Bailey - Field notes, Texas and New Mexico, June 6-September 27, 1902

Chief field naturalist Vernon Bailey is back in Texas and New Mexico in the summer of 1902, capturing the details of his collecting efforts for the United States Bureau of Biological Survey in this field notebook. It includes a variety of lists – some of scientific names of specimens observed and gathered, another one of places in Texas. Team up with other digital volunteers to transcribe this notebook and you may find Bailey’s entry about spotting the “Passer domesticus.” Vernon Orlando Bailey (1864-1942) was born in Manchester, Michigan. At an early age his family moved to Elk River, Minnesota, where he developed an interest in natural history. Around 1885, Bailey began sending collections of birds and mammals to Clinton Hart Merriam, Chief of the newly created Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the United States Department of Agriculture (in 1896 the name was changed to the Bureau of Biological Survey). In 1887, Bailey was appointed Special Field Agent for the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy. His title was changed to Chief Field Naturalist in 1890, and he remained with the Biological Survey until his retirement in 1933. Bailey's chief biological interest was the study of the life history and distribution of mammals. During his career with the Biological Survey, he made field investigations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including intensive biological surveys of Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon. His bibliography numbered 244 titles and included scientific monographs, as well as publications for the general reader.