Bailey, Vernon, 1864-1942

Vernon Orlando Bailey (1864-1942) was born 21 June 1864 in Manchester, Michigan. He was the sixth of eight children born to Hiram and Emily (Taylor) Bailey. At an early age he and his family moved to Elk River, Minnesota, where he developed an interest in natural history. Around 1885, Bailey began sending collections of birds and mammals to Clinton Hart Merriam, Chief of the newly created Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the United States Department of Agriculture (in 1896 the name was changed to the Bureau of Biological Survey). In 1887, Bailey was appointed special field agent for the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy. His title was changed to chief field naturalist in 1890, and he remained with the Biological Survey until his retirement in 1933. Vernon Bailey founded the American Society of Mammalogists in 1933 and was president of both that society and the District Biological Society. He was also a member of the American Ornithologists Union.

Bailey's chief biological interest was the study of the life history and distribution of mammals. During his career with the Biological Survey, he made field investigations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including intensive biological surveys of Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Oregon.

His bibliography numbered 244 titles and included scientific monographs, as well as publications for the general reader. Publications covered mammals, birds, and plants, including animals of Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Carlsbad Cavern. He was also responsible for adding specimens of North American mammals to the U.S. National Museum collection and writing technical descriptions of new species.

In 1899 Vernon Bailey married Florence Merriam (1863-1948), who was an accomplished naturalist and author of several books on ornithology. They had no children. Bailey died at his home in Washington, D.C. on 20 April 1942.