Chapin, James Paul, 1889-1964

James Paul Chapin (1889-1964) was a noted Ornithologist and former Curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. At the age of 19 he took the role of assistant to the American Museum Congo Expedition (1909-1915). This began his life-long association with that region and established his place as an expert on the birds of the Congo. A graduate of Columbia University, Chapin worked at the Museum from 1905 until his official retirement in 1948, after which he took the role of research associate in African Ornithology and curator emeritus until his death.

Ornithologist, curator.

Chapin made many scientific expeditions to Africa between 1909 and 1958; he was stationed there while serving in the OSS during World War II.

Ornithologist, museum curator, specialist in the birds of Zaire.

Chapin was a curator in the Dept. of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History.

James P. Chapin was an ornithologist and museum curator, especially known for his work in the Congo.

Chapin was associated with the American Museum of Natural History from 1909 until his death, beginning as assistant in the Dept. of Ornithology, becoming associate curator in 1923, research associate in African ornithology and curator emeritus in 1948. At the age of 19, Chapin accompanied Herbert Lang as second in command on the 1909-1915 Congo Expedition. During the next 20 years, Chapin made five more trips to the Congo and Central Africa to study ornithology, and published his four-part work, The birds of the Belgian Congo. He also made several other field trips, to North America, Polynesia, the Galapagos Islands and West Africa. From 1953 to 1958, Chapin and his wife, Ruth, did ornithological field work and training in the eastern Congo.