Reference Request
Finding Aids to Oral Histories in the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Record Unit 9510
Schultz, Leonard P. (Leonard Peter), 1901-1986, interviewee
Leonard P. Schultz Oral History Interview, 1976
Historical Note
Leonard Peter Schultz (1901-1986) began his career in ichthyology at Albion College, where he received his B.A. in 1924. Schultz received his M.S. in 1926 from the University of Michigan and in 1932 his Ph.D. in ichthyology from the University of Washington. From 1928 to 1936, Schultz taught at the College of Fisheries of the University of Washington. In 1936 Schultz was appointed Assistant Curator in charge of the Division of Fishes of the United States National Museum (USNM) and in 1938 was appointed Curator of the Division. After his retirement in 1968, Schultz was appointed a Research Associate of the Division of Fishes. Research interests included life histories of fishes and revisions of genera and families. Schultz did much field work and collecting in the United States, especially in the western states, and participated in expeditions to the Phoenix and Samoan Islands and the Maracaibo Basin in Venezuela. Schultz was a scientist with Crossroads Operation which conducted the scientific survey and resurvey of Bikini Atoll, the site of atomic bomb tests. Schultz also conducted a study of sharks and shark attacks for the Shark Research Panel of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.
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.
Schultz was interviewed for the Oral History Program because of his long career at the Smithsonian as a curator and scientist.
Descriptive Entry
Schultz was interviewed on March 23, 1976 by Pamela M. Henson. The interview covers his education; teaching career at the University of Washington; field work in Michigan, the western United States, Virginia, the Phoenix and Samoan Islands, Venezuela, and Bikini Atoll; research interests in life histories, tropical aquarium fishes and sharks; and his career as Curator of the Division of Fishes.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- American Institute of Biological Sciences. Shark Research Panel
- Henson, Pamela M., interviewer
- National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Department of Biology
- National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Division of Fishes
- Schultz, Leonard P. (Leonard Peter), 1901-1986
- United States National Museum. Division of Fishes
- University of Washington
Subject
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9510, Leonard P. Schultz Oral History Interview