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Letter from Sammy Ray to Alexander Wetmore, October 29, 1944

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Summary

Sammy Ray, a Pharmacist's Mate in the United States Navy in the Pacific during World War II, writes to Dr. Alexander Wetmore, Assistant Secretary, Director of the U.S. National Museum, and later sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian, of the benefits of binoculars for collecting bird specimens and asks for information on nesting patterns. Ray writes he is running out of shot and asks to be sent more, gives descriptions of 14 birds he collected for the Smithsonian and his experience in the Palau Operation.

Subject

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

Notes

  • Written by Sammy Ray, a Pharmacist's Mate in the United States 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.
  • The Palau Operation was part of the Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign from June through November 1944 during World War II. Ray describes it as "hell as far as I am concerned".

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, [email protected]

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Date

October 29, 1944

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

  • WW II
  • 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

ID Number

SIA2010-0630 and SIA2010-0631 and SIA2010-0632 and SIA2010-0633 and SIA2010-0634 and SIA2010-0635 and SIA2010-0636

Physical description

Number of Images: 7; Color: Color; Size: 6.25w x 10.h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper

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