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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 407

National Museum of Natural History. Mammal Identification Service

Mammal Identification Service Records, 1966-1976

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:National Museum of Natural History. Mammal Identification Service
Title:Mammal Identification Service Records
Dates:1966-1976
Quantity:1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Collection:Record Unit 407
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

These records document the eight-year history of MIS and consist of correspondence of Handley, Ranck, and Pine concerning the creation of the project, the identification of mammal specimens, professional activities, and administrative matters; proposals submitted to NIH to provide funding for MIS; annual reports and a final report of the project; and administrative records.

Historical Note

The Mammal Identification Service (MIS) was established in 1966. It was located in the Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History, and supported jointly by the Smithsonian and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Charles O. Handley, Jr., Curator in the Division of Mammals, was Principal Investigator of the project. Gary L. Ranck was appointed Curator of MIS in 1966. Ranck resigned the following year and was replaced by Ronald H. Pine, who served until 1973. The MIS was terminated in 1974 when NIH support ceased.

The primary purpose of MIS was to provide rapid identifications of mammals of medical and epidemiological importance. In addition to providing identifications, MIS published manuals on the classification and identification of mammals, and trained paramedical workers in techniques for the collection and field preservation of specimens.

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Descriptive Entry

These records document the eight-year history of MIS and consist of correspondence of Handley, Ranck, and Pine concerning the creation of the project, the identification of mammal specimens, professional activities, and administrative matters; proposals submitted to NIH to provide funding for MIS; annual reports and a final report of the project; and administrative records.

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This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

Subject

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 407, National Museum of Natural History. Mammal Identification Service, Mammal Identification Service Records

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Container List

Box 1

History of the Mammal Identification Service (MIS), 1966-1974

Box 1 of 1

MIS, 1966-1976 (9 folders)

Box 1 of 1

MIS - Current Status

Box 1 of 1

MIS News Releases

Box 1 of 1

MIS Finances

Box 1 of 1

Budget - Accounts

Box 1 of 1

Work Orders - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

Requisitions, Equipment, Supplies - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

Holdings in Collection - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

Use of Computer - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

Specimens - Taken to New York, Chicago - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

Ranck's Bolivian Travel Hassle - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

Job Applicants

Box 1 of 1

Exhibits

Box 1 of 1

Requisitions - Stock and Service - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

Literature Ordered - Not Received - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

Literature Ordered - Received - MIS Prop.

Box 1 of 1

MIS Correspondence, A-Z (20 folders)

Box 1 of 1

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