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Personal papers of Philip S. Humphrey

 Collection
Call Number: PP 418

Overview

Philip S. Humphrey joined the faculty at the University of Kansas as the Director of the Natural History Museum in 1967. As Director, Humphrey oversaw two expansions of the Natural History Museum (Dyche Hall). The collection includes correspondence, research data, reports, journals, and manuscripts.

Dates

  • Creation: 1955 - 1996

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

These materials are stored in the KU Annex off-site storage area.

All researchers interested in reviewing this material must consult Spencer Research Library Public Services staff (785-864-4334 or ksrlref@ku.edu, 9-5 M-F CST) no less than three days in advance of a planned visit. Be advised that drop-in requests for this material cannot be accommodated.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Philip s. Humphrey (1926-2009)

Philip Strong Humphrey was born February 26, 1926, in Hibbing, Minnesota. He received his B.A. from Amherst College in 1949, his Masters from University of Michigan in 1951, and his Ph.D. from Michigan four years later. For two years he worked in the Museum of Zoology at University of Michigan.

In 1957 Humphrey joined the staff of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University as the Assistant Curator of Orinthology and Assistant Professor of Zoology. In June 1962, Humphrey moved to the Smithsonian Institute to become the Curator of the Division of Birds. From 1965 to 1967, Humphrey served as the Chairman of the Department of Vertebrate Zoology at the National Museum in the Smithsonian.

In 1967, Humphrey left the Smithsonian to join the staff at the University of Kansas as the Director of the Museum of Natural History. As Director, Humphrey oversaw two expansions of the Natural History Museum (Dyche Hall). The first doubled the size of the building, while the second provided safer storage for volatile specimens. The Museum also took control of several other natural history collections on campus, including the R.L. McGregor Herbarium, the Snow Hall Entomology Museum, and the Museum of Invertebrate Paleontology.

For two years Humphrey also served as the Chairman of the Department of Zoology, and continued to collaborate with the Smithsonian on research projects. During his career, Humphrey published nearly 100 articles, advised on dozens of committees, and was a member of numerous scientific societies. He retired in 1995.

Extent

13 Linear Feet (13 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Spanish; Castilian

Portuguese

Physical Location

PP 418

Physical Location

Annex (Contact Spencer Library Public Services)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Philip Humphrey, 2002.

Related Materials

Consult library staff regarding the availability of related photographs, biographical files, and scrapbooks.

Title
Guide to the Philip Humphrey Collection
Subtitle
Personal papers of Philip S. Humphrey
Author
Finding aid prepared by kn, 2002. Finding aid encoded by ad, 2004. Finding aid revised by mwh, 2020.
Date
2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/1638225270
Preferred citation
Personal papers of Philip S. Humphrey, University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334