Mearns, Edgar Alexander, 1856-1916

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Edgar Alexander Mearns (1856-1916) was an army surgeon and field naturalist. He developed an early interest in natural history, studying the flora and fauna around his home in Highland Falls, New York. Mearns was educated at Donald Highland Institute, Highland Falls, and in 1881 graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. In 1883, he was commissioned assistant surgeon in the Medical Corps of the Army and assigned to duty at Fort Verde, Arizona. He was transferred to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in 1888. In 1891, Mearns was assigned to serve as medical officer with the United States-Mexican International Boundary Survey. From 1892 to 1894, Mearns explored the boundary line from El Paso, Texas, to San Clemente Island and collected 30,000 specimens of flora and fauna which were deposited in the United States National Museum (USNM). From 1894 to 1903, Mearns continued his natural history investigations while stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia; Fort Clark, Texas; Fort Adams, Rhode Island; and Fort Yellowstone. He also conducted field research in the Catskill Mountains and Florida during this period.

Between 1903 and 1907, Mearns served two separate tours of duty in the Philippine Islands. While in the Philippines he made natural history collections and participated in expeditions to the three highest mountains in the islands, Mount Apo, Grand Malindang, and Mount Halcon. After returning to the United States, Mearns served at Fort Totten, New York, until his retirement from the Army on January 1, 1909.

Later in that year, he was invited by Theodore Roosevelt to accompany the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition as naturalist. From 1909 to 1910, Mearns explored parts of British East Africa from Mount Kenia to the White Nile. Mearns' last expedition was in 1911, when he served as a naturalist with the Childs Frick Expedition to Africa. Mearns' primary biological interests were ornithology and mammalogy. He was a founding member of the American Ornithologists Union and in 1909 was appointed honorary associate in zoology of the USNM.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Field Book Project: Person : Description : rid_8_pid_EACP7

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Edgar A. Mearns correspondence, 1883-1915 American Museum of Natural History
creatorOf Edgar Alexander Mearns Papers, 1864-1918, (bulk 1876-1916) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn McAtee, W. L. (Waldo Lee), 1883-1962. Papers, 1883-1942. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn A. K. Fisher Papers, 1827-1957, (bulk 1867-1948) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Handwriting samples of naturalists and others, ca. 1800-1970 (inclusive) Harvard University, Ernst Mayr Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology
referencedIn W. L. (Waldo Lee) McAtee papers, 1883-1942, 1883-1942 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Atkins, Harmon, 1821-1885. Harmon Atkins papers. State Archive of Michigan
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Mearns, Edgar Alexander, 1856-1916. Correspondence, 1883-1915. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Mearns, Edgar Alexander, 1856-1916. [Ornithological papers / Mearns] The Field Museum Library, The Field Museum of Natural History
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Mearns, Edgar Alexander, 1856-1916. Arizona field photographs, 1885. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Mearns, Edgar Alexander, 1856-1916. Fort Verde photographs, ca. 1879-1910 (bulk 1886-1887). Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allen, J. A. (Joel Asaph), 1838-1921. person
associatedWith American Museum of Natural History. Dept. of Mammalogy. corporateBody
associatedWith American Museum of Natural History. Dept. of Ornithology. corporateBody
correspondedWith Atkins, Harmon, 1821-1885. person
associatedWith Bickmore, Albert S. (Albert Smith), 1839-1914. person
associatedWith Chapin, James Paul, 1889-1964. person
associatedWith Chapman, Frank M. (Frank Michler), b. 1864. person
associatedWith Childs Frick Abyssinian Expedition (active 1911-1912) corporateBody
correspondedWith Fisher, A. K. (Albert Kenrick), 1856-1948. person
associatedWith Goodfellow, George Emory, 1855-1910 person
associatedWith Gratacap, Louis Pope, 1851-1917. person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith MacKay, George H. person
associatedWith McAtee, W. L. (Waldo Lee), 1883-1962 person
associatedWith McAtee, W. L. (Waldo Lee), 1883-1962. person
associatedWith Mearns family. family
associatedWith Mearns, Louis di Zerega. person
associatedWith Merriam, C. Hart (Clinton Hart), 1855-1942. person
associatedWith Mt. Halcon Expedition (active 1906) corporateBody
correspondedWith Provine, William B. person
associatedWith Richardson, Jenness. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. person
associatedWith Smithsonian African Expedition (1909) corporateBody
associatedWith Smithsonian African Expedition (1909) corporateBody
associatedWith United States and Mexican Boundary Survey (1848-1855) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Cavalry, 10th corporateBody
associatedWith United States-Mexican International Boundary Survey, 1891-1894 corporateBody
associatedWith Woodward, Anthony, d. 1915. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Africa
Arizona AZ US
New York (State) NY US
Subject
Anthropology
Applications for positions
Birds
Birds
Birds
Botany
Camping
Cave-dwellers
Cave-dwellings
Eggs
Geology
Hohokam culture
Mammals
Natural history
Natural history
Naturalists
Ornithologists
Ornithology
Ornithology
Physicians
Plants
Ranches
Scientific expeditions
Sinagua culture
Soldiers
Surveys And Explorations, General
Zoologists
Zoology
Occupation
Army surgeons
Military officers
Naturalist
Zoologists
Activity

Person

Birth 1856-09-11

Death 1916-11-01

Male

Americans

English

Information

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