Finding Aids to Personal Papers and
Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 7089
Paul Bartsch Papers,
1901-1963

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Introduction

Historical Note

Descriptive Entry

Series Descriptions

  Series 1. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, 1952-1963. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.

  Series 2. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1 FOLDER (21 PIECES), 1907-1946. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.

  Series 3. FIELD NOTES ON BIRDS, 1912-1927. BOUND AND LOOSE. ARRANGED MOSTLY CHRONOLOGICALLY.

  Series 4. RESEARCH EXPEDITION MATERIALS, 1907-1933. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.

  Series 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PUBLICATIONS, 1904-1950. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.

  Series 6. DRAFT ARTICLES AND MONOGRAPHS. PUBLISHED AND UNPUBLISHED.

  Series 7. NOTES, SPEECHES, AND SPECIMEN LISTS.

  Series 8. STUDENT THESES, REPORTS AND EXAMINATIONS, 1915-1936, INCLUDING THOSE WITH NO DATE AND NO AUTHOR LISTED. ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.

  Series 9. PHOTOGRAPHS AND PRINTS, INCLUDING OVERSIZE.

  Series 10. NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND SCRAPBOOK, 1907-1909, 1933, 1956.

  Series 11. ACETATE NEGATIVES REMOVED FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COLLECTION.

INTRODUCTION

HISTORICAL NOTE

Born in Tuntschendorf, Silesia, Paul Bartsch (1871-1960) received an early interest in nature from his father, who was an entrepreneur and amateur naturalist, and an interest in medicine probably from his mother, who had received a degree in obstetrics at the University of Breslau. As a result of a depression in the 1880s, the elder Bartsch went into financial bankruptcy. By utilizing the last savings of Bartsch's mother, the Bartsch family was able to emigrate to the United States, finally settling down in Burlington, Iowa.

Paul Bartsch was at first determined to become an ornithologist, but after talking to Professor Samuel Calvin, geologist at the State University of Iowa, he instead enrolled for course work which included a broad spectrum of the various sciences. Before completing his degree, Bartsch left for Washington, D.C., to accept a position as an aid with William H. Dall, honorary curator of the Division of Mollusks, United States National Museum.

Division of Mollusks Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with Paul Bartsch, Curator, seated. Bartsch is surrounded by mollusk specimens and exhibit panels.

After entering into research on mollusks, Bartsch expanded his activities, pursuing ornithological investigations and teaching biology and zoology to university students. Interested in medicine and the biological training of medical students, Bartsch began teaching histology at the Medical School of Howard University in 1899. This position lasted for thirty-seven years when he became director of the Histological and Physiological Laboratory. In 1900, Bartsch began teaching zoology at George Washington University, becoming professor emeritus in 1945.

Bartsch's work at the United States National Museum, meanwhile, led to his appointment as assistant curator of the Division of Mollusks in 1905, and then curator of that division in 1914. He retired from his duties at the Smithsonian Institution in 1946. Bartsch's work on explorations included positions as the Smithsonian representative on board the Albatross Philippine Expedition (1907-1909) and director of the Thomas Barrera expedition to Cuba (1914); he received the Walter Rathbone Bacon Travelling Scholarship to explore the West Indies (1928-1930) and was director of the first Johnson-Smithsonian deep-sea expedition to the West Indies (1933), all of which are documented to some extent in these papers. In his expedition to the West Indies Bartsch was aided by his friend Carlos de la Torre. This resulted in their collaboration on the publications regarding the Annulariidae of Cuba, the Bahamas, and Hispanola, and the Cyclophoridae of the Americas. Their monograph, "The Terrestrial Mollusks of the Family Urocoptidae in the Island of Cuba," is still unpublished.

This collection contains almost no private correspondence (for official correspondence see Museum of Natural History, Division of Mollusks, record unit 73).

Besides receiving his Ph.D. degree from the University of Iowa in 1905, Bartsch was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from George Washington University (1937). He was president of the Wild Flower Preservation Society (1920-1924), president of the Biological Society in Washington, D.C. (1913-1915), and vice-president of the Washington Academy (1913-1915), among other numerous memberships and offices which he held in scientific societies.

DESCRIPTIVE ENTRY

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

SERIES 1.
BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, 1952-1963. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.

Box 1 of 19

Folder

1

Biographical publications: Irston R. Barnes, "Paul Bartsch, Biologist and Naturalist," May-August 1952; Irston R. Barnes, "Paul Bartsch, Smithsonian Curator," January-February 1953; Irston R. Barnes, "Paul Bartsch: The Lebanon Years," January-February 1954; Harald A. Rehder, "Obituary: Paul Bartsch," July 1961; Christiane E. Seidenschnur and Stanwyn G. Shetler, "The Botanical Activities of Paul Bartsch," 1965.

SERIES 2.
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1 FOLDER (21 PIECES), 1907-1946. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.

This material includes correspondence with colleagues, friends, scientific societies and institutions and social agencies regarding membership, requests and thank-you notes for publications, species collected on scientific collector's permit, representation at public meetings and recreational facilities for the public at large and the black community in Washington, D.C.

Box 1 of 19

Folder

2

The American Society of Zoologists to Bartsch regarding his election as a member of that organization, 1/26/1925; Alexander Wetmore to Bartsch asking him to represent the Smithsonian Institution and the United States National Museum at a meeting regarding the utilization of the natural history facilities in the Washington, D.C., region, 3/20/1930; Recommendations of the Sub-committee on Nature Activities of the Recreation Committee of the Washington Council of Social Agencies, circa 1930; Memorandum regarding the Inter-racial Sub-committee of the Recreation Committee [probably of the Washington Council of Social Agencies] and its mission, circa 1930.

SERIES 3.
FIELD NOTES ON BIRDS, 1912-1927. BOUND AND LOOSE. ARRANGED MOSTLY CHRONOLOGICALLY.

Box 1 of 19

This material includes mostly bound, daily notes, concerning Bartsch's bird explorations in the Florida Keys, Florida, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Bahamas, San Salvador, San Domingo, and Puerto Rico, 1913-1924.

Box 2 of 19

Field notes on birds, found separately from the 1913-1924 material, but related as to subject content.

SERIES 4.
RESEARCH EXPEDITION MATERIALS, 1907-1933. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.

Box 2 of 19

Notes on the Philippine Expedition of the steamer Albatross, No. 3, 1907-1909; Thomas Barrera Expedition to Cuba, 1914.

Expedition to the West Indies under the Walter Rathbone Bacon Travelling Scholarship, 1928-1930.

Box 3 of 19

Folder	1		List of supplies taken on the 1930 expedition, sent with expense account to disbursing officer, May 28, 1931
Folder	2		Charter of schooner Guillermito for 2 1/2 years, 1929
Folder	3		Bartsch correspondence, boat contracts, financial accounts, and newspaper clipping for the Walter Rathbone Bacon Travelling Scholarship Expedition, 1930-1931, which includes the following: Francis White, assistant secretary, Department of State, to the Secretary [Charles G. Abbot] of the Smithsonian regarding diplomatic action regarding the expedition, 5/27/1930; Charles G. Abbot, a letter of recommendation for Bartsch for the latter's expedition, 6/2/1930; Fred Corry Bishopp, principal entomologist in charge, Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture, to Bartsch, regarding notes, specimens and financial costs which are to be the property of, and to be stored by the Bureau during the expedition, 6/7/1930; Bartsch to William B. Marshall, United States National Museum, regarding the unseaworthiness of the vessel used for the expedition, 8/12/1930; Bartsch to Harry W. Story, vice consul, United States, at Santiago, Cuba, regarding his expedition activities, 9/24/1930; Bartsch to Carlos de la Torre, regarding Bartsch's activities on the Isle of Pine, 9/26/1930

The First Johnson-Smithsonian Deep-Sea Expedition to the West Indies

SERIES 5.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PUBLICATIONS, 1904-1950. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.

Box 4 of 19

Folder	1		Incomplete bibliography prepared by the Division of Mollusks, Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, no date
Folder	2		Publications, including: William H. Dall and Bartsch, "Synopsis of the Genera, Subgenera and Sections of the Family Pyramidellidae," 1904; Dall and Bartsch, "Notes on Japanese Indopacific and American Pyramidellidae," 1906; Dall and Bartsch, "The Pyramidellid Mollusks of the Oregonian Faunal Area," 1907; Bartsch, "Pyramidellidae of New England and the Adjacent Regions," 1909; Bartsch, "A Zoogeographic Study Based on the Pyramidellid Mollusks of the West Coast of America," 1912; Bartsch, "Descriptions of New West American Marine Mollusks and Notes on Previously Described Forms," 1917; Bartsch, "Ocean Currents, the Prime Factor in the Distribution of Marine Mollusks on the West Coast of America," 1921; John Tee-Van, "The Arcturus: Operation and Equipment," 1926; Bartsch, "Carlos De La Torre y De La Huerta," 1950.

SERIES 6.
DRAFT ARTICLES AND MONOGRAPHS. PUBLISHED AND UNPUBLISHED.

Box 4 of 19

Folders	3-4		Bartsch, "Pomatiasids of Puerto Rico and Caribbean Islands," no date
Folders	5-7		Bartsch, "Pomatiasids of Jamaica"

Box 5 of 19

Folders	1-2		Bartsch, "Pomatiasids of Jamaica," (continued)
Folders	3-6		Carlos de la Torre and Bartsch, "The Terrestrial Mollusks of the Family Urocoptidae in the Island of Cuba," and "Two Supplementary Reports by Bartsch," 1943-1950

Box 6 of 19

Folders

1-6

Carlos de la Torre and Bartsch, "The Terrestrial Mollusks of the Family Urocoptidae in the Island of Cuba," (continued)

Box 7 of 19

Folders	1-5		Carlos de la Torre and Bartsch, "The Terrestrial Mollusks of the Family Urocoptidae in the Island of Cuba," (continued)
Folder	6		Juan Gunlach, "Catalog of Land and Salt Water Mollusks of Cuba," no date
Folder	7		Bartsch, "Our East American Oyster," no date
Folder	8		Bartsch and Edgar A. Bowles, "The Cerions of the Cay Sal Bank Atoll," no date

Box 8 of 19

Folders	1-2		Bartsch, "Philippine Land Shells," no date, which include the following: A Synopsis of the Camaenoid Land Mollusks of the Philippine Islands; Lystopoma; Trochomoepha and other Land Shells; Obba;
Folders	3-5		Bartsch, "Philippine Zontidae," no date
Folder	6		Bartsch, "Philippine Helicostyla," original and subsequent references and diagnosis, no date

Box 9 of 19

Folders	1-3		Bartsch, "Philippine Helicostyla," original and subsequent references and diagnosis, no date (continued)
Folders	4-5		Bartsch, "The Larger Zonitid Land Mollusks of the Philippine Islands," no date, includes mollusk plates

Box 10 of 19

Folders	1-4		Bartsch, "The Larger Zonitid Land Mollusks of the Philippine Islands," no date, (continued) includes mollusk plates
Folder	5		The Bartsch Process for the Preservation of Wood and Fibres," 1914-1929, includes the following: correspondence from G. E. Rice, vice-president of Su-Den Wood Curing Company, Inc., New York City, regarding the impregnation of lumber with curing of oils, 1923; patents; Bartsch mss., "The Bartsch Process for the Preservation of Wood and Fibres"
Folder	6		Walker, McQuaid, Allen and Carter, mss., "The Chemical Warfare Service Marine Piling Investigation," June 25, 1926

SERIES 7.
NOTES, SPEECHES, AND SPECIMEN LISTS.

Box 11 of 19

Folders	1-2		Notes for preparation on a manuscript regarding birds, no title, no date
Folder	3		Mollusk notes in Spanish, probably regarding Cuba, no date
Folder	4		Urocoptidae notes, no date
Folder	5		Notes, no identification
Folders	6-8		Notes for a manuscript, no title (A-C, M-P, Q-Z) no date
Folder	9		Notes on Callolongehaeus, no date
Folder	10		Bartsch speech at the graduating exercise, National Park Service, May 31, 1945, "You Have Finished the Course--What Now?"
Folder	11		Mollusk specimen list, 5/4/1938

SERIES 8.
STUDENT THESES, REPORTS AND EXAMINATIONS, 1915-1936, INCLUDING THOSE WITH NO DATE AND NO AUTHOR LISTED. ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.

Box 12 of 19

Folder	1		Jose A. Gallardo, "The Cerions of Puerto Rico," June 1932
Folder	2		Bartsch and Gallardo, "Cerions of Puerto Rico and Hispanola," August 1932
Folder	3		Examination for Gallardo
Folder	4		Bartsch and Ruth Giggs, "A New Subgenus and Species of Cerion," no date
Folder	5		John C. Jones, "Goniobasis," August 22, 1934
Folder	6		Angel Lamoste, "Grand Caicos, A Comparative Summary of the Averages," no date
Folder	7		Lamoste, "Grand Caicos, A Comparative Summary of the Averages," May 1933
Folder	8		Kate Outwater, "A Study of the Embryonic Shells in Busycon Canaliculatum Linnaeus," 1915
Folder	9		Claudia Schmidt, "The Cuban Land Mollusks of the Subgenus Esochara," September 27, 1938
Folder	10		L. I. Sinitsin, "Notes on Lymnaeas Related to the Pastures," circa 1930s
Folder	11		Ben Sullivan, Jr., "The Histology of Endocrine Glands," no date
Folder	12		Arthur D. Tuckerman, "Herons of the District of Columbia," 1936
Folder	13		Willard H. Wright, "N-Butylidene Chloride, A New Anthelmintic," no date
Folder	14		No author given, "Hookworm Disease," no date.

SERIES 9.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND PRINTS, INCLUDING OVERSIZE.

This series contains prints, photographs and photographic negatives concerning Bartsch's scientific research, draft articles and monographs, published and unpublished, relating to mollusks as well as birds, shipworms, and underwater experiments, including his article on "Pirates of the Deep--Stories of the Octopus and Squid." Also included are photographs of maps of the Philippine Islands, Bartsch, Mrs. Bartsch (Bartsch's mother?), Carlos de la Torre, and of unidentified persons, housing, and landscape on Margarita Island, Loggerhead Key, Bird Key, and other islands in the Caribbean, as well as geographical locations in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Box 12 of 19

Urocoptidae Negatives, Profile and Aperture Views, 1-119 [6 folders removed to boxes 18-19, contain negatives.]

Urocoptidae Negatives [4 folders, Negatives of publication photographs of Cuban Urocoptidae removed to boxes 18-19, contain negatives.]

Box 13 of 19

Folders	1-2		Photographs of Urocoptidae
Folders	3-5		Photographs of Urocoptidae
Folder	6		Urocoptidae Plates with photographs mounted
Folder	7		Urocoptidae calenceelar? prints and negatives

Negatives used for Bartsch and Carlos de la Torre's monograph on Cuban shells (2 folders), Annulariidae negatives, 1-55 and Urocoptidae calenceelar? negatives removed to boxes 18-19

Box 14 of 19

Folders

1-2

Annulariidae negatives, 56-106

Cuban Annulariidae negatives, Hispanola Annulariidae negatives, and Jamaican Cyclophoridae negatives removed to boxes 18-19. Other negatives below also removed to boxes 18-19.

Negatives of cages used for the study of Fresh Water Unios in the Potomac River, circa 1936 removed to boxes 18-19

Box 15 of 19

Folders	1-2		3 x 4 bird photographs
Folder	3		3 x 4" flower photographs, identified
Folder	4		3 x 4" photographs of Aruba, Caicos Island Group, West Caicos, Castle Island, Group Cayman, Cay Sal Bank Atoll Group
Folder	5		3 x 4" photographs of Guantanamo and Santiago, Cuba, Solonat, Curacao, Wilmington, Delaware, District of Columbia, Potomac River, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe
Folder	6		3 x 4" photographs of Clearwater and Key West, Florida, Haiti, Isle of Pines, Inagua, Margarita Island
Folder	7		3 x 4" photographs of Puerto Rico, Saint Christopher, Saint Lucien, Saint Thomas, San Martin, San Vincent, Trinidad, Turk Island, Virginia

Box 16 of 19

Folder	1		3 x 4" photographs of Bartsch and Carlos de la Torre
Folder	2		3 x 4" photographs, unidentified
Folder	3		3 x 4" photographs, unidentified
Folder	4		8 x 10" prints for Bartsch, "Pirates of the Deep--Stories of the Squid and Octopus"
Folder	5		Ink half-tones for "Pirates of the Deep"
Folder	6		8 x 10" photographs of Bartsch's underwater experiments
Folder	7		8 x 10" photographs of Bird Key, July 21, 1912 and June 7, 1954
Folder	8		8 x 10" photographs of Loggerhead Key
Folder	9		8 x 10" photographs of Margarita Island
Folder	10		8 x 10" photographs of Tortugas, 1925, 1931
Folder	11		8 x 10" photographs of [the first] Mrs. Bartsch
Folder	12		8 x 10" photographs of Bartsch
Folder	13		Photographs of Carlos de la Torre
Folder	14		Photographs, no identification

Oversize, ink half-tones "Pirates of the Deep" [removed to oversize]

SERIES 10.
NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND SCRAPBOOK, 1907-1909, 1933, 1956.

Box 16 of 19

Folders	15-16		Newspaper clippings regarding mussels and pearls for the pearl button industry, 1907-1909
Folder	17		Newspaper clippings regarding Bartsch's activities in conservation, 1933

Box 17 of 19

Folders

1-2

Scrapbook of Letters Honoring Bartsch on his Eighty-Fifth Birthday, 1956.

SERIES 11.
ACETATE NEGATIVES REMOVED FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COLLECTION.

Boxes 18-19 of 19

• Acetate Negatives

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Revised: July 15, 2008