Letter from Sammy Ray to Alexander Wetmore, September 3, 1944

Summary

Sammy Ray, a Pharmacist's Mate in the United States Navy in the Pacific during World War II, discusses his previous specimens sent to Dr. Alexander Wetmore, Assistant Secretary, Director of the U.S. National Museum, and later sixth secretary of the Smithsonian; specimens that are in the mail to Dr. Wetmore (55 birds and 1 bat); and his hopes for collecting at his current location. He also asks for more shot to continue collecting, and mentions birds he as seen.

Subject

• Wetmore, Alexander 1886-
• United States National Museum Dept. of Birds
• United States Navy
• United States National Museum Dept. of Biology Division of Birds

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

Written by Sammy Ray, a Pharmacist's Mate in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II, who collected specimens for the United States National Museum. Throughout the War, Ray maintained correspondence with Dr. Alexander Wetmore, the sixth secretary of the Smithsonian.

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

• September 3,1944
• 20th century

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

• Animals
• Letters
• Collectors and collecting
• Specimens
• Birds
• Collection and preservation
• World War, 1939-1945
• Birds--Collection and preservation

Place

Islands of the Pacific

Form/Genre

• Document
• Paper
• Letters (correspondence)

ID Number

SIA2010-0844 and SIA2010-0845 and SIA2010-0846 and SIA2010-0847 and SIA2010-0848 and SIA2010-0849 and SIA2010-0850

Physical description

Number of Images: 7; Color: Color; Size: 5.05w x 8.05h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper

Full Record

View Full Record