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Brown, Barnum

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: February 12, 1873 - February 5, 1963

Biographical Note

Barnum Brown (born February 12, 1873, Carbondale, Kansas – died February 5, 1963, New York, New York) was a distinguished curator at the American Museum of Natural History in the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology. A famous fossil hunter, known as "Father of the Dinosaurs", he collected numerous specimens on many scientific expeditions for the Museum. In addition to excavating the first discovered remains of Tyrannosaurus rex, Brown collected more than fossils. His contributions to the scientific collections in the Museum include mammals, birds and insects. In 1928, Brown uncovered arrowheads near Folsom, New Mexico, which established human habitiation on the North American continent back to 20,000 years.

Chronology:
1893
Entered Kansas University
December 12, 1897
Joined the American Museum of Natural History
1922
Elected to Life Membership of the American Museum of Natural History
1925
Placed in charge of Department of Vertebrate Paleontology Exhibition Halls and Preparation Laboratory
1942
Retired from the American Museum of Natural History

Occupations

Topics

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

Barnum Brown Ethiopia field photographs, undated

 Collection
Identifier: PPC .B761
Scope and Contents

Field photographs of Ethiopia; African prints.

Dates: undated

Barnum Brown photographic series of North Continental Oil and Gas Corporation

 Collection
Identifier: PPC .B762
Scope and Contents

North Continental Oil and Gas Corporation Series. Also includes photographs of American Museum of Natural History Sinclair expedition, SAS series.

Dates: circa 1939

Barnum Brown papers

 Collection
Identifier: VPA 114
Scope and Contents

The collection consists of Brown's correspondence, notes, images and maps relating to his field work, papers of his second wife, Lilian Brown, drafts of unfinished autobiography, notes and illustrations for his scientific articles, records of his work for the museum, including exhibition halls, records of his commercial work as well as reports from his consulting work for the goverment. The collection also contains papers of Peter Kaisen who was a long-term Brown's assistant.

Dates: 1877-1963

Department of Vertebrate Paleontology correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: VPA 105
Scope and Contents Department of Vertebrate Paleontology correspondence from 1887-1966, alphabetized by subject or author. Hundreds of scientists worldwide are represented by correspondence and include Alexander Agassiz, Glover M. Allen, Florentino Ameghino, Erwin H. Barbour, Franz Boas, Stephen F. Borhegyi, Robert Broom, Barnum Brown, Hermon C. Bumpus, Edwin H. Colbert, Thomas Alva Edison, Walter Granger, William T. Gregory, Claude W. Hibbard, D.A. Hooijer, William T. Hornaday, Remington Kellogg, Charles R....
Dates: 1887-1966

Field and Expedition Equipment

 Collection
Identifier: Mem 305
Scope and Contents Since 1887, the American Museum of Natural History has been conducting field expeditions in every continent. This is one of the main resources for the Museum’s scientific research and collection development activities throughout all its disciplines. This grouping holds the equipment that were used during expeditions from around 1877 to 1996. Most of these expeditions required direct interaction with the natural habitat of the subject of study, which usually involves being out in the...
Dates: Usage: circa 1877-1990s

William King Gregory papers, 1889-1948 (bulk 1906-1948)

 Collection
Identifier: Mss .G7441
Scope and Contents The collection consists of administrative, scientific, academic and personal papers, and correspondence. Papers include Gregory's general correspondence with universities, colleges and scientists about his research topics and publications; correspondence with museums about purchasing replicas of fossils; and with students seeking employement. Other papers include lecture notes prepared for zoology classes emphasizing evolution, 1925-1926 and 1939; and manuscripts and notes for his...
Dates: 1889-1948; Majority of material found within 1906-1948

Series 1: Correspondence , 1892-1947

 Series
Scope and Contents

Series 1 (Boxes 1 to 6) contain Osborn’s correspondence, both general and relating to specific publications including “Age of Mammals” 2nd edition, “Ape Man,” and “Men of the Old Stone Age.” This series also contains accession information for the entire Henry Fairfield Osborn Papers collection. Most materials are in English, but there is also some correspondence in German. It is arranged alphabetically and thematically, then chronologically.

Dates: 1892-1947

Series 1: Field diaries, 1891-1998

 Series
Identifier: VPA 101
Scope and Contents

Consist of diaries, lists of specimens found, locations of finds, records of day to day activities, and step by step findings. Individual lists can be found with both the Charles H. Falkenbach and Ted Galusha Papers. The diaries are arranged by date and filed as nearly as possible in chronological order. Notable names in the field diaries include H. F. Osborn, Walter Granger, Barnum Brown, and G. G. Simpson.

Dates: 1891-1998

Series 1: Personal and family papers, 1877 - 1976

 Series
Scope and Contents

This series contains family photographs, notes on family history, Brown's personal correspondence, and writing by members of his family. It contains transcription of Brown's first wife Marion's diary of the 1904 field trip to Montana. There is also extensive collection of notes by Brown's second wife Lilian documenting their travels in Middle East, India, Burma, and Greece, her travel memorabilia and her correspondence regarding the travel.

Dates: 1877 - 1976

Series 2: Field correspondence, 1891-1969

 Series
Identifier: VPA 101
Scope and Contents

The field correspondence were written by field workers relaying events during excavations and expeditions. The collection includes department field communications from 1891 to 1969. While Henry Fairfield Osborn was in the department, the letters were addressed primarily to him, but later letters were addressed to others. Notable names in the field correspondence include Walter Granger, Barnum Brown, Ted Galusha, Charles Falkenbach, and G. G. Simpson. The years 1962-1968 are missing.

Dates: 1891-1969