Alaska, April 12 - May 23, 1877

Related Titles

Contained In: Edward William Nelson and Edward Alphonso Goldman Collection, circa 1873-1946 and undated

Series: SIA RU007364

Series: Smithsonian Field Book Project : an initiative to improve access to field book content that documents natural history

By

Nelson, Edward William, 1855-1934

Type

Book

Material

Archival material

Publication info

1877

Notes

This field book documents Nelson's time in Alaska between 12 April and 24 May 1877. Nelson traveled to Alaska as a weather observer in the Signal Corps of the United States Army in April 1877. From June 1877, he began his assignment to study the zoology of the area as well as meteorology, geography, and ethnology. In this field book, Nelson maintains a narrative description of his daily activities, in which he relates his observations of various animals including birds like albatrosses, finches, and hawks (he recounts his investigation of a hawk's nest), seals and otters, whales, and other animals. Nelson often includes taxonomic names (which species he thinks it is) and common names. Nelson also describes weather conditions, occasionally including the temperature. This volume includes some rough sketches of animals observed. Locations include Akutan, Seal Island, Unalaska, and possibly other locations in Alaska.

Subjects

Akutan Island , Alaska , Diary , Field notes , Naturalists , Seal Island , Unalaska Island , United States , Zoology

BHL Collections

Smithsonian Field Books collection

Language

English

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.141250