J. *
Van der Meulen, Albert J. *
Wiedenmayer, Felix *
BOX 3
Series 4: Museum Administrative Business
Series Note: This series deals with very diverse museum business, but seems to have
been organized in the same way and purposely kept together. Includes financial reports,
information about suppliers of materials such as plastics necessary for exhibit design,
information about legislation that effected the museum, personnel matters, plans for the
future of the museum, and various other subjects. Covers the years 1947-1975. This
series is broken up into the following subseries: Finances, Internal Business, External
Business, Daily summaries and Museum Collection Reports.
Subseries 1: Finances
Note for folders 1-12: Most expense account documents are payable to M. Graham
Netting and are evidence of his extensive travels.
1. Expense Accounts Paid: 1952-1956 [Bulk: 1955-1956]
2. Expense Accounts Paid: 1957- 1958
3. Expense Accounts Paid: 1959- 1961
4. Expense Accounts Paid: 1962- 1963
5. Expense Accounts Paid: 1964- 1966 [Bulk: 1964]
6. Expense Accounts Paid: 1968
7. Expense Accounts Paid: 1969
8. Expense Accounts Paid: 1970
9. Expense Accounts Paid: 1971
10. Expense Accounts Paid: 1972
11. Expense Accounts Paid: 1973
12. Expense Accounts Paid: 1974
13. Fundraising Prospects: Individuals (Correspondence, clippings, booklets and
other documents related to prospective donors to the museum, 1953-1972).
14. Annual Gift Lists: 1960-1969
15. Annual Gift Lists: 1970-1975
16. Salary and Benefits reports and surveys: 1961-1968 (Not all dates are included.
Includes related correspondence. Appears to be used to gauge the salaries of
CMNH employees against other institutions)
17. Annual Income Summaries: 1940-1972 (These are not all the same format, some
are handwritten, others printed in graph form, others are lists)
14
Subseries 2: Internal Business
1. Director Search: 1973-1975
2. Public Service Award: 1956
3. Museum Copies: Approximate dates, 1958-1964 (regarding reproductions of
museum owned pieces for sale)
4. Address File – Personnel : 1960-1964
5. Botanist Search: 1973
Note for folders 6-9: These are memos, mostly to and from Dr. Netting. Many
include brochures and letters with which the memo is concerned. Where memos on
the same subject occurred over multiple years, the subject group was preserved and
filed under the year of the concluding business. For example, memos regarding the
same subject written during 1972 and 1973 will all be found in the year 1973.
6. Staff memos: 1962-1969
7. Staff memos: 1970
8. Staff memos: 1971-1972
9. Staff memos: 1973-1975 (There are only two memos from 1975)
10. Confidential Memos: 1939-1942; 1958; 1962; 1968; 1974
11. “Dippy Reports”: 1971, #1 and 2 (Staff Newsletter)
12. Accession reports: 1953-1954 (These are not complete accession records, they are
titled “Notable accessions” and “Typical accessions”)
13. Proposal for a Museum Policy: 1952 (by M. Graham Netting, O.E. Jennings and
James L. Swauger)
14. “The Mammals of Pennsylvania”: 1963-1966 (correspondence, unpublished
materials, order forms and plans regarding the book “The Mammals of
Pennsylvania” that was put together by staff of the CMNH)
15. Tri-State Ecology Exhibit: 1972-1973 (plans, correspondence and newspaper
clippings regarding the exhibit)
16. Museum Ideas: 1954; 1960; 1968; 1974 and many no date (Correspondence to
and from Netting and booklets he appears to have kept to give him ideas for the
museum)
17. Carnegie Institute Survey on several departments of the Carnegie Institute: 1921
(report by Cornelius Christensen)
18. Reports by Dr. Netting (reports and copies of publications regarding the CMNH.
Includes a copy of an interview for Carnegie Magazine. Many are not dated,
others are 1959- 1967)
19. CMNH staff list with addresses: 1959
Subseries 3: External Business
1. Hagan Matters: 1971-1972 (Correspondence between Dr. Netting and Mr. I.N.
Hagan regarding the conservation of land in Fayette county. A zoning committee
wanted it to be zoned “Agricultural-Rural” and Mr. Hagan wanted it to be zoned
“Conservation”)
15
2. Game Committee Matters: 1971-1972 (correspondence regarding the renewal of
the museum’s collecting permit)
3. Environmental Education Advisory Council: 1970
4. National Museum Act and Smithsonian Information and Communication: 1963,
1972
5. Somerset Country and Indian Lake: 1962-1965 (Correspondence and Newsletters)
6. Geology of Pittsburgh booklet by Mrs. Beutner: 1957
7. Breeding Farms: 1961- 1962 (Includes comments from Dr. Netting regarding
Breeding Farms)
8. International Biological Program: 1965- 1966
9. Plastic-AM A Node Neoprene: 1947- 1961 (Order forms, invoices)
10. Plastic – P.P.G. Selectron 5000: 1946- 1953 (Order forms, invoices)
11. Modeling Supply (Brochures, no date)
12. Plaster, Etc. 1947-1957 (Brochures, handwritten notes on making plaster)
13. Fish Pond Report: 1952, 1955, 1964 (Includes report by E.A. Seaman of the
Biological Consulting Service for Dr. Netting)
14. “Biological Materials” (A report written by an unnamed author who listed Dr.
Netting in the acknowledgements)
15. National Science Foundation (memos from NSF 1962, 1964, 1971; NSF Reviews
of Data on Research and Development, 1960-1963; undated paper on facility
grants).
16. Smithsonian glass jars program: 1971 (regarding a program through the
Smithsonian Institution for the purchase of bulk glass jars for preservation of
specimens)
17. Space Feasibility Study for Carnegie Museum: July, 1966 (By Johnstone,
McMillin and Associates, Architects, for Dr. Netting)
18. Siberut Island Studies: 1974 (Evidently the CMNH supported studies on Siberut
Island, off the coast of western Sumatra, Indonesia. The studies, photographs and
correspondence in this folder are from R. R. Tenza and Ronald Tilson regarding a
potential nature reserve and Gibbons)
19. University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown: 1968 (correspondence between Theodore
Biddle and Dr. Netting regarding a foundation proposal, a copy of proposal and
plans for the proposal. It appears that Dr. Netting was interested in starting
several “branch museums” including one at Johnstown)
20. Branch museums: 1963; 1971 (correspondence and newspaper clippings about
possible branch museums including the Johnstown museum)
21. National Parks and Conservation Association: 1975 (press releases and brochures)
Subseries 4: Daily Summaries: 1949-1950 (These appear to be pieces of a daily journal
kept by Dr. M. Graham Netting. These daily journals include the business of the day
including meetings held, lunches attended, business attended to. Most are about one page
long and include a numbered list of all that was accomplished during the day. The Nov.
22 and Dec. 5, 1949 entries are signed with Netting’s name).
Subseries 5: Museum Collection Reports: 1948
16
Subseries note: These records represent information received from Arthur W. Henn, July
13, 1948 concerning collections in the museum. They are short, just one paragraph long,
summaries of collection acquisition information and use restrictions.
Included in this folder are the following collections:
Beck collection
Dupuy, Herbert collection
Hall, Robert collection
Heinz, H.J. collection
Taber, George H. collection
BOX 4
Series 5: Department Reports and Plans: 1948-1949
Series Note: Reports, correspondence, exhibit plans and ideas, memos and new policy
notifications from the years 1948 and 1949. It appears that all of this material was
originally housed together in a three-ring binder. The material may have been meant to
serve as a transitional tool between the directorships of Dr. O.E. Jennings (director Oct.
22, 1946- December 31, 1948) and Wallace Richards (director Jan. 1, 1949- December
31, 1953).
1.
2.
3.
4.
Department of Education
Museum Library
Gordon MacMillan, Invertebrate Zoology
Proposals: Netting to Richards (Ideas and proposals in the form of letters and
memos, ranging from exhibit ideas to educational ideas to branch museums)
5. Grace L. Orton, Herptology
6. Archaeology and Ethnology: James L. Swauger
7. Policy Notifications from Wallace Richards to Staff
8. J. Kenneth Doutt, curator of Mammals
9. E.R. Eller, Section of Invertebrate Paleontology and Geology
10. Artuhur W. Henn, Publications and Ichthyology
11. Section of Botany
12. Miscellaneous
a. Letter from Link, John: 1948 (regarding a need for a cleaner museum)
b. List of Carnegie Museum Staff on leave, Emeritus and Retired
c. Rank, service and seniority of honorary appointees
d. Open dates in Carnegie Music Hall
e. Unsigned exhibit description
13. Binder dividers (These must have been used to separate sections of the reports.
Some contain handwritten notes)
Series 6: Museum Contracts and Agreements: 1896-1916
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Series Note: Contracts and agreements for the manufacture of exhibit cases, collecting of
specimens, and other financial agreements.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1896, 1901
1903, 1905
1906-1907, 1913
1915-1916 and blank agreements, no date
Series 7: Nature Censuses
Series note: Correspondence, preliminary reports and final reports from the census of the
Frazer-Lockhart property (Aug., 1953), the A.W. Schmidt property (May 1954) and the
Leland Hazard property (May 1954). These one-day surveys were preformed by staff of
the Carnegie Museum, and at least in the case of the Schmidt property, appear to be
compensated with a $100 donation to the museum. These properties appear to all be
located in the Liganier Township area in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Specific
addresses are not given for these three properties. The Frazer-Lockhart properties are
called “Redstone” on the census, and the label indicates that they are located in the
Baywood Plan, Ligonier Twp., in Westmoreland County, Pa. The correspondence
included in the collection indicates that Mr. Schmidt used a post office box, and his
actual address is not included. The correspondence for the Leland Hazard property is
addressed to the workplace of Mr. Hazard, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, and thus his
actual address is also not included.
1. Frazer-Lockhart Census: Aug. 22, 1953 (This appears to be complete. Includes
photographs)
2. A.W. Schmidt Correspondence: 1954
Note for folder 3: There is a preliminary report for “Herptiles” in this folder that is
not present in finished form in the copies contained in folders 4-6. Preliminary
reports for Geology, Plants, Birds and Insects are also present.
3. A.W. Schmidt Census in progress
Note for folders 4-6. These all contain the following sections: Geology, Plants,
Insects, Birds and a book list. The copies in folder #5 are bound, the others are not
4. A.W. Schmidt Census: May 10, 1954
5. A.W. Schmidt Census: May 10, 1954 (2 bound copies)
6. A.W. Schmidt Census: May 10, 1954
7. Leland Hazard Correspondence: 1953-1954
8. Leland Hazard Census in progress.
Contains reports from the following sections:
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Insects other than butterflies
Insects
Birds
Crustaceans and Snails
Herptiles
9. Leland Hazard Census in progress. This set seems to be the most complete.
Contains reports from the following sections
Butterflies and Moths
Plants
Invertebrates
Birds
A book list
10. Leland Hazard Census: May 22, 1954
Contains reports from the following sections (2 copies, bound)
Plants
Invertebrates
Birds
A book list
11. Leland Hazard Census: May 22, 1954
Contains copies of the reports found in folder #10
Series 8: Pennsylvania Game Commission Hearing, 1904
Series Note: This series contains testimony and evidence of charges made against the
Carnegie Museum by Dr. Joseph Kalbfus who was the secretary of the Board of Game
Commissioners of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kalbfus alleged that the Carnegie Museum was
abusing its collecting license and contributing to the “wanton destruction” of birds.
1. List of birds collected at Erie, PA by Todd and Worthington
2. Pennsylvania Game Commission vs. Carnegie Museum, Dec. 15, 1904 (This is
the bound book recording the proceedings)
Series 9: Carnegie Museum Committee: 1891; 1901-1903; 1912-1913; 1919-1920; 1960
Series note: The minutes, reports and associated correspondence of the Carnegie Museum
Committee. Includes financial business such as the authorization of the committee to the
director to purchase collections and organize expeditions; lists of members of the
museum committee and museum staff; and director and departmental reports. This series
is organized by year, except where the year could not be determined. It appears that the
Committee met monthly during these periods, but not all months are accounted for. The
most complete year is 1912. There is very little included in the years 1891, 1913 and
1919-1920. The year 1960 is only a copy of the Convocation of the Carnegie Museum
Committee at Rachelwood on Oct. 14, 1960.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1891; 1901- 1903
1912
1913
1919-1920
Miscellaneous and undated material
A report (appears to be by Dr. Holland) regarding the species Cupidesthes
An undated directory of names of staff and residences
A list of the committees of the board of trustees of the Carnegie library
An undated list of museum publications
An undated list of names and addresses
An undated description of the museum
Annual pay roll for 1915
6. Convocation of Museum Committee at Rachelwood, Oct. 14, 1960
Series 10: CMHN Clippings
Series note: The newspaper clippings were housed in several folders and cover diverse
material, mostly focusing on museum exhibits and other goings on. Articles related to
specific individuals can be found in their biographical files in series 1. Also included in
this series are clippings from magazines such as the Carnegie Magazine.
1. 1930s
2. 1940s
3. 1950-1955
4. 1956-1957
5. 1958-1959
6. 1960-1965
7. 1966-1967
8. 1968-1969
9. 1970s
10. Clippings regarding Powdermill Nature Reserve: 1960-1967 (not all years are
represented)
11. no date
12. Biographies: 1944-1957 (Biographies of people who were never staff of the
CMNH. These range from George Washington to local Pittsburgh residents)
13. Pittsburgh general clippings: 1945-1974 (Clippings regarding Pittsburgh in
general)
14. Collectors: 1950-1951 (A file of clippings regarding people who collect objects)
Series 11: Museum Ephemera
Series note: This series is made up of ephemera relating to the museum such as, lecture
announcements, bulletins, obituaries, newsletters from other institutions and other related
material.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1890, 1907, 1934
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
No date
Series 12: Miscellaneous
1. Dr. Holland and the University of Pittsburgh (Then the Western University of
Pennsylvania): 1891, 1893-1894, 1897, 1908. Correspondence regarding director
Holland’s time as chancellor of that university.
2. Report of the Library Committee: Nov., 1945 (An external report regarding the
future of the Library)
3. “Ready Reference”: 1969-1973 (Assembled into binder form by Dr. Netting.
Material regarding snake bites, exhibits, pigeons and Poisonous beans)
4. Photographs of “Human Adventure”: Still photographs regarding the Oriental
Institute’s talking picture, the Human Adventure)
5. Retirement and death notices Carnegie Institute: 1974 (3 notices regarding
Institute staff who did not work at the CMNH)
6. Miscellaneous correspondence: 1896, 1903, 1948 (1896 is a copy of a letter from
William F. Cody, later Buffalo Bill. 1903 is a letter from Andrew Carnegie, and
1948 is a letter regarding switchboard use in the museum)
7. Miscellaneous correspondence: 1950s
From Andrew Williamson re: an Inlaid Coffin, 1951
To James L. Swauger re: possible feature stories, 1956
8. Miscellaneous correspondence: 1960s
To and from Mr. Woods and Dr. Netting re: the story “How the World
Began,” 1960
From the Carnegie Institute department of Public Relations, 1963
From W.B. Hamby to Dr. Netting re: recent visit to the museum, 1963
To Robert Waters from Dr. Netting re: Roberson Memorial Center, 1963
From Mathot Hubert to Dr. Netting re: she was a secretary to Director
Holland, 1969
9. Miscellaneous correspondence: 1970s
From W. Galen Barton re: postcard booklets, 1973
From George Van Horn re: “Birds of PA,” 1973
From the Dayton Museum of Natural History re: book on environmental
matters, 1973
From Philip Barske, Field Rep. for the Wildlife Management Institute re:
National Water Commission, 1973
From James Walton to Carnegie Library employees re: benefits, 1975
10. Miscellaneous correspondence: No Date
Suggested press release from “Jim A.”
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Short letter from O.E.J (Probably Otto Epping Jennings) re: Old Institute
building
Handwritten letter re: personnel issues from James Miller
11. Architecture: 1930 and no date (articles regarding the architecture, the marble in
particular, of the Institute building)
12. Miscellaneous handwritten notes: No date
22