Brown, Barnum
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 3 Collections and/or Records:
Series 1: Correspondence , 1892-1947
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.
Series 1: Field diaries, 1891-1998
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.
Series 1: Personal and family papers, 1877 - 1976
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.
American Museum of Natural History
Museum Archives at the Gottesman Research Library
200 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024-5192