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Florida Ornithological Society records

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2022-02
  • No requestable containers

  • Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection includes the institutional records of the Florida Ornithological Society, as well as papers donated to the organization by prominent ornithologists. Archival back-ups of the FOS Newsletter and the Florida Field Naturalist journal.

Dates

  • Creation: 1934-2020
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1970 - 2020

Biographical / Historical

The Florida Ornithological Society (FOS) began with a meeting of ornithologists and birders in St. Petersburg, Florida from May 12-14, 1972. These founding members established FOS as an organization “to enable serious birders to better enjoy themselves in the field while rendering assistance to professional ornithologists.” The fledgling FOS soon held its first meeting on October 14, 1972 in Lakeland, Florida. Initially sponsored as a part of the Florida Audubon Society, the FOS’s mission to connect amateurs and professionals has produced substantial research and advances in the field of ornithology. FOS has published its journal The Florida Field Naturalist since 1973 as well as several special publications like Status and Distribution of the Florida Scrub Jay. FOS continues to hold biannual meetings at locations throughout Florida and provides the Helen G. and Allan D. Cruickshank Research Award to support research related to Florida birds.

The Florida Breeding Bird Atlas was created through a collaboration of FOS, Audubon of Florida, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. FOS mobilized its members and over 1,800 people, many of whom were volunteers, took part in the project by participating in bird surveys and collecting data. Through this project, the magnitude and location of breeding birds in Florida was better understood.

Many prominent ornithologists, both professional and non-professional, have been a part of FOS, including Allan and Helen G. Cruickshank, Dr. Herbert W. Kale II, Samuel A. Grimes, Lyle S. Hubbard, and Dr. Glen E. Woolfenden. FOS continues its mission today of supporting the research and conservation of Florida’s wild birds and uniting both amateur professional ornithologists to mutually benefit one another.

Extent

38 boxes

17.08 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection comprises the records of the Florida Ornithological Society (FOS). The FOS collection includes correspondence, photographs, bird counts, bird banding records, FOS newsletters, rare bird sighting alerts, field notes, manuscripts, audio cassette tapes, films, and administrative records. Many of the photographs and audio cassette tapes document the people and events which occurred at FOS biannual meetings. The collection also houses several series of personal and field notebooks, including those of renowned ornithologists Lyle S. Hubbard, Samuel A. Grimes, Allan Cruickshank, and Helen G. Cruickshank.

Arrangement

Collection is organized by subject and type of material. Original order has been maintained where discernible.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transfer

Condition Description

Good Condition

Source of Donation

Florida Ornithological Society

Title
Florida Ornithological Society Records
Author
JC
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the USF Libraries - Special Collections Repository

Contact:
4202 East Fowler Ave.
LIB122
Tampa FL 33620-5400 US
813-974-2731