State Paleontologist's research and publication files
Statement on Language
Some content in this finding aid may contain offensive terminology. For more information on why this language is occasionally retained, see: New York State Archives Statement on Harmful Language in Descriptive Resources.
Overview of the Records
Repository
- New York State Archives
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230
Summary
- This series consists primarily of research material and articles written by the New York State Paleontologist for publications, such as "The Conservationist," and journals of professional scholarship. Topics include taxonomy, classification, and description of fauna and flora fossils; descriptions of strata; geology of specific localities throughout New York State; tectonics and geological nomenclature. Also included are articles written by other authors; correspondence, hand drawn maps; field notes; photographs; drawings; diagrams; galleys; and reprints of published articles.
Title
- State Paleontologist's research and publication files
Quantity
- 4.75 cubic feet
Inclusive Dates
Series Number
- B1511
Creator
Arrangement
B1511-97:Alphabetical by subject.
B1511-09:Unarranged.
Administrative History
Dr. Donald W. Fisher was Assistant New York State Paleontologist (1953-1954) and New York State Paleontologist (1955-1982).
Scope and Content Note
This series consists primarily of research material and articles written by Dr. Donald W. Fisher, New York State Paleontologist (1955-1982). The articles were written for a variety of popular publications, such as "The Conservationist," as well as journals of professional scholarship.
Topics of the material vary widely and include taxonomy, classification, and description of fauna and flora fossils; descriptions of strata; geology of specific localities throughout New York State; tectonics; and geological nomenclature. Articles for popular periodicals deal with such topics as where to look for fossils; regional prehistory; recent discoveries; and explanations of the origins of local geological features.
The records also include copies of articles written by other authors and reviews of them by Dr. Fisher; material related to professional conferences; exhibit design; administrative files; and subject and research material apparently unrelated to publication topics. A small amount of material dates from Dr. Fisher's tenure as Senior Paleontologist and Stratigrapher.
Types of material in the series include hand drawn maps; correspondence and memoranda; printed maps with notations and corrections; handwritten rough drafts; typed copies with notations and corrections; carbon copies; field notes; photographs; drawings; diagrams; galleys; and reprints of published articles.
A significant amount of correspondence related to publications includes letters and copies of replies to publishers, coauthors, reviewers, editors, members of the geological community, and members of the general public; comments by colleagues on manuscripts and published articles; and comments by Dr. Fisher on articles written by other authors.
B1511-09: This accretion, similarly, consists of correspondence, reviews, photographs, and draft material chiefly related to the scientific publications of Dr. Donald W. Fisher and his colleagues. Other records include proposals and timetables for field and research projects, requests for reprints of published articles, and newspaper articles on recent local geologic discoveries.
Related Material
Series B1058, Photographic prints and negatives of fossil tentaculitids, include illustrations for Dr. Fisher's seminal writing, "Small Conoidal Shells of Uncertain Affinities". Series B0579, A4211, and B0582 contain writings of other New York State Paleontologists.
Other Finding Aids
B1511-97: Folder list.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.
Access Terms
Personal Name(s)
Corporate Name(s)
- University of the State of New York
- New York (State). Education Department
- New York State Museum and Science Service
Geographic Name(s)
Subject(s)
- Paleontologists--New York (State)
- Paleontology--New York (State)
- Fossils--New York (State)--Classification
- Geology, Structural--New York (State)
- Geology--Research--New York (State)