Reference Request
Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Record Unit 7124
Fitch, Asa, 1809-1879
Asa Fitch Notebooks, circa 1827-1872
Historical Note
Asa Fitch (1809-1879), the founder of economic entomology in America, was trained in medicine, which he practiced briefly. Fitch was largely self-taught in entomology. In 1838 he abandoned his medical practice and devoted himself to entomological studies, to such good effect that in 1854 he was appointed State Entomologist of New York. His appointment marked the first serious attention to be paid to insect damage in the United States. Fitch's studies, largely confined to New York, were extremely thorough and made a great impression on Charles Valentine Riley and other members of the generation of entomologists to follow Fitch.
Descriptive Entry
This collection consists of five volumes of notes of observations, some rearing data, and information copied from other sources and researchers; a few illustrations; and some notes and marginalia by later users of the notebooks. The notebooks are arranged roughly by orders and families of insects; species are usually described separately, with dates of observation, anatomy, coloration, and habitats given. Dates of observation often vary widely within each volume, most often ranging between 1830 and 1860. Some specimens were supplied by correspondents. There are also occasional notes on practical remedies for insect pests.
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This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
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Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7124, Asa Fitch Notebooks