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Finding Aids to Oral Histories in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 9509

Hobbs, Horton Holcombe, 1914-1994, interviewee

Horton Holcombe Hobbs Oral History Interview, 1976

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Hobbs, Horton Holcombe, 1914-1994, interviewee
Title:Horton Holcombe Hobbs Oral History Interview
Dates:1976
Quantity:2 audiotapes (Reference copies). 3 digital .mp3 files (Reference copies).
Collection:Record Unit 9509
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This interview of Hobbs by Pamela M. Henson covers his education and teaching at the University of Florida; career as a Professor of Zoology and Director of the Mountain Lakes Biological Station of the University of Virginia; research interests in crayfish; and role as Head Curator, Department of Zoology, United States National Museum, as Senior Scientist in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology, and as Director of the Archbold-Bredin-Smithsonian Biological Survey of Dominica.

Historical Note

Horton Holcombe Hobbs, Jr., (1914-1994) was Senior Scientist in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, specializing in the taxonomy, ecology, and geographic distribution of freshwater decapods crustaceans. Hobbs received his Ph. D. in biology from the University of Florida in 1940 and taught there until 1946. He joined the faculty of the University of Virginia in 1946 and served as director of its Mountain Lake Biological Station from 1956 to 1960. In 1962 Hobbs was appointed Head Curator of the Department of Zoology, United States National Museum, and in 1964 was appointed Senior Scientist.

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Introduction

The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives' record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Hobbs was interviewed for the Oral History Program because of his long association with the Smithsonian as a research associate and because of his scholarly and administrative career.

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Descriptive Entry

Hobbs was interviewed on May 14, 1976 by Pamela M. Henson. The interview covers his education and teaching at the University of Florida; career as professor of zoology and director of the Mountain Lake Biological Station of the University of Virginia; research interests in crayfish; and role as Head Curator, Department of Zoology of the United States National Museum, as Senior Scientist in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology, and as director of the Archbold-Bredin-Smithsonian Biological Survey of Dominica.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9509, Horton Holcombe Hobbs Oral History Interview

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Container List

Interview

Interview 1: May 14, 1976

Interview

Interview of Hobbs covers his education, teaching career, expeditions, research with crayfish, and role as Head Curator, Department of Zoology and as Senior Scientist, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, United States National Museum, c. 1936-1976.

Interview

Transcript, pp. 1-55, of audio recording, 1.5 hours.

Interview

Recording of Interview: Total Recording Time: 1.5 hours

Interview
Original Masters: 2 5" reel-to-reel analog audiotapes
Preservation Masters: 3 7" low torque reel-to-reel audio tapes, 3 digital .wav files
Reference Copies: 2 audiocassettes; 3 digital .mp3 files

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