Alexander WETMORE

assistant secretary Smithsonian Institute

June 18, 1886 (age 92)

North Freedom, Wisconsin, United States

He was the sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Wetmore began federal service in 1910, working for the Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture. In 1915, he researched the use of lead shot in causing death in waterfowl. His paleontological research led to his work on the fossil birds Palaeochenoides mioceanus and Nesotrochis debooyi. From April 1923 to July 1924, Wetmore was the lead scientist of the Tanager Expedition, a series of five biological surveys to study the flora, fauna and geology of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Johnston Atoll and Wake Island. In 1924, Wetmore joined the Smithsonian Institution as the superintendent of the National Zoo in Washington, District of Columbia In 1925, Wetmore was appointed assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, becoming secretary between 1945 and 1952. In 1929 he participated in the Pinchot South Sea Expedition. He wrote A Systematic Classification for the Birds of the World (1930, revised in 1951 and 1960). This Wetmore Order received widespread acceptance, remaining popular until the end of the twentieth century. From 1944 to 1946 Wetmore served as the 15th president of The Explorers Club. Between 1946 and 1966 Wetmore made annual trips to Panama to study and collect specimens of the birds of the Isthmus. His 4-volume magnum opus, Birds of the Republic of Panama, was published by the Smithsonian between 1965 and 1984, the last volume appearing posthumously. He also served on the board of trustees of Science Service, now known as Society for Science & the Public, from 1946 to 1953. Several taxa of birds have been named in his honor, including the Cretaceous genus Alexornis and the tanagers Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron and Buthraupis wetmorei. Insects, mammals, amphibians, mollusks, and one plant (an Argentinian cactus), as well as a bridge in Panama and the Wetmore Glacier in the Antarctic, have also been named after him. His papers and an oral history interview are held at the Smithsonian Institution.

Alexander WETMORE

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assistant secretary Smithsonian Institute

Background

WETMORE, Alexander was born on June 18, 1886 in North Freedom, Wisconsin, United States. Son of Dr. Nelson Franklin and Emma Amelia (Woodworth) Wetmore.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Univercity Kansas, 1912. Master of Science, George Washington University, 1916. Doctor of Philosophy, 1920, honorary Doctor of Science, 1932, alumni award, 1945.

Doctor of Science, University Wisconsin, 1946.

Citation for distinguished service U. Kansas, 1941. Doctor of Science, Centre College (Kentucky), 1947.

Doctor of Science, Ripon College, 1959.

Career

He was the sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Wetmore began federal service in 1910, working for the Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture. In 1915, he researched the use of lead shot in causing death in waterfowl.

His paleontological research led to his work on the fossil birds Palaeochenoides mioceanus and Nesotrochis debooyi.

From April 1923 to July 1924, Wetmore was the lead scientist of the Tanager Expedition, a series of five biological surveys to study the flora, fauna and geology of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Johnston Atoll and Wake Island. In 1924, Wetmore joined the Smithsonian Institution as the superintendent of the National Zoo in Washington, District of Columbia In 1925, Wetmore was appointed assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, becoming secretary between 1945 and 1952.

In 1929 he participated in the Pinchot South Sea Expedition. He wrote A Systematic Classification for the Birds of the World (1930, revised in 1951 and 1960).

This Wetmore Order received widespread acceptance, remaining popular until the end of the twentieth century.

From 1944 to 1946 Wetmore served as the 15th president of The Explorers Club. Between 1946 and 1966 Wetmore made annual trips to Panama to study and collect specimens of the birds of the Isthmus. His 4-volume magnum opus, Birds of the Republic of Panama, was published by the Smithsonian between 1965 and 1984, the last volume appearing posthumously.

He also served on the board of trustees of Science Service, now known as Society for Science & the Public, from 1946 to 1953.

Several taxa of birds have been named in his honor, including the Cretaceous genus Alexornis and the tanagers Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron and Buthraupis wetmorei. Insects, mammals, amphibians, mollusks, and one plant (an Argentinian cactus), as well as a bridge in Panama and the Wetmore Glacier in the Antarctic, have also been named after him.

His papers and an oral history interview are held at the Smithsonian Institution.

Achievements

Alexander Wetmore has been listed as a noteworthy biologist. by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member: (F.) American Association for the Advancement of Science. American Ornithologists Union (President 1926-1929). Cooper Ornith. Club (Honorary, Board of Govs.).

Biol. Society of Washington (President 1929). Washington Academy, of Science (President 1927). Academy, of National Science (Correspondent).

Baird Ornith. Club (President 1928). Washington Biologist’s Field Club (President 1929). Zoological Society of London (Corresponding Member).

Ornithologische Gesellschaft Bayern (Honorary). Royal Hungarian Ornith. Institute. (Corresponding Member).

Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft (Honorary). Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. Sociedad Ornithologica del Plata.

American Phil. Society Author: Numerous reports and bulletins mainly on ornithology. Clubs: Cosmos (Washington), Explorers (New York).

Member of (F.) American Association for the Advancement of Science. American Ornithologists Union (President 1926-1929). Cooper Ornith. Club (Honorary, Board of governments). Biological Society of Washington (President 1929). Washington Academy, of Science (President 1927). Academy, of National Science (Correspondent). Baird Ornith. Club (President 1928). Washington Biologist’s Field Club (President 1929). Zoological Society of London (Corresponding Member). Ornithologische Gesellschaft Bayern (Honorary). Royal Hungarian Ornith. Institute (Corresponding Member). Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft (Honorary). Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. Sociedad Ornithologica del Plata. American Phil. Society Author: Numerous reports and bulletins mainly on ornithology. Clubs: Cosmos (Washington), Explorers (New York.

Connections

Married Fay Holloway, October 13, 1912 (deceased. Married second, Beatrice Thielen, December 16, 1953.

Father:: Nelson Franklin Wetmore
Mother:: Emma Amelia (Woodworth) Wetmore
Spouse:: Fay Holloway
Spouse:: Beatrice Thielen

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