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

Record Unit 7123

Walsh, Benjamin Dann, 1808-1869

Benjamin Dann Walsh Field Notebooks, 1860-1869
Repository: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator: Walsh, Benjamin Dann, 1808-1869
Title: Benjamin Dann Walsh Field Notebooks
Dates: 1860-1869
Quantity: 0.25 cu. ft. (1 half document box)
Collection: Record Unit 7123
Language of Materials: English
Summary:

This collection consists of two field notebooks recording Walsh's observations of insect behavior and development in the vicinity of his home, Rock Island, Illinois. They also contain some clues to Walsh's reading habits and correspondents, as well as sketches and clippings from newspapers. The notebooks contain meticulous detail and show an evident interest in questions of economic entomology. The last pages of volume two contain an account of the founding of the Rock Island County branch of the Kansas Settlers Society of Chicago, June 12-25, 1856; Walsh was an officer and member of the Executive Committee of this body.

Historical Note

Benjamin Dann Walsh (1808-1869) was born in Great Britain and educated at Oxford. Prepared for the Church, he instead became a writer and, after emigrating to the United States, a farmer, lumber dealer, and entomologist. Walsh became state entomologist of Illinois in 1867 and, with Charles Valentine Riley, founded the American Entomologist in 1868, a year before his death.

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Descriptive Entry

This collection consists of two field notebooks recording Walsh's observations of insect behavior and development in the vicinity of his home, Rock Island, Illinois. They also contain some clues to Walsh's reading habits and correspondents, as well as sketches and clippings from newspapers. The notebooks contain meticulous detail and show an evident interest in questions of economic entomology. The last pages of volume two contain an account of the founding of the Rock Island County branch of the Kansas Settlers Society of Chicago, June 12-25, 1856; Walsh was an officer and member of the Executive Committee of this body.

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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 7123, Benjamin Dann Walsh Field Notebooks

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Container List

Box 1

Volume 1 1860-1868, "Journal of Facts in Natural History; partially indexed record of Walsh's study of behavior and habitats of insects in the region of his home; frequent, careful descriptions of anatomy, coloration, and diet of captured species; often quotes from other students, observers, journals; news clippings; concern with economic aspects of entomology apparent. The last pages of this volume contain an account of the founding of the Rock Island County Branch of the Kansas Settlers Society of Chicago, Illinois, June 12-25, 1856; Walsh was officer and member of executive committee for this body.

Volume 1, 1860-1868 (Image nos. SIA2013-05049 to SIA2013-05241)
Box 1 of 1

Volume 2 1866-1869, much like volume 1; partial index; fewer drawings and clippings; more attention to specific remedies for harmful insects; more references to contacts and correspondents in adjoining states; annotated list of Illinois horticulturists, likely not exhaustive.

Volume 2, 1866-1869 (Image nos. SIA2013-05242 to SIA2013-05371)
Box 1 of 1

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