Overview
DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University
Taylor, W. Thomas
W. Thomas Taylor collection on Texas ornithology
1837-1948
1 box (1 linear foot)
Most of this collection consists of offprints. Highlights of the collection include a letter from John J. Abert to John James Audubon, an original lithograph from Audubon's Birds of America depicting the Texan Turtle Dove, and photographic prints.
A2009.0016
Material is in English
Biographical Note
Walter Thomas Taylor was born in Waco, Texas on November 20, 1951. After leaving the University of Texas during his junior year, Taylor began an antiquarian book business. Taylor’s dealings in antiquarian books lead him to the printing business, primarily printing catalogs and exhibition guides for museums and libraries. In 1995, Taylor began to devote his time to a hospitality ministry in Barksdale, Texas. Taylor and his wife sold the Barksdale retreat in 2006 and relocated to Fredericksburg, Texas where he opened Birdways, a business focusing on materials relating to ornithology.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The W. Thomas Taylor collection begins with an autographed letter from John J. Abert to John James Audubon dated April 21, 1837, offering to help him with transportation for his visit to Texas; progresses through the original publications of many important accounts of Texas birds by S. F. Baird, Frank Chapman, George Sennett, and others, from the mid- to late 19th century; and carries on to the beginning of World War II with a large number of offprints from ornithological journals, some well-known, others quite obscure. Also present is an original lithograph from Audubon’s Birds of America depicting the Texan Turtle Dove, the only bird in Audubon’s
great work illustrated from a Texas specimen. The collection contains the great majority of entries before 1940 listed in the bibliography of Oberholser’s Bird Life of Texas. There are a few items dated after 1940, most notably the first edition of Roger Tory Peterson’s Field Guide to the Birds of Texas, and a print of the last (and only) photograph of the probably extinct Eskimo curlew, taken on Galveston island in 1962. Complete runs of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club (1876-83) and the Auk from 1884 to 1940, were transferred to the general collection in DeGolyer Library. W. Thomas Taylor wrote the descriptions for all materials in this finding aid.
Arrangement of the Collection
The collection is organized into 1 series:
- Series 1: W. Thomas Taylor Collection
Related Materials
Audubon, John James. The birds of America: From drawings made in the United States and their territories. DeGolyer Library, QL674.A9 1859
Cassin, John. Illustrations of the birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America. Intended to contain descriptions and figures of all North American birds not given by former American authors, and a general synopsis of North American ornithology. DeGolyer Library, QL681.C34 1865.
Clarke, Herbert. Birds of the West. DeGolyer Library, Folio QL683.W4 C52.
Oberholser, Harry Church. The bird life of Texas. DeGolyer Library, Folio QL684.T4 O23.
Access to Collection:
Collection is open for research use.
Publication Rights:
Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the DeGolyer Library.
Copyright Statement:
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following terms in the Southern Methodist University Libraries' online catalog. Researchers desiring related materials may search the catalog using these terms.
Birds -- Texas.
Ornithology -- Texas.
Letters
Lithographs
Photographic prints
Preferred Citation
W. Thomas Taylor collection on Texas ornithology, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.
Acquisition Information
Gift, W. Thomas Taylor, 2009.
Processing Information
A checklist was already available for the collection; so the items were placed in folders and arranged chronologically by Holly Gerber.
Finding aid written by
Holly Gerber, 2009.
Encoded by
Lara Corazalla, 2009.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1:
This series features offprints, a lithograph, and a letter.
11Abert, John. Autograph letter signed, Washington D.C., 21 April 1837, to John James Audubon. 1p., quarto, docketed on last page "Col. J.J. Abert / 1837," (in Audubon’s hand?). The text reads: "My dear Sir, I hazard a letter, without knowing that it will ever reach you, as I do not know your address. But the object is to say that Mr. Woodbury [Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury] remarked to me with much pleasure a few days since, that a new Cutter has been lately sent to the Gulph, and you could now be accommodated without prejudice to the service. Should this information not be received in time for your operations, it will at least be a manifestation of the strong desire to promote you investigations, and altho’ absent you are not forgotten by your friends."
Audubon experienced some difficulty in securing passage from New Orleans to Texas, and had it arrived a few weeks earlier, this letter might have saved him a good bit of trouble. However, although this letter reached Audubon in due course (the docketing appears to be in Audubon’s hand), it probably did not reach him before he departed for Texas on the Revenue cutter Campbell, since he was already in Texas by late April. Audubon’s time in Texas is well-documented: he was greeted in Galveston by Samuel Rhoads Fisher, secretary of the Texas Navy; went on to visit President of the Republic Sam Houston, (living in a dog-trot cabin); and spent time exploring the upper Texas coast for birds.
12Audubon, John James. "Texan Turtle Dove." Plate 466 from the first edition of Audubon’s Birds of America, Philadelphia, 1840-1844. Hand-colored lithograph, 6 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches.
This is one of the recently-discovered western species depicted in the octavo edition of Birds of America; they did not appear in the elephant folio edition. It is also the only bird illustrated by Audubon from a specimen taken in Texas; in the text he writes "I am indebted for this new species to my companion Mr. J. G. Bell, who received it from Texas; but, unfortunately, no notes connected with the habits of this handsome Dove were forwarded by the person who procured it." The Texan Turtle Dove is today known as the white-winged dove. Originally found only in far-south Texas (and a favorite quarry of hunters there), this species has been expanding its range northward in recent years.
13McCauley, C.A.H. "Notes on the Ornithology of the Region about the Source of the Red River in Texas, from Observations made during the Exploration Conducted by Lieut. E.H. Ruffner." Bulletin of the United States Geological Survey (1877): 655-695. Octavo, disbound.
14Sennett, George B. "Further Notes on the Ornithology of the Lower Rio Grande of Texas, from Observations made during the Spring of 1878." Bulletin of the U.S. Geological Survey V (1879): 371-440. Octavo, disbound.
An account of the birds collected on Sennett’s second trip to Texas. Between and after his three trips to Texas, Sennett employed John M. Priour to collect for him. His collection of skins was eventually purchased by the American Museum of Natural History, one of the first significant acquisitions by the museum.
15Attwater, Harry. "Nesting Habits of Texas Birds." Ornithologist and Oologist XII, no. 7 (July 1887): 103-05. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Describes nesting birds in the San Antonio area. Also contains "Nesting of the Red-bellied Hawk in Cooke County, Texas," by Edwin C. Davis (p. 110).
16Beckham, Charles W. "Observations on the Birds of Southwestern Texas." Proceedings of the United States National Museum for 1887 (1887): 633-696. Octavo, disbound and sewn.
Contains at the end a useful bibliography of earlier studies on the area, and his species descriptions often compare his experience with those of earlier observers.
17Benners, G.B. "Nesting of the Swallow-tailed Kite in Texas." The Ornithologist and Oologist XIV, no. 6 (June 1889): 83-4. Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
18Rachford, J.H. "The Birds of Southeast Texas." The Ornithologists’ and Oologists’ Semi-Annual 1, no. 1 (1889): 42-44.
19Elanoides. [pseud]. "A List of Birds of McLennan Co., Texas." The Ornithologist and Oologist XV, no. 4 (April 1890): 57-59. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
"Let Us Have a Popular Vote" is the heading of an article complaining about the changing of familiar bird names by the A.O.U. – a complaint still heard! Of the four changes on which a vote was requested, all have survived to the present day except the changing of Snow Bunting to Snowflake.
110Green, E.K. "Notes from Travis Co., Texas." The Oologist VII, no. 11 (November 1890): 218-9. Octavo, stitched without wrappers, as issued.
Something of the absurdity of egg collecting is reflected in Green’s account of the Baird’s wren (now known as Bewick’s wren): "The bird must have been in a great hurry to lay, for they both worked all day carrying in straws, feathers, etc. Within four days the nest was completed, and on May 30th one egg was laid and so on until six eggs were laid. The female resumed the task of incubation and I took the eggs."
111Chapman, Frank M. "On the Birds Observed near Corpus Christi, Texas during Parts of March and April, 1891." Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 3, no. 2 (December 1891): 315-328. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Chapman, the most important American ornithologist of his era, came to Texas at the beginning of his life-long career working for the American Museum of Natural History. He observed and collected in company with John Priour, a crusty and colorful local who served as a guide for both hunters and naturalists.
112Rhoades, Samuel N. "The Birds of Southeastern Texas and Southern Arizona Observed during May, June and July, 1891." Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (January 26th, 1892): 98-126. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
By Southeastern Texas Rhoades means the area around Corpus Christi.
113Singley, J.A. "Contributions to the Natural History of Texas. Part I. Texas Mollusca. Part II. Texas Birds." Austin: State Printer, 1893. Geological Survey of Texas, Fourth Annual Report (1892): 297-375. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Singley’s account of Texas birds is devoted to Lee County (near Austin), Galveston, and the Corpus Christi vicinity. The wrappers are slightly chipped; owner’s ink-stamp on wrappers and title page; small stain in upper right corner of text.
114Sterzing, Herbert, ed. The Naturalist 1, no., 3 (March 1894) and I, no. 7 (July 1894). 2 issues, octavo, original printed wrappers.
A Texas example of the myriad of amateur natural history publications that flourished in the 1890s. Vol. 1, No. 3 is stamped "Sample Copy," sent by the publisher to encourage subscriptions.
115Brown, James W. "Swallow-tailed Kite." The Nidiologist II, no. 5 (January 1895): 68-9. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Brown complains of the kites being "very pugnacious" when he and an assistant robbed their nest.
116Shufeldt, R.W. "The Eggs of the Cyrtonyx." [Montezuma Quail]. The Nidiologist IV, No. 1 (September 1896): 2-3. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
117Strecker, J.K. "The Florida Red-shouldered Hawk." The Nidiologist II, No. 10 and 11 (June-July 1896): 116-7. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Also contains "The Nidification of the White-Necked Raven" by W.E. Sherrill of Haskell, Texas.
118Wentworth, Irving H. "Audubon’s Caracara." The Oologist XIII, no. 3 (March 1896): 21-24. Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
Wentworth’s article includes an account of raising two caracara chicks, both of whom met a sad end: one choked while trying to swallow a duck whole, the other was snatched and devoured by a red-tailed hawk residing in an adjoining cage.
119Oberholser, Harry. "Critical Remarks on Cistothorus Palustris (Wils.) and Its Western Allies." The Auk XIV, no. 2 (April 1897):187-196.
120Strecker, J.K. "Notes on the Ardea herodias [Great Blue Heron] in Texas." The Nidiologist IV, no. 9 (May 1897): 108-9. Octavo, original printed wrappers. Illustrated.
Publishes a long letter from J.J. Carroll, April 18, 1896, regarding great blue herons on the Texas Coast.
121Oberholser, Harry. "Description of a New Amazilia." The Auk XV, no. 1 (January 1898): 33-36.
122Bailey, Florence Merriam. "The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Texas." The Condor IV, no. 2 (May-June 1903): 66-68. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
123Bailey, Florence Merriam. "The Harris Hawk on His Nesting Ground." The Condor V, no. 3 (March-April 1902): 30-31. Octavo, original printed wrappers
124Fuertes, Louis Agassiz. "With the Mearns Quail [Montezuma Quail] in Southwestern Texas." The Condor V, No. 5 (September-October 1903): 113-16. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Includes a plate of the Mearns Quail by Fuertes, showing the different positions assumed by the quail’s crest.
125Lacey, Howard. "Notes on the Texan Jay." The Condor V, no. 6 (November-December 1903): 151-3. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
126Oberholser, Harry. "A New Cliff Swallow from Texas." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington XVI (February 21, 1903): 15-16.
127Oberholser, Harry. "Description of a New Vireo." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington XVI (February 21, 1903): 17-18.
128Oberholser, Harry. "A Review of the Genus Catherpes." The Auk XX (April 1903): 196-198.
129Oberholser, Harry. "Description of a New Telmatodytes." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington XVI (November 12, 1903): 149-50.
130Schutze, Adolph E. "Nesting Habits of the Caracara." The Condor VI, no. 4 (July-August 1904): 106-108. Octavo, original printed wrappers. 2 copies.
131Bailey, Vernon. "Scraps from an Owl Table." The Condor VII, no. 4 (July-August 1905): 97. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
An interesting story of Bailey’s attempt to persuade a West Texas rancher that Great Horned Owls were not eating his chickens by showing him the contents of the owl’s pellets (the owl, alas, had already been shot by the rancher.)
132Oberholser, Harry. "The North American Eagles and Their Economic Relations." U.S. Department of Agriculture Biological Survey, no. 27 (1906).
133Carroll, J.M. "Bird Island." The Oologist XXVI, no. 7 (July 15, 1909): 105-06. Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
134Smith, Austin Paul. "Miscellaneous Bird-Notes from the Lower Rio Grande Valley." The Condor XII, no. 3 (May-June 1910): 93-103. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
135Smith, Austin Paul."Birds of Brownsville, Texas." The Oologist XXVIII, no. 8 (August 15, 1911): 130-32. Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
Describes Smith’s yard list from June, 1910, to July 1911, including 109 species, "evidence to prove the fact that the valley of the Lower Rio Grande is unsurpassed, within our boundaries, for the study of bird life . . ."
136Strecker, John K. "The Birds of Texas: An Annotated Check-List." Baylor University Bulletin XV, no. 1 (January 1912). Octavo, original grey printed wrappers.
This was the first attempt at a check-list for the entire state; it describes 546 species, with another 20 as hypothetical (of these, at least 9 have since been confirmed visitors or residents of the state.) The wrappers are soiled and chipped along the edges; bookplate and blind embossed stamps of the Explorer’s Club, New York.
137Simmons, [George] Finlay. "Notes on the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker from Texas." The Oologist XXX, no. 12 (December 15, 1913): 298-9. Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
138Smith, Austin Paul. "Notes and Records from Brooks County, Texas." The Condor XV, no. 5 (Sept.-Oct. 1913): 182-184.
139Graham, Ramon. Several brief pieces relating to Texas birds, and a mention of the death of Frank Armstrong, a well-known collector and ornithologist in the Rio Grande valley. The Oologist XXXII, no. 11 (November 15, 1915). Octavo, original printed wrappers.
There is an ad on p. 1 for rare bird skins, listing, after ivory-billed woodpecker, passenger pigeon, and scarlet ibis. "Black-capped vireo and Golden-cheeked warbler," are also offered, indicating that their rarity was well-recognized.
140Simmons, George Finlay. "With Rallus in the Texas Marsh." The Condor XVII, no. 1 (January-February 1915): 1-8. Octavo, original printed wrappers. Includes 4 photographs of a Clapper rail nest.
141Bailey, Florence Merriam. "Meeting Spring Halfway: Part I." The Condor XVIII, no. 4 (July-August 1916): 151-55. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
A charming account of a birding trip through Texas, written by the first American woman to make a name for herself as an ornithologist.
142Graham, Ramon. "Painted Bunting" [and] "Nesting Dates of Texas Birds." The Oologist XXXIII, no. 4 (April 15, 1916). Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
143Graham, Ramon. "Texas Bird Notes." The Oologist XXXIII, no. 10 (October 15, 1916): 170-71. Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
144Maxan, G.E. "A Soldier Ornithologist." The Oologist XXXIII, no. 12 (December 15, 1916): 205-6. Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
Maxan was stationed at Boquillas and Terlingua. Another article in the same issue, by Leverette Fitzpatrick of Waco, discusses increasing numbers of Inca Doves in that community. There is also an ad by E.F. Pope in Colmesneil: "Who wants three Golden Eagles and two Bald Eagles, hand raised, 3 and 4 years old?"
145Oberholser, Harry. "The Status of Aphelocoma Cyanotis and Its Allies." The Condor XIX (May 1917): 94-95.
146Oberholser, Harry. "Notes on North American Birds II." The Auk XXXIV, no. 3 (July 1917): 321-329.
147Smith, Austin Paul. "Some Birds of the Davis Mountains, Texas." The Condor XIX, no. 5 (Sept.-Oct. 1917): 161-166.
148Oberholser, Harry. "Notes on North American Birds IV." The Auk XXXV, no. 1 (January 1918): 62-65.
149Quillan, Roy, and Ridley Holleman. "The Breeding Birds of Bexar County, Texas." The Condor XX, no. 1 (January-February 1918): 37-44. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
150Oberholser, Harry. "The Subspecies of Larus Hyperboreus Gunnerus." The Auk XXXV, no. 4 (October 1918): 467-474.
151Oberholser, Harry. "A Description of a New Red-Winged Black-Bird from Texas." The Wilson Bulletin, no. 106 (March 1919).
152Oberholser, Harry. "Mutanda Ornithologica VI." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 32 (April 11, 1919): 21-22.
153Oberholser, Harry. "An Albino Black-chinned Hummingbird." The Condor XXI (May 1919): 122-125-128.
Also includes "Bubo virginianus subarticus in North Dakota" and "Aechmophorus occidentalis in Lower California in Summer."
154Pearson, T. Gilbert. "Exploring for New Bird Colonies." Bird-Lore XXII, no. 4 (July-August 1920): 255-62. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Describes a trip by Pearson from Florida to Texas. Pearson was one of the pioneers of bird conservation in America.
155Graham, Ramon, and Jake Zeitlin. "List of Breeding Birds of Tarrant County, Texas." The Oologist XXXVIII, no. 7 (July 1, 1921): 98. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
A bare listing of 63 species; Zeitlin, who would later become a well-known dealer in rare books in Los Angeles, compiled the list when he was between the ages of 13 and 17.
156Cahn, Alvin R. "Notes on the Summer Avifauna of Bird Island, Texas and Vicinity." The Condor XXIX, no. 5 (September-October 1922): 169-80. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
157Oberholser, Harry. "Bird Banding as an Aid to the Study of Migration." The Auk XL, no. 3 (July 1923): 436-441.
158Cahn, Alvin R. "Corrections to the Summer Avifauna of Bird Island, Texas." The Condor XXV, no. 5 (September-October 1923):182-84. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Cahn responds to criticisms of his earlier "Notes on the Summer Avifauna of Bird Island and Vicinity."
159Pearson, T. Gilbert. "Notes on the Winter Bird Life of Southeastern Texas." Abstract of the Proceedings of the Linneanan Society of New York, no. 33,34,35 (1920-1924): 113-126. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
By "Southeastern Texas" Pearson meant the region around Corpus Christi to Kingsville. Indeed much of his account is of birding on the King Ranch, in company with Caesar Kleberg.
160deLaubenfels, M.W. "Unusual Notes of Texas Nighthawk." The Condor XXVII, no. 5 (September-October 1925): 210. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
161Oberholser, Harry C. "The Relation of Vegetation to Bird Life in Texas." The American Midland Naturalist IX, no. 10-11 (1925). Octavo, original printed wrappers.
In his introduction Oberholser states "The present paper was originally intended as a part of the author’s still unpublished treatise on the birds of Texas." It would be another 50 years before that "treatise" was published.
162Strecker, John K. "Notes on the Ornithology of McLennan County, Texas." Baylor University Museum Special Bulletin, no. 1 (1927). Octavo, original printed wrappers.
The introduction and many of the descriptions of individual species contain nostalgic remembrances of how things were "in former years."
163Carroll, J.J. "Down Bird Island Way." Wilson Bulletin XXXIX (December 1927): 195-207.
164Law, J. Eugene. "Toxostoma Curvirostris: Description of a new sub-species from the Lower Rio Grande Valley." The Condor XXX, no. 2 (March-April 1928): 151-2. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
165Strecker, John K. "Folk-Lore Relating to Texas Birds." Publications of the Texas Folk-Lore Society, no. VII (1928).
166Carroll, J.J. "Breeding of the American White Pelican on the Texas Coast." The Condor XXXII, no. 4 (July-August 1930): 202-04. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
167Carroll, J.J. "More about the White Pelican on the Texas Coast." The Condor XXXII, no. 6 (Nov.-Dec. 1930): 304.
168Van Tyne, Josselyn. "Some Birds of the Rio Grande Delta of Texas." Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. no. 255 (February 10, 1933). Octavo, stapled without wrappers, as issued.
169Oberholser, Harry. "Robert Ridgway: A Memorial Appreciation." The Auk I, no. 2 (April 1933): 159-169.
170Compton, Lawrence W. "Fossil Bird Remains from the Pliocene and Pleistocene in Texas." The Condor XXXVI, no. 1 (January-February 1934): 40-41. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
171Burr, J.G. "Brief Studies in Texas Bird Life." Austin: Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, September 1936. Octavo, original printed wrappers. 82p. Illustrated with photographs and wood engravings.
First edition. 2 copies.
172Van Tyne, Josselyn. "The Discovery of the Nest of the Colima Warbler." University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Miscellaneous Publications, no. 33 (August 7, 1936).
173Van Tyne, Josselyn, and George Miksch Sutton. "The Birds of Brewster County, Texas." Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Geology, University of Michigan, no. 37 (August 24, 1937). Octavo, printed wrappers. Color frontispiece of "Fuertes’ Red Tailed Hawk" by Sutton; map; 5 b & w plates.
Based on explorations in the area from 1928 to 1934. The introductory matter includes a brief history of earlier publications on the avifauna of the Big Bend region.
174Borrell, Audrey E. "New Bird Records for Brewster County, Texas." The Condor XL, no. 4 (July-August 1938):181-82. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Adds several species to Van Tyne’s Birds of Brewster County.
175Sutton, George Miksch. "The Breeding Birds of Tarrant County, Texas." Annals of the Carnegie Museum XXVII (September 24, 1938): 171-206. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
Includes a bibliography of articles published on Tarrant County birds from 1885 to 1929.
176Dobie, J. Frank. The Roadrunner in Fact and Fiction. Austin: Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission, 1939. Octavo, original wrappers.
First separate publication of this essay. The paisano was Dobie’s personal emblem, and in this classic essay he describes folk-lore about the bird from both Mexico and Texas.
177Stillwell, Jerry E. Check List of Birds of Dallas County, Texas. Dallas: Boyd Printing Co., 1939.
178Sprunt, Alexander, Jr. "Wings Along the Texas Coast." Audubon XLIII, no. 3 (May-June 1941): 239-47. Octavo, original printed wrappers.
A status report on bird conservation efforts along the Texas coast. Sprunt made several visits to Texas, and was a close friend of Texas birdman J.J. Carroll.
179Slater, Elsie McElroy. El Paso Birds. El Paso, Texas: [Carl Hertzog], 1945. Small octavo, original terra-cotta wrappers over flexible boards. Illustrated.
First edition, designed and printed and signed by Carl Hertzog.
180Oberholser, Harry. "The Astounding Bird Life of Texas." Southwest Review (Summer 1945): 377-381.
181Stringham, Emerson. Kerrville, Texas and Its Birds. Kerrville: Pacot Publications, 1948. Octavo, original tan printed wrappers. 32p.
An informal account of birds in the immediate vicinity of Kerrville. In his introduction Stringham mentions that he has written an 80,000 word draft of a biography of Alexander Wilson, apparently never published. Inscribed by the author in the front wrapper.