Doris Mable Cochran Papers, circa 1891-1968

Object Details

Creator

Cochran, Doris M (Doris Mable) 1898-1968

Subject

Lutz, Adolpho 1855-1940

Lutz, Bertha 1894-1976

Cochran, Doris M (Doris Mable) 1898-1968

Stejneger, Leonhard 1851-1943

Peters, James Arthur 1922-1972

National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) Division of Reptiles and Amphibians

Doris Mable Cochran (1898-1968) was born in North Girard, Pennsylvania, and came to Washington, D.C., when her father received a government position. In November 1919 she was appointed an Aid to Leonhard Stejneger in the Division of Reptiles and Amphibians of the United States National Museum. She advanced through the Division becoming Assistant Curator in 1927, Associate Curator in 1942, and Curator in 1956. As Stejneger grew older, more of the work of the Division fell to Cochran, and following Stejneger's death in 1943, she became acting head of the Division and supervised the Division alone until 1964, when James A. Peters was appointed Associate Curator. She retired from the Museum in 1968.

Cochran's principal areas of interest were the reptiles and amphibians of Central and South America and of the West Indies, especially Haiti. She made two field trips to the region, in 1935 and 1962-1963, where she worked with Adolpho Lutz and his daughter Bertha, noted Brazilian herpetologists. In addition to her professional work, Cochran published a large number of popular articles and books on herpetology. She also was an accomplished scientific illustrator.

Organization

(1) Manuscripts, notes, data, and related materials on scientific work, circa 1921-1968; (2) personal materials, correspondence, and travel materials, 1891, 1900, 1907, 1919-1968; (3) Oversize material

Summary

These papers include manuscripts, notes, and data on herpetology; material concerning specimens received by the Division of Reptiles and Amphibians; photographs of reptiles and amphibians; personal material including clippings and photographs related to Cochran's education, her Ph.D. dissertation on the blue crab, and her Smithsonian career; personal correspondence; correspondence concerning publications; and material on Cochran's travels to Europe and South America.

Repository Loc.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520

1891

1891-1968

circa 1891-1968

Local number

SIA RU007151

Type

Manuscripts

Collection descriptions

Black-and-white photographs

Physical description

6.94 cu. ft. (12 document boxes) (1 16x20 box) (1 half document box)

Smithsonian Institution Archives

Topic

Herpetology

Amphibians

Record ID

siris_arc_217308

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0