How did the Virginia and West Virginia terrain affect specimen collection? What types of photos could one take in 1906? Transcribe Leonhard Stejneger's field diary to discover the answers.
How did the Virginia and West Virginia terrain affect specimen collection? What types of photos could one take in 1906? Transcribe Leonhard Stejneger's field diary to discover the answers.
In this 1906 field book, Leonhard Stejneger (1851-1943) describes his collecting activities in Virginia and West Virginia from 16 July to 30 August. Born in Norway, Stejneger developed robust collection skills in herpetology and ornithology. In addition to work in Europe, South Dakota, and Virginia and West Virginia, Stejneger researched fur seals and fauna in the North Pacific.
In this field diary, Stejneger describes traveling to various locations to trap reptile and amphibian species. Often mentioned are bull frogs, lizards, and salamanders. Stejneger lists collection locations within Virginia including Mt. Solon and various places in Augusta County. The diary also features a list of photographs taken and expenses.
This field book is part of the Field Book Project and Registry: a conservation and digitization initiative co-sponsored by the National Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Institution Archives. This field book may correspond to Stejneger's field book of 1905-1906; both are part of the Leonhard Stejneger Papers collection held by Smithsonian Institution Archives. Help us open the collection, the Field Book project, and Leonhard Stejneger to future audiences by transcribing this diary from the Smithsonian Institution Archives.