Brown, Barnum

Person

Staff Only

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

Paleontologists

Topics

AMNH People

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

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

Found in: Vertebrate Paleontology Archives / Department of Vertebrate Paleontology correspondence

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

Found in: Museum Archives at the Gottesman Research Library / William King Gregory papers, 1889-1948 (bulk 1906-1948)

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

Found in: Vertebrate Paleontology Archives / VPA 114, Barnum Brown papers