Record Unit 9591

Interview 1: June 24, 1977

Interview covers his youth in New York City; reminiscences of immediate family; education at Montessori kindergarten, Noble and Greenough School, Rivers School, and Fay School; move to Cambridge, Massachusetts; memories of World War I; summers in Litchfield, Connecticut at Kilvarock; and early bird walks, 1913-1924.

Transcript, pp. 1-19, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 2: September 30, 1977

Interview covers his friendship with the Goddards and John R. Mott, Jr.; entry into St. Paul's School and headmaster Dr. Samuel S. Drury; trip to India via the liner France, including his stay in Egypt, seeing a snake charmer, trip on the Mantua, arrival in Bombay, and the Taj Mahal Hotel, 1926.

Transcript, pp. 20-40, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 3: December 6, 1977

Interview continues his discussion of his trip to India including arrival in Bombay, Maharajah of Indore story, visit to Calcutta, tiger hunt, Nagpur, daily life of the British, Delhi train trip, Rajputan, Rajput history, Muslim Hindu differences, visits to Agra, Taj Mahal, Fatipur, Akbar, and Darjeeling, camping overnight, contrasts of Delhi and New Delhi, visit to relatives, Tibetan New Year celebration, and idea for trip to Kashmir that included houseboats, the Biddulphs, Del Lake, and Shalimar gardens; trip to Tibet, by Ripley and his younger sister, including travels through passes, Leh, Colonel Holmes, monasteries, tea bowls, the Hemis, monastery near border, and Hemis monastery 21 year cycle ceremony, 1927.

Transcript, pp. 41-76, of audiotape recording, 1.5 hours.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.5 hours

Interview 4: January 3, 1978

Interview traces his trek to Ladakh, including the Hemis monastery 21 year cycle ceremony; trek back to India and illness; visit to Kashmir; voyage back to the United States on the Lloyd Line Italiano and Berengaria; his return to St. Paul's School, including riding and farming, birding with friend Hugh Birckhead, the duck pond, Offal Eating Club, writing, debating and drama career plans, and the influence of Headmaster Drury, 1927-1932.

Transcript, pp. 77-99, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 5: March 6, 1978

Interview covers his graduation from St. Paul's School; his Yale years, including interests, professors, roommates, Leonard Sanford and ornithology, G. Evelyn Hutchinson and ecology, fencing, drama and criticism, and effects of the Great Depression; graduation and job prospects; graduate school at Columbia University in zoology; and invitation from the Crocketts to participate in a South Seas expedition, 1932-1936.

Transcript, pp. 100-121, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 6: April 18, 1978

Interview discusses his family home in Litchfield, Connecticut, and creation of a duck pond; influences on Ripley including F. C. Walcott and the Whites; family history; sister Julie's marriage and their establishment of the Forman School; sister Connie's marriage and the antique business; brother Louis' business and farm interests, his marriage and loss of son; fire at the family home, Kilvarock, in Litchfield; his trip to European trip with Dallas Bache Pratt, including visit to Venice and meeting Princess Sanfastino, a Dalmatian cruise and side trips, visit to St. Moritz and the high life, 1932-1936.

Transcript, pp. 122-144, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 7: November 6, 1978

Interview covers Litchfield Tercentenary; his work at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City; preparations for his first major scientific expedition, especially advice from Ernst Mayr and Frank M. Chapman; Denison-Crockett Expedition to New Guinea, including the voyage of the Chiva, visits enroute to Barro Colorado Island in Panama and the Galapagos Islands, readings such as Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace, meeting with the George Vanderbilt expedition, skills learned for inland excursions, and reminiscences of Charis Crockett and local people, 1936-1937.

Transcript, pp. 145-170, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 8: December 27, 1978

Interview continues his reminiscences of the Denison-Crockett Expedition to the South Seas, including the return voyage with animals, loss of babiduri, a visit from his mother, Constance Baillie Ripley, malaria, and a visit to Bali; volunteer work at American Museum of Natural History after his return; participation in the Vanderbilt Expedition to Sumatra, including a trip to Medan, the Medan zoo, orangutans and tigers, outfitting the expedition, climbing Mount Leuser, Mrs. Vanderbilt's illness, his vacation on Nias, voyage back on Tatsuta Maru via Shanghai and Tokyo, visits with Japanese colleagues, and return to California, 1938-1940.

Transcript, pp. 171-201, of audiotape recording, 1.5 hours.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.5 hours

Interview 9: June 21, 1979

Interview focuses on his return from Sumatra in 1939; illness; museum work at American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia; interaction with Thomas Barbour, Andrews and Cadwallader; Harvard University doctoral work; 1942 job offer from Smithsonian Secretary Alexander Wetmore to work at the United States National Museum and his research there; outbreak of World War II; his views on museum systematics; and pets including Eduardo and cockatua, 1939-1942.

Transcript, pp. 202-243, of audiotape recording, 1.5 hours.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.5 hours

Interview 10: October 17, 1979

Interview looks back at his European trip with family when Ripley was ten years old, including tours of Italy, France, Austria, England, and Scotland, 1923-1924.

Transcript, pp. 244-255, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 11: February 26, 1980

Interview includes his observations of the Japanese in New Guinea and Japan; his work at the American Museum of Natural History and Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia; his application to Naval Intelligence; completion of his doctoral work at Harvard, and job as curator of birds at the United States National Museum; wartime work with the Bureau of Economic Warfare and Coordinator of Information (COI), including his role as COI British liaison in New York City; involvement with the East Indies Institute and contacts; publishing and lecturing; and work for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), including trip to Egypt and India, 1937-1943.

Transcript, pp. 256-283, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 12: October 7, 1980

Interview covers his relationship with his father during the 1940s; Hadley and Louis XIV campaign on River IJssel; friendship with Lefty Lewis, especially book collecting; Yale Corporation; and duties for OSS, 1940s.

Transcript, pp. 284-302, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 13: December 9, 1980

Interview focuses on his pre war involvement with the East Indies Institute; the Ethnogeographic Board; the Coordinator of Information; OSS training and travel through Egypt, and arrival in Delhi prior to establishment of the South East Asia Command (SEAC), 1941-1942.

Transcript, pp. 303-322, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 14: December 22, 1980

Interview discusses SEAC command in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), including early days at the Galle Face Hotel, reminiscences of Robert Buell, consul general, gem collecting in Ceylon, early friendships with British already in Ceylon, setting up headquarters at Kandy, General Stilwell's visit, and Tai Li's visit, 1943-1945.

Transcript, pp. 323-345, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 15: April 8, 1981

Interview focuses on his role with the OSS in Ceylon, including his work as liaison officer with the British, trip to Agra and meeting with General Philip Christison, recollections of Lord Mountbatten, work on special Intelligence operations, and his perceptions of political situation in Southeast Asia, 1943-1945.

Transcript, pp. 345-379, of audiotape recording, 1.5 hours.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.5 hours

Interview 16: June 24, 1981

Interview recounts his mission to Thailand, including the plane trip, the Palace of the Roses, and radio skits, 1945.

Transcript, pp. 380-389, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 17: March 3, 1982

Interview discusses his Thailand mission in August of 1945; Japanese surrender and peace arrangements; Cold War politics; natural history collecting in Ceylon during World War II; his post war career decisions that led him to become a professor and curator at Yale University; marriage to Mary Moncrieffe Livingston; work on ornithological book collection; and expedition to the Naga Hills, India, in 1950, 1945-1950.

Transcript, pp. 390-444, of audiotape recording, 2.0 hours.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 2.0 hours

Interview 18: May 18, 1982

Interview focuses on his work as a systematic biologist, especially his views on systematics research and evolutionary theory, biogeography and evolution, influence of Ernst Mayr, Bernhard Rensch and G. Evelyn Hutchinson, behavioral studies of Konrad Lorenz and Oskar Heinroth, population genetics, the work of Theodosius Dobzhansky, Sewell Wright and Lee Dice, research for his doctoral thesis, systematics at Unite States National Museum during the 1940s, and Ripley's work with Salim Ali on The Birds of India project, 1940s-1960s.

Transcript, pp. 445-467, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 19: May 10, 1983

Interview recounts his expedition to the Moluccas in 1954; his career at Yale University and the Peabody Museum, including early committee and development work for the museum, William R. Coe and other donors, his role as director of the Peabody Museum, including his appointment and his innovations in public outreach, such as the Museum Associates, the Verrill Medal, new exhibits, and the opening of the King Tut exhibit, 1950-1964.

Transcript, pp. 468-495, of audiotape recording, 1.5 hours.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.5 hours

Interview 20: July 1, 1983

Interview covers his reminiscences of his Great Aunt Cora and Uncle Charles, 1920-1930; his role as director of the Peabody Museum, especially development of the Associates from the Women's Committee, stimulus to curatorial research productivity by publishing about their research in the Postilla newsletter and Ripley's emphasis on publication, 195-19 64.

Transcript, pp. 495-517, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 21: July 5, 1983

Interview discusses his participation on in the New Guinea Expedition of 1960, following an International Council of Bird Preservation special meeting in Japan, his trips to Bodim and Ilage Valley, and observations of tribal customs, 1960.

Transcript, pp. 518-547, of audiotape recording, 1.5 hours.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.5 hours

Interview 22: January 11, 1984

Interview continues his discussion of the New Guinea Expedition of 1960, including birds collected and subsequent publications, as well as changes in international field work; covers the combined ornithological congresses of 1962 the International Council for Bird Preservation and International Ornithological Committee; talks with Crawford Greenewalt at Cornell University, World Wildlife Fund formation; Smithsonian Secretary Leonard Carmichael's pending retirement; changes at Yale following Alfred W. Griswold's death, Ripley's selection as the eighth Smithsonian Secretary, family views on decision, and meeting with Leverette Saltonstall, 1960-1963.

Transcript, pp. 548-575, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 23: April 4, 1984

Interview covers his transition from Yale to the Smithsonian, the Audubon eagle painting, first impressions of staff, hiring of Phil Ritterbush, and plans for a music room at the Museum of History and Technology, 1963-1964.

Transcript, pp. 576-598, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 24: January 23, 1985

Interview ranges over his early art interests, especially the New York City art scene, his mother's role on the board of the Museum of Modern Art, his own collection, life in New York City, including the Century Club and Boone and Crockett Club, as well as the 1962 meeting in New York of the International Council for Bird Preservation, 1920-1963.

Transcript, pp. 599-612, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 25: June 3, 1985

Interview continues to discuss Ripley's art interests, including his program to develop the art side of the Smithsonian; background to the National Collection of Fine Arts (NCFA), including the 1930s National Gallery of Art legislation and its relationship to the NCFA, operation of the NCFA Commission under the conservative Paul Manship; Ripley's search for a modern art collection, his courting of art collector Joseph H. Hirshhorn, using his contacts with Roger Stevens and Mrs. Verner Reed, and his plans with Hirshhorn for a museum for the American people; the role of Smithsonian Regent John Nicholas Brown as the only Regent interested in modern art, and discussions with Lefty Lewis and Brown about the newly established National Portrait Gallery (NPG), 1935-1970. Interview also focuses on the Cooper-Hewitt, the National Design Museum, including the Committee to Save the Cooper Union, the role of Harry DuPont and John Nicholas Brown, the commission report, discussions of federal versus private issues, and questions about the new museum from Senator Claiborne Pell, 1963-1968.

Transcript, pp. 613-624, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 26: March 14, 1986

Interview focuses on the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG), including negotiations for the Hirshhorn, White House and Congressional assistance, selection of a site where the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology was located, selection of an architect for the new museum, reaction of John Walker of the National Gallery of Art, General Services Administration and Public Building Service problems with Piracci Construction, and opposition to the museum from Gilmore Clark and Sherman Lee. Interview then turns to the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the retirement of director Annemarie Pope; connections to Agnes Meyer; and the NCFA, including opposition to the HMSG by NCFA director David Scott and planning for NCFA's future, 1964-1970.

Transcript, pp. 625-650, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 27: May 22, 1986

Interview continues the discussion of Smithsonian art museums, including the Fine Arts and Portrait Gallery opening in 1968; NPG planning by Charles Nagel and Victor Proetz; NCFA planning by David Scott with emphasis on modern art; restoration of the Lincoln Gallery; staff issues at NCFA, the Hiram Powers studio acquisition, resignation of David Scott, and reaction by Frank Getlein. Interview covers Robert Hilton Simmons, who had an African Art museum background, worked on the Henry O. Tanner exhibit at NCFA, and his views on proper role of SI and SI administrators; early controversies relating to the Man and Beast symposium dinner, Benjamin West painting, and criticisms of the HMSG donation, 1964-1970.

Transcript, pp. 651-664, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 28: September 24, 1986

Interview continues discussion of Smithsonian art museums, including NCFA, directors David Scott and Joshua Taylor, program for NCFA, including regionalism and religious motifs, squabbles between Taylor and NPG director Marvin Sadik over use of the Fine Art and Portrait Galleries, Archives of American Art acquisition, NCFA and NPG commissions; National Gallery of Art's relations with the Smithsonian, including East Wing planning and Ripley's role on NGA board; creation of the Renwick Gallery of Art, including roles of William Walton of Fine Arts Commission, Libby Roe plans for building for National Capital Planning Commission, White House staff Harry McPherson and Douglass Cater, President Lyndon Baines Johnsons support and visit to building, concept of the Renwick as an extension of Blair House, GSA budget problems, and decrease in White House use of Blair House; and closes with a discussion of President Richard M. Nixon and advice on a planned sea level canal, 1964-1980.

Transcript, pp. 665-671, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 29: October 16, 1986

Interview continues discussion of Smithsonian art museums, including Renwick Gallery of Art, notably physical problems with exterior, selection of curator/director, proposals for the gallery as a mini-Smithsonian or Washington, D.C., museum or decorative arts museum, delays in opening, staffing the new museum, role of NCFA director Joshua Taylor, budget problems and continuing White House support; name change from NCFA to the National Museum of American Art; and 1972 Inaugural Ball, 1965-1968.

Transcript, pp. 672-686, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 30: March 19, 1987

Interview focuses on the Hillwood Museum, donated to the Smithsonian by Marjorie Merriweather Post, including Ripley's relations with Mrs. Post from Palm Beach, her decorative arts collection from Russia in the 1930s, relationship of Secretary Carmichael and the Board of Regents with Mrs. Post, discussions of transfer of Hillwood to Smithsonian before Ripley arrived, role of Richard Howland with the museum and Marvin Ross as curator; focus of the museum as a window on how American aristocracy lived; James C. Bradley and Richard Ault concerns over high cost of maintaining the museum in accordance with Mrs. Post's gift; return of the museum to the Post family, including role of Mrs. Riggs; Ripley's memories of Mrs. Post's house at Saranac Lake, New York, and retention of her gem collection at the National Museum of Natural History, 1960-1980.

Transcript, pp. 687-701, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 31: December 23, 1987

Interview discusses the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (ANM), including meetings with Charles Blitzer concerning lack of interest in Smithsonian by Washington, D.C., African American community; concerns that exhibits like A Nation of Nations at the National Museum of History and Technology should include all immigrants, not just Atlantic migration; Ellis Island as important symbol; the ghetto smell project with United States Time Company; planning begun in 1966 for a museum in rundown neighborhood, influence of Thomas Hoving, of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Harlem on My Mind exhibit, future of museums conference held at Aspen, Colorado, with Frank A. Taylor, Charles Blitzer and Charles Parkhurst; reaction to storefront museum idea by curators included "don't sully our objects;" meetings between Blitzer and Carol Marsh who helped find location, rejection of Adams Morgan as "too hot," choice of Anacostia, a stable community with a history, community planning meetings, acquisition of Carver Theater and its renovation for the new museum, hiring of John Kinard, successful opening of Anacostia Neighborhood Museum on September 15, 1967, Uncle Beasley, funding from Julia Butler Hanson, including appropriations and grants, support by Board of Regent, successes such as the bus tours to Smithsonian on the National Mall, visit by Douglass Cater, 1964-1967.

Transcript, pp. 702-714, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 32: January 11, 1988

Interview continues with the history of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, including its role as a showcase for Smithsonian in an African American community, goals to reflect and meet needs of a local, stable African American community, move by Director John Kinard towards art, not science or history; how neighborhood museum idea did take off; impact of riots in Washington, D.C., and the March on Washington in 1968, when Ripley opened Smithsonian museums to marchers and provided entertainment, trained guards to handle gently; anti-war marches on Washington, D.C., impact of riots near the National Mall during the Festival of American Folklife; role of Kinard in stopping attack outside the museum, and Ripley's observation that the success of ANM is quiet, but perhaps too quiet, 1966-1980.

Transcript, pp. 715-733, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 33: May 20, 1988

Interview completes discussion of the ANM, including ANM successes and failures; ANM relations with Smithsonian, plans for a museum of black culture, plans for a museum of the Americas, plans for a museum of the American Indian and Ripleys designs for a Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS) building near Federal Triangle, 1964-1980.

Transcript, pp. 734-746, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 34: July 7, 1988

Interview focuses on the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, conception and planning, legislation, Ripley report, search for space for WWICS, and the role of WWICS Trustees, 1964-1980.

Transcript, pp. 747-773, of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 35: July 8, 1988

Interview covers the Festival of American Folklife, how it developed, the roles of Ralph C. Rinzler, James Morris and others, the 1976 Bicentennial Festival, creation of a Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, Aditi Festival of India, in India, Washington, D.C., and New York City, and the Golden Eye Foundation, 1972-1983.

Transcript, pp. 774-820, of audiotape recording, 2.0 hours.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 2.0 hours

Interview 36: January 8, 1991

Interview covers Conservation of the Island of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, work with military and conservation groups, and establishment of the foundation, 1964-1983.

Transcript, pp. 821-831, of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 37: April 1, 1993

Interview begins a discussion of Ripley's role in the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, including his visit to the islands on his 1937 Crockett Expedition, a visit to Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal enroute, and birds observed on the ship, including rare petrels, 1930s-1980s.

No transcript available of audiotape recording, 1.0 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 1.0 hour

Interview 38: May 17, 1993

Interview includes reflections on the selection and role of Smithsonian Secretaries, especially the tenure of Samuel Pierpont Langley, the third Secretary from 1887 to 1906, 1860s-1980s.

No transcript available of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 39: May 20, 1993

Interview continues discussion of his work with the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, especially during the 1930s and 1950s, and the resolutions that led to the creation of the Foundation, 1930s-1950s.

No transcript available of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour

Interview 40: May 25, 1993

Interview completed discussion of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands and his role in international conservation, 1930s-1993.

No transcript available of audiotape recording, 0.5 hour.

Audio Recordings of Interviews: Total Recording Time: 0.5 hour