Bradbury, William Chase, 1849-1925

William Chase Bradbury was a member of the Colorado Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees and Honorary Curator of Oology from 1914 until his death in 1925. His extensive collection of bird eggs formed the basis for the Museum's outstanding oology collection. Bradbury was born in 1849 in Taunton, Massachusetts. As a boy he became interested in bird eggs and collected many of the varieties found in New England. At age 22 he came to Colorado and initially found work on a large cattle ranch on the South Platte River near the present-day town of Evans. In 1872 he married Hattie A. Howe, daughter of early Evans settlers. Shortly thereafter he and Hattie moved to Colorado Springs where he opened a store. After six years he sold the mercantile business and opened a freight, passenger and mail stage service to Leadville. When the railroad took over transportation services, Bradbury turned to contracting for railroad construction and building projects. Irrigation projects were added and the Bradbury construction firm was busy over most of the West from Texas to Idaho. He was an active outdoorsman and had extensive ranching and orchard interests. Bradbury retired from his businesses in 1913 and turned his energies again to bird eggs. His boyhood collection had lain dormant but undisturbed since his arrival in Colorado. In 1913 Bradbury arranged with the Colorado Museum of Natural History (now the Denver Museum of Nature & Science) to take on the challenge of enlarging its egg collection to include as many North American species as he could acquire. He did this by purchase, trade, and many collecting trips and expeditions. In addition, Bradbury became keenly interested in the Museum and contributed generously to support its varied activities. In 1914 he was appointed Honorary Curator of Oology, and elected to membership in the Board of Trustees. Bradbury held these positions until his death in late 1925. There was no provision in his will for disposition of his bird eggs, but his widow donated the entire collection and a valuable library to the Museum. Bradbury had assembled some 4500 sets of bird eggs and nests representing almost 900 species of North American birds.

From the description of William Chase Bradbury papers 1913-1925. (Denver Museum of Nature & Science). WorldCat record id: 69957570

William Chase Bradbury was a member of the Colorado Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees and Honorary Curator of Oology from 1914 until his death in 1925. His extensive collection of bird eggs formed the basis for the Museum's outstanding oology collection.

Bradbury was born in 1849 in Taunton, Massachusetts. As a boy he became interested in bird eggs and collected many of the varieties found in New England. At age 22 he came to Colorado and initially found work on a large cattle ranch on the South Platte River near the present-day town of Evans. In 1872 he married Hattie A. Howe, daughter of early Evans settlers. Shortly thereafter he and Hattie moved to Colorado Springs where he opened a store. After six years he sold the mercantile business and opened a freight, passenger and mail stage service to Leadville. When the railroad took over transportation services, Bradbury turned to contracting for railroad construction and building projects. Irrigation projects were added and the Bradbury construction firm was busy over most of the West from Texas to Idaho. He was an active outdoorsman and had extensive ranching and orchard interests. Bradbury retired from his businesses in 1913 and turned his energies again to bird eggs. His boyhood collection had lain dormant but undisturbed since his arrival in Colorado.

In 1913 Bradbury arranged with the Colorado Museum of Natural History (now the Denver Museum of Nature & Science) to take on the challenge of enlarging its egg collection to include as many North American species as he could acquire. He did this by purchase, trade, and many collecting trips and expeditions. In addition, Bradbury became keenly interested in the Museum and contributed generously to support its varied activities. In 1914 he was appointed Honorary Curator of Oology, and elected to membership in the Board of Trustees. Bradbury held these positions until his death in late 1925. There was no provision in his will for disposition of his bird eggs, but his widow donated the entire collection and a valuable library to the Museum. Bradbury had assembled some 4500 sets of bird eggs and nests representing almost 900 species of North American birds.

From the guide to the Papers, 1913-1925, (Denver Museum of Nature & Science, )