Reference Request
Finding Aids to Oral Histories in the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Record Unit 9614
Stone, Alan, 1904-, interviewee
Alan Stone Oral History Interviews, 1997
Historical Note
Alan Stone (1904-1999), an entomologist specializing in the systematics of two-wing flies, received the B.S. in 1926 and Ph.D. in 1929 from Cornell University and taught at Dartmouth College from 1929 to 1931. In 1931, he was appointed Associate Entomologist, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, United States Department of Agriculture. He advanced to Entomologist in 1939, and remained at the United States Department of Agriculture Research Branch, Agricultural Research Service, from 1953 until his retirement in 1971. His research on the systematics of medically important Diptera was conducted at the National Entomological Collection at the National Museum of Natural History.
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 reminiscences and interviews recorded by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
The Alan Stone Oral History Interviews were recorded to document his contributions to the field of entomology.
Descriptive Entry
These interviews of Stone, by Smithsonian Archives historian Pamela M. Henson, cover his childhood and education, his reminiscences of entomologists at Cornell University, the staff of the National Museum of Natural History, relations between the Smithsonian Institution and United States Department of Agriculture, his involvement in the Cosmos Club and Washington Biologists' Field Club, and colleagues such as Charles P. Alexander, J. F. Gates Clarke, Herbert Friedmann, Curtis W. Sabrosky, and Alexander Wetmore.
This collection contains three interview sessions, totaling approximately 3 hours of recording. The interviews have not been transcribed.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Friedmann, Herbert, 1900-1987
- Wetmore, Alexander, 1886-1978
- Sabrosky, Curtis W. (Curtis Williams), 1910-
- Henson, Pamela M., interviewer
- Stone, Alan, 1904-
- Alexander, Charles P. (Charles Paul), 1889-1981
- Clarke, J. F. Gates (John Frederick Gates), 1905-1990
- Washington Biologists' Field Club
- Cornell University
- Cosmos Club (Washington, D.C.)
- Dartmouth College
- National Museum of Natural History (U.S.)
- United States. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine
- United States. Agricultural Research Service
- United States. Department of Agriculture
Subject
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9614, Alan Stone Oral History Interviews