William C. Dilger papers, 1950-1970.
Collection Number: 21-18-4214
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
William C. Dilger papers, 1950-1970.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
21-18-4214
Abstract:
Collection consists of research notebooks, photographs, slides, 16mm films and some
additional papers and publications.
Creator:
Dilger, William C.
Quanitities:
6 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English
William C. Dilger '46, M.S. '51, Ph.D. '55, was a professor of neurobiology and behavior.
He served as the director of research at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Dilger's
research focused on the genus Agapornis, which included the small parrots known as
lovebirds. He studied behaviors and whether they are learned versus inherited.
Collection consists of research notebooks, photographs, slides, 16mm films and some
additional papers and publications. Much of the material relates to the study of birds
in the genus Agapornis. The film collection consists of nearly 200 16mm films, mainly
from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Films include several different species of lovebirds
as well as a few others. Roseicollis, cana, personata fischeri, are all included.
Other species include, Aequidens portalegrensis, Cichlasoma meeki, Trichogaster trichoptetus,
Spinus tristis, Loriculus galgulus, Pterocnemia pennata, Betta slendens, and many,
many others. Films depict behaviors such as preening, courtship, mating, fighting,
etc.. A card index to all the films is included. Photographs, slides and negatives
includes images of birds from various locations including South Africa, but also of
individuals such as colleagues at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and other
scientists. Mainly Agapornis and Rhea birds, but also other birds and animals including
amphibians. Slide trays include indices in lids, slides are numbered and organized
in the trays. Slides of research facilities include the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
in Seewiesen, aviaries, zoos or other buildings in Leiden, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Oxford,
Ludwigsburg, Ithaca, Groningen Extensive behavioral fieldnotes in binders, some taken
at the Catskill Game Farm, include many notes on Rhea Americana as well as Agapornis
and others. Sixteen numbered volumes of notes on Agapornis from 1954 to 1963. Audio
reels are mainly of birds, but also some other items including reels from talks in
Cambridge at the International Ethological Congress. Lectures by Konrad Lorenz, William
Homan Thorpe and others. Additional material includes Data sheets on research, notes
on gamopractic experience. Draft sketches and layout for a book on Canada geese will
Dilger illustrations. Readings for classes, notebook from Zoology 126, Birds of the
World.
Several dozen specimens of Agapornis feces on filter papers collected and cataloged
by Dilger were removed from the collection.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
William C. Dilger papers, #21-18-4214. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections,
Cornell University Library.
Names:
Cornell University -- : Faculty.
Cornell University. Laboratory of Ornithology
Subjects:
Ornithologists.
Ornithology.
Neurobiology.
Lovebirds.
Animal behavior.
Form and Genre Terms:
Slides.
Film
Photographs.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 |
16 field notebooks, Agapornis
|
1954-1963 | |
Box 2 |
Research notes
|
||
Scope and Contents
Loose notes and data sheets and two blue journal notebooks.
|
|||
Box 3 |
Negatives, Slides, Photographs
|
||
Scope and Contents
8 large slide boxes with indices inside, several loose packages of slides, several
sets of photo negatives, and a number of loose photographs of various bird and non-bird
subjects.
|
|||
Box 1 |
Card Index to Films 1-189
|
||
Scope and Contents
Contains descriptive information about the films, including species, date, location,
behaviors, etc..
|
|||
Box 4 |
Films 1-89
|
||
Scope and Contents
Small 16mm film containers. Some films missing
|
|||
Box 5 |
Films 90-189, plus others
|
||
Scope and Contents
Small 16mm film containers. Some films missing.
|
|||
Box 6 |
Audio reels and 3 films
|
||
Scope and Contents
14 7" audio reels, 10 5" audio reels, 2 16mm films, 1 8mm film.
|