In 1945, insect damage to forests in the country of Chile was so significant that its Ministry of Agriculture invited Smithsonian entomologist Edward A. Chapin to study the situation. In his field book of this trip, Chapin describes his travel to Chile and throughout the areas around Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Puerto Octay, Valdivia, Temuco, and Termas de Puyehue. His notes range from descriptions of the specimens he collected during his investigation and their corresponding locations and descriptions of the forests of the country to interactions with colleagues, local foods tried and local sites and towns visited. Chilean news clippings, photographs, and official papers are included. Join other digital volunteers to transcribe this Chapin's personal account of his research into the insects damaging Chilean forests at the close of World War II.
In 1945, insect damage to forests in the country of Chile was so significant that its Ministry of Agriculture invited Smithsonian entomologist Edward A. Chapin to study the situation. In his field book of this trip, Chapin describes his travel to Chile and throughout the areas around Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Puerto Octay, Valdivia, Temuco, and Termas de Puyehue. His notes range from descriptions of the specimens he collected during his investigation and their corresponding locations and descriptions of the forests of the country to interactions with colleagues, local foods tried and local sites and towns visited. Chilean news clippings, photographs, and official papers are included. Join other digital volunteers to transcribe this Chapin's personal account of his research into the insects damaging Chilean forests at the close of World War II.
Edward Albert Chapin (1894-1969), a leading authority on beetles, received a bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1916, a master's degree from Massachusetts State University in 1917 and a Ph.D. in Zoology from George Washington University in 1926. From 1917 to 1920 he worked for the Bureau of Biological Survey. He then worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (from 1920 to 1926 in the Bureau of Animal Industry and from 1926 to 1934 in the Bureau of Entomology). In 1934 he joined the United States National Museum, Division of Insects, and remained there as curator until his retirement in 1954. After moving from Washington, DC, to West Medway, Massachusetts, he became an associate of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.
