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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 1 Collection or Record:

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