| Description | The series consists of the correspondence of successive heads of the Reptile Section of the Museum. Letters are concerned with the presentation, purchase and exchange of specimens, with the enquiries of professional zoologists and members of the public, and with the research projects of Museum staff. Letters come from institutions and individuals all over the world, including The Indian Museum, Calcutta and The American Museum of Natural History, New York, to name but a few. Along with the letters there are sketches, diagrams, newspaper cuttings and photographs. The correspondence from Boulenger's time in charge of the Section relates to fish and amphibians as well as reptiles. |
| AdminHistory | Reptiles were curated within the 'Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish Section' with George Albert Boulenger (1858-1937) as Head of Section from 1881. Boulenger's main achievements were with the reptiles, and published extensively on this subject during his time as curator, and retained responsibility for this group until his retirement in 1920. Miss Joan Beauchamp Procter (1897-1932) who had worked with Boulenger from 1917-1920 was appointed caretaker of the section until 1923 when the position as curator of Reptiles was appointed to Hampton Wildman Parker. Parker became Keeper of Zoology in 1947 and remained as Keeper and curator of Reptiles until his retirement in 1957. |