(3/3) Chapin lead the Templeton Crocker Pacific Expedition in 1934-35, collecting vegetation, soil, rocks, & landscape sketches of the Society, Marquesas, Tuamotu, Galápagos, Chincha, Easter, and Pitcairn Islands, to ensure the authenticity of the AMNH faunal dioramas of these islands.

(2/3) The cover is addressed to Dr. Robert Cushman Murphy at the American Museum of Natural History, coordinator of the museum’s major Pacific expeditions. Chapin and Murphy are pictured sitting side by side in this 1925 photograph.

(3/3) Ultimately, my path would take me in a different direction, but my interest endured, albeit increasingly directed toward the history of ornithology through the work of ornithologists past. Here, I explore their lives through postal history; another of my grandfather’s passions I inherited.

(2/3) He later became the warden of a bird observatory, and years later, I also had the honour and pleasure of working there. Through my grandfather and the observatory, my life was dominated by birds and ornithologists and I believed I was also destined to follow a path in professional ornithology.

(3/3) Kennicott (pictured), nominated by his father, and supported by the Smithsonian, would teach employees of the Illinois Central Railway to collect natural history samples along the line as part of a preliminary survey of the state's natural resources. He commenced 30 May.

(2/3) While the cover has long been separated from its original contents, we are fortunate that Kennicott's correspondence has been digitized, enabling us to match a letter to this cover. The letter (pictured) is dated 30 April and touches on a fascinating aspect of his life.

(3/3) Reed’s Nature Study series were directed towards children and this cover may have been related to the supply of books to schools in Saco. The recipient, Harvard graduate (Class of 1878) Theodore Young, was Superintendent of Schools from 1909 until his retirement in 1925.

(2/3) As can be seen in this image, the books illustrated are an accurate depiction of the contemporary cover designs. Charles and his son Chester have been credited as the first to develop the concept of the portable 'Field Guide' with the publication of Land Birds in 1905.

(3/3) In 1887, Morrison was the driving force behind the foundation of the Colorado Ornithological Association, later broadening its scope as the Colorado Biological Association. However, the association did not survive Morrison's posting to Montana. Here, he largely disappears from the literature.

(2/3) In 1884, from Fort McKinney, Wyoming territory, then between 1886 and 1890, from Fort Lewis, Colorado, Morrison was a regular contributor to the O&O. Morrison was also active in ornithological associations. In 1886-87, he was the Vice President of the Bristol County Ornithological Club.

(3/3) The stepfather, Samuel Klingensmith, a “gruff” 5th Cavalry sergeant, sent a telegram to Union Pacific police ordering their arrest. Arrested they were! Yet, before they could be returned, the pair slipped away & married regardless. Later Census records indicate Maggie was pregnant at the time.

(2/3) Our postcard was sent in Nov 1883. Earlier that year, on March 7, Morrison had married. The story had made the newspapers: he and his sweetheart, Margaret Creamer, had eloped in the early hours of the morning on a Union Pacific freight train.

(3/3) In July 1880, in St. Louis, Missouri, where his father was teaching music, Charles enlisted with the US Army (pic), and was posted to the 5th Cavalry Regiment Band. For the rest of his life he lived on the Western Frontier, investing his free time in the local ornithology.

To be continued...

(2/3) ...in reality, the sender, Charles Frank Morrison, was a musician, born & raised in Massachusetts. However, his father, also a musician (see image), was from Derry, NH, hence the Derry Depot connection. I have found no reference to Charles working as a naturalist or taxidermist professionally.

(3/3) During his lifetime, Krider contributed hundreds of bird skins, nests, & eggs to Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences, including many type specimens. A red-tailed hawk subspecies was named after him in 1873. In 1879, he published "Forty Years Notes of a Field Ornithologist."

(2/3) John Krider (1813–86) was both a prominent gunsmith and a highly regarded ornithologist & taxidermist. The postcard is addressed to his store, "a favorite resort of Ornithologists and gunners," on the corner of 2nd & Walnut Streets. Taxidermy was done on the 2nd floor, "a dingy cubbyhole."