444 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1963 



two sons born in Brooklyn, N.Y. The oldest daughter married 

 a Frencliman, Rene Champollion. They made their home in Paris, 

 and had one child, Andre. As a yomig student in an American college, 

 Andre visited the Corbin Preserve and, for a class in English compo- 

 sition, wrote a series of naive but enlightening essays about it which 

 were published in 1899. In later years this grandson became a di- 

 rector of the preserve. Corbin's first son lived but a few years. His 

 second son, Austin, Jr., succeeded his father in his banking and other 

 business interests, and also in the administration of the preserve. 



The elder Corbin made his home at a fenced woodland estate on 

 Long Island. In 1885 a friend presented him with a few young deer, 

 wliich he kept because of the interest of his son, Austin, Jr., though 

 he himself was not then a sportsman or a naturalist. The deer thrived, 

 and presently there were added antelope, elk, and bison. In addition, 

 Corbin had 25 elk in a 10-acre enclosure at Manhattan Beach ; but the 

 land was insufficient. Corbin was interested not in pets or do- 

 mesticated animals, but in wild creatures. He had observed the 

 vanishing of the bison from the Iowa plains and he resolved that at 

 least some of them should be preserved for posterity. In 1886 he re- 

 turned to Newport to devote his remaining years to what became more 

 than a passionate hobby. 



In speaking of philanthropy and conservation, Udall (1961) has this 

 to say : "On looking back over the history of conservation it is sur- 

 prising how much of our total accomplishment is attributable to quiet 

 men from private life who at crucial moments have provided the needed 

 inspiration and wherewithal." Austin Corbin was such a man, though 

 perhaps "quiet" is not altogether appropriate. A contemporary, 

 "William H. Child (1910, 1 : 314), described him in these words: "His 

 robust and active mind, his keen intelligence, his indomitable will, his 

 rugged independence and self-reliance made him a natural leader of 

 men. Whatever he did, was done with his whole strength. He de- 

 voted his talents to the accomplishment of worthy objects. His mis- 

 sion was to build up, and not destroy. Aggressive, masterful, and 

 fearless as he was, he also possessed the gentler traits of a genial man- 

 ner, a hearty honesty, and kindly and generous disposition which 

 endeared him to all his associates." 



LITERATURE CITED 



American Bison Societt. 



1913. Sixth annual report, 61 pp. Brooklyn, N.Y. 



1918. Twelfth annual report, 37 pp. Brooklyn, N.Y. 

 Anqwin, Pkeo. 



1955. What comes naturally. Outdoor late, vol. 115, No. 5, p. 28. 

 Anonymous. 



1955. The National Bison Range. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Refuge 

 Leaflet No. 12, 4 pp. 



