Letter from Alexander Wetmore to Sammy Ray, November 14, 1944
ID: SIA2010-0628 and SIA2010-0629
Creator: Wetmore, Alexander 1886-
Form/Genre: Document
Date: November 14, 1944
Citation: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit: 192, Box: 557, Folder: 166401-166425
Usage Conditions Apply
The Smithsonian Institution Archives welcomes personal and educational use of its collections unless otherwise noted. For commercial uses, please contact photos@si.edu.Summary
A two page letter written by Alexander Wetmore, then Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian, to Sammy M. Ray, a Pharmacist's Mate I/C in the U.S. Navy, from 1942-1945, on November 14, 1944. Ray and Wetmore maintained an active correspondence throughout Ray's tour of duty. The letter discusses Ray's collecting activities, primarily birds, in the Pacific Islands during WW2. In the letter Wetmore sends words of encouragement about the specimens that Ray is sending to the United States National Museum. Wetmore also advises Ray on where to find nests and what types of birds he may see through the spring months. Additionally, Wetmore mentions that he would like to send more shot to Ray and that he appreciates Rays descriptions of combat operations. Ray was one of the many of the soldiers who collected specimens for the USNM during World War II. Ray's specimens are housed in the National Museum of Natural History.
Subject
- Wetmore, Alexander 1886-
- Ray, Sammy M (Sammy Mehedy) 1919-
- United States National Museum
- National Museum of Natural History (U.S.)
- United States Navy
- National Collections
Category
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Notes
This letter consists of two pages: SIA2010-0628 page 1, SIA2010-0629 page 2.
Contained within
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit: 192, Box: 557, Folder: 166401-166425
Contact information
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
Date
- November 14, 1944
- 20th century
Restrictions & Rights
No restrictions
Topic
- Veterans
- Letters
- Birds
- Field work
- World War, 1939-1945
- Letter writing
- Archaeology
- WW II
- Animals
- Collectors and collecting
- Documents
- Specimens
- Collection and preservation
- Acting Secretaries
- Military
- Birds--Collection and preservation
- Fieldwork
- Armed Forces
- Ornithology
- Ornithology--Field work
Place
Islands of the Pacific
Form/Genre
- Document
- Paper
- Letters (correspondence)
ID Number
SIA2010-0628 and SIA2010-0629
Physical description
Number of Images: 2 Color: Color; Size: 8w x 10.5h ; Type of Image: Document ; Medium: Paper