American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Herpetology; Department of Herpetology; Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology; Department of Herpetology and Experimental Biology; Department of Amphibians and Reptiles
birth: 1909-
death: present
The early history of the Department of Herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History can be traced back to 1870, with the museum’s acquisition of Alexander Philipp Maximilian’s vertebrate collection. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, care of the herpetological collection was shifted between various zoological departments, until in 1909 a Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology was formalized. Herpetology was first established as a separate department in 1920, but in the years since has been combined in certain periods with experimental biology (as the Department of Herpetology and Experimental Biology from 1928 to 1934), with fossil reptiles (as the Department of Amphibians and Reptiles from 1942 to 1944), and again with ichthyology (as the Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology from 1987 to 1997).
The department’s collection of reptile and amphibian specimens grew rapidly during the early to mid-20th century, from some 6000 specimens in 1910 to 110,000 specimens by 1940. A large percentage of these specimens were obtained from expeditions conducted by department staff throughout the 1920s and 30s, during the museum’s ‘golden age of exploration’. By 1950, department staff had organized and participated in over 25 expeditions in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and New Guinea. The second half of the 20th century saw further important expedition work and herpetological research conducted in the southwestern United States, New Guinea, and Central and South America. Early curators of the Department of Herpetology stressed the importance of using the knowledge and specimens gained from these expeditions in implementing an exhibition program for reptiles and amphibians. The department has been responsible for the development of two major permanent halls at the museum: the Hall of Reptiles and Amphibians, in existence from 1927 to 1968, and the current Hall of the Biology of Reptiles and Amphibians, opened in 1977.
1870The American Museum of Natural History acquires the vertebrate collection of Alexander Philipp Maximilian, including 2000 fish, reptile and amphibian specimens, which are initially stored in the Arsenal Building in Central Park (1, p. 95). Early herpetological collections are cared for by a Curator of Zoology (1, p. 7).
1885Herpetological collections move from the Arsenal to storage in the new museum (1, p. 95). Amphibians and reptiles are included in the Department of Marine Zoology, under the care of curator J. B. Holder (2, 1953 p. 31; 2, 1884-1885 p. 5; 2, 1885-1886 p. 5).
1900Early exhibition of the herpetology collection includes the addition of four mounted reptile specimens to the museum’s east wing (1, p. 63).
1906By this year the second floor’s East Mammal Hall and tower room saw increased activity in the addition of herpetological exhibits (1, p. 63, 79).
1909 JulyThe Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology is formalized, representing living reptiles and batrachians, and living and extinct fishes (1, p. 8; 2, 1910 p. 36). The department consists of Bashford Dean as Curator of Fishes and Reptiles, two additional ichthyologists, and one herpetologist – Mary Cynthia Dickerson, initially appointed ‘Assistant on living reptiles and batrachians’ (1, p. 8).
1910The new Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology’s first inventory finds 6000 herpetological specimens in the collection, representing 550 species of reptiles and 150 species of amphibians. Dickerson strongly encourages growth of the collection during her curatorship, which expands to over 31,500 specimens by 1920 (1, p. 109).
1911 January 18Dickerson promoted to Assistant Curator of Herpetology (2, 1911 p. 27).
1913Opening of the first hall specifically for herpetology exhibits, displaying Dickerson’s habitat groups in the central part of the museum’s 77th street façade (1, p. 79).
1913 AprilDickerson promoted to Associate Curator of Herpetology (2, 1913 p. 60).
1920 February 2Herpetology is officially separated from Ichthyology, and the Department of Herpetology is formalized with Dickerson as Curator (2, 1920 p. 36).
1920 NovemberDickerson is forced to resign from the museum, suffering with mental ill health (1, p. 15). She is replaced by Gladwyn Kingsley Noble as Assistant Curator in Charge from the beginning of 1921 (2, 1920 p. 8). As head of the department, Noble continues Dickerson’s work in exhibition development and collection expansion (1, p. 34).
1922The museum introduces department ‘divisions’, with the Department of Herpetology under the Division of Zoology and Zoogeography (2, 1922 p. 23).
1922Work begins on the new Hall of Reptiles and Amphibians (2, 1922 p. 82).
1924Noble promoted to Curator of the Department of Herpetology (2, 1924 p. 190).
1927 JuneThe Hall of Reptile and Amphibian Life opens in the museum’s East Wing, displaying both Dickerson’s earlier habitat groups and exhibits created under Noble’s direction (1, p. 86).
1928 MayThe department’s name is changed to the Department of Herpetology and Experimental Biology, reflecting Noble’s significant interest and work in laboratory-based experimental projects (1, p. 35).
1930The museum abandons the use of ‘divisions’, and the Department of Herpetology and Experimental Biology retains its name as an independent department (2, 1930 p. 195).
1934 January 8The Department of Herpetology and Experimental Biology is separated into two departments: the Department of Experimental Biology and the Department of Herpetology (2, 1933 p. 55). Noble serves as Curator of both departments (1, p. 39).
1935Live animal exhibits start to be incorporated into the Hall of Reptile and Amphibian Life. This is a frequent exhibition practice in the hall throughout the late 1930s and early 1940s (1, p. 87).
1937A display of reptiles and amphibians found in the New York City area is installed in the first floor of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Building (2, 1937 p. 14).
1938A new exhibit of live reptiles opens in the foyer of the museum’s subway entrance (2, 1938 p. 9).
1941Charles M. Bogert is promoted to Assistant Curator (In Charge) of the Department of Herpetology, following Noble’s unexpected death in 1940 (2, 1941 p. 46). During the years under Bogert’s curatorial direction, the herpetological collection grows by 67%, from 110,000 specimens in 1940 to 184,000 cataloged specimens in 1969 (1, p. 59).
1942Museum Director Albert Parr dissolves the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, and the Department of Herpetology is changed to the Department of Amphibians and Reptiles, encompassing both living and extinct species. Edwin H. Colbert is appointed Chairman and Acting Curator of Fossil Reptiles, and Bogert is appointed Acting Curator of Recent Amphibians and Reptiles (and Curator by 1943) (2, p. 57-59).
1944The fossil herpetological collection is again parted from the Department of Amphibians and Reptiles, with vertebrate paleontology included in the new Department of Geology and Paleontology (1, p. 58). The Department of Amphibians and Reptiles retains its name, parted from paleontology (1, p. 215). Bogert is appointed Chairman and Curator of the department (2, 1944 p. 64).
1959The Department of Amphibians and Reptiles returns to the name Department of Herpetology, with Bogert as Chairman and Curator (1, p. 59).
1968Bogert resigns as Chairman of the Department of Herpetology in June, and retires in December (1, p. 59). Richard George Zweifel replaces Bogert as Chairman of the Department (2, 1968 p. 20).
1968The Hall of Reptile and Amphibian Life closes (1, p. 61).
1970Intensive work begins on the new Hall of the Biology of Reptiles and Amphibians (1, p. 61). The new hall aims to integrate amphibian and reptile displays with explanations of related biological principles (1, p. 89).
1980 July 1Charles W. Myers replaces Zweifel as Chairman of the Department of Herpetology (1, p. 61).
1987Ichthyology and Herpetology are once again combined into the Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology (2, 1987-1988 p. 23). Gareth J. Nelson is appointed Chairman, and Zweifel, Myers and Charles J. Cole as Curators (2, 1987-1988 p. 82).
1993 July 1Myers replaces Nelson as Chairman of the Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology (1, p. 62).
1997 July 1Herpetology is again separated from Ichthyology and the name Department of Herpetology re-adopted. Myers continues to serve as Chairman (1, p. 62).
1977 November 18The Hall of the Biology of Reptiles and Amphibians opens (1, p. 93).
1999 JanuaryMyers retires as Chairman (1, p. 62). The position is filled temporarily by Darrel R. Frost as Acting Chairman (2, 1998-1999 p. 65).
2000The museum reintroduces ‘divisions’, and the Department of Herpetology is incorporated into the Division of Vertebrate Zoology (2, 2000 p. 75). Cole is temporarily appointed Curator-in-Charge (2, 2000 p. 75).