Stimpson, William, 1832-1872

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Naturalist and zoologist, William Stimpson (1832-1872) spent four years as a naturalist with the North Pacific Exploring Expedition, 1852-1856. For nine years after the completion of the expedition, Stimpson utilized the facilities of the Smithsonian Institution while preparing a report based on the collections gathered during the expedition. While at the Smithsonian, he also helped classify and name specimens which the Smithsonian had been collecting. In 1865, Stimpson was called to Chicago by his friend Robert Kennicott in order to take over the directorship of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. At the Academy, Stimpson assembled probably the largest collection of specimens ever gathered up to that time, in preparation for a major work on invertebrates. It contained the Smithsonian specimens of American invertebrates and Stimpson's private collection, as well as loans from a number of other collections. This great collection, including all the manuscripts being prepared by Stimpson, was destroyed in the Chicago fire of 1871, an event from which Stimpson never fully recovered.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Field Book Project: Person : Description : rid_44_pid_EACP43

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Elisha Kent Kane Papers, Bulk, 1843-1857, 1810-1953 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Geological Survey. 1839 - 2008. Personal Letters Received National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Scientists Collection, 1563-1973 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Kennicott, Robert, 1835-1866. Papers, 1853-1882. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn LeConte, John L. (John Lawrence), 1825-1883. Papers, 1812-1897 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Gibbes, Lewis Reeves, 1810-1894. Papers, 1793-1894 (bulk 1838-1894) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Stimpson, William, 1832-1872. Notes on echinoids, North Pacific expedition, 1854-1856. Harvard University, Ernst Mayr Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology
referencedIn Letters sent to Robert Carter from various correspondents, 1852-1882. Houghton Library
referencedIn Letters of scientists, 1655-1973. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Gibbes, Lewis Reeves, 1810-1894. Papers, 1793-1894 (bulk 1838-1894) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Stimpson, William, 1832-1872. Report on marine invertebrates. University of Washington. Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Pacific Area
Subject
Invertebrates
Paleontology
Sea urchins, Fossil
Occupation
Naturalist
Zoologists
Activity

Person

Birth 1832-02-14

Death 1872-05-26

Americans

English

Information

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