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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

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Schultz, Leonard P. (Leonard Peter), 1901-1986, interviewee
Title:Leonard P. Schultz Oral History Interview
Dates:1976
Quantity:3 audiotapes (Reference copies). 6 digital .mp3 files (Reference copies).
Collection:Record Unit 9510
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This interview of Schultz by Pamela M. Henson covers his education; teaching career at the University of Washington; field work in Michigan, the western United States, Virginia, Phoenix and Samoan Islands, Venezuela and Bikini Atoll; research interests in life histories of fishes, tropical aquarium fishes, and sharks; and his career as Curator of the Division of Fishes.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9510, Leonard P. Schultz Oral History Interview

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Container List

Interview

Interview 1: March 23, 1976

Interview

Schultz discusses his education, teaching, field work, research, and career in ichthyology as Curator of Fishes, USNM, c. 1921-1976.

Interview

Transcript, pp. 1-101, of audio recording, 3 hours.

Interview

Recording of Interview: Total Recording Time: 3 hours

Interview
Original Masters: 3 5" reel-to-reel analog audiotapes
Preservation Masters: 6 digital .wav files
Reference Copies: 3 audiocassettes; 6 digital .mp3 files