Charles Foster Batchelder
Encyclopedia
Charles Foster Batchelder (July 20, 1856 – November 7, 1954) was an American ornithologist
and naturalist. He was an early member and President of the American Ornithologists' Union
, and of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. He also edited The Auk
, and before it, the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club.
in Cambridge
, Massachusetts
. As a youngster, he developed a friendship with a number of future figures in ornithology, such as William Brewster
, Henry Wetherbee Henshaw
, Henry Augustus Purdie, Charles Johnson Maynard
and William Earl Dodge Scott. Batchelder hardly knew his father, who had died when he was 18 months old. His sister also died at about the time he entered Harvard, having completed his studies at the local public high school.
In university, he came in contact with several leading thinkers, and had a particular admiration for Nathaniel S. Shaler and Henry L. Eustis
. He graduated in 1882 with a degree in engineering science. During that time, the group of nature-inclined youth led by Brewster met at the latter's home, and these meetings would eventually evolve into the Nuttall Ornithological Club (officially in 1873), of which Batchelder became a member in 1877. Two years later he was elected vice-president before later becoming treasurer, a position he would keep for half a century.
After his graduation, he traveled and collected extensively in the Southwestern United States
. He pursued a brief career in his original vocation upon his return in 1884, which only served to shake his frail health, a situation that was not helped by his subsequent travel to Europe, which lasted until 1887. His health would only be restored a few months before his return. Stuck in his oversea quarters, he worked on developing better labels and checklists.
He married Laura Poor Stone in February 1895. Of their four sons, only two survived to adulthood: Laurence and Charles Foster Jr. The family moved twice before settling at Peterborough
, New Hampshire
, on a farm with dilapidated lands that Batchelder used to make horticultural experiments, commenting: "there is no danger of my undertakings reaching such complete fruition that I shall be left with idle hands at the end." In the latter part of his life, the couple was renowned for their hospitality. Batchelder himself was gifted with a great capacity to analyze his fellow humans, and knew how to ask questions without antagonizing his interlocutor. He was also known for his dry wit and a habit of thinking aloud and abruptly changing subjects. In one instance he commented of another ornithologist, aged 85: "I think he is beginning to get old. I was very much tempted to give him a piece of my mind, but, under the circumstances, I think perhaps the best thing to do is to let matters slide." Batchelder's age at the time was ninety-five.
Batchelder was always very keen to dispel the originally widespread impression that the American Ornithologists' Union
(AOU) had originated in the Nuttall Ornithological Club. In fact, the Nuttall members were not very happy with how the Club was "rather unwillingly compelled" to transfer control of its Bulletin, which was to become The Auk
, to the AOU. Despite these tensions, Batchelder served as associate editor of the new publication from 1888 to 1893, and vice-president, then President (1900-1905) of the AOU.
As editor, he was envied for his ability to obtain any amount of money necessary to maintain the publication. Within the Nuttall Club, however, he kept in the background. After the death of Brewster, who had been President almost continuously since the Club's inception, the meetings naturally transferred to Batchelder's house, but he refused to be elected even as honorary President. He also originated and hosted the annual New Year
party, at least until 1949, when his increasing deafness and loss of eyesight made these too difficult. At the time, he was also handicapped following a hip fracture in 1943 that forced him to use crutches.
Although ornithology was his main interest, he also worked in botany
and zoology
, taking notes on, amongst other things, the activities of the hedgehogs living under his barn. He was a founding member of the New England Zoological Club in 1899, of which he published the proceedings, which Thomas Barbour
characterized as "a modest but enduring monument". Although he had taken classes in the subject, he became a member of the New England Botanical Club (and thus began regular contact with established botanists) only in 1905. He would contribute much to the collection of herbarium specimens (over 5,000) from southern New Hampshire, but generally thought little of his achievements in the subject. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1932.
Between 1934 and 1954 he was associated under one title or another with the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
. In his later life, he compiled a meticulous bibliography of C J. Maynard as a form of atonement for the harsh feelings he had developed against the man when Maynard had abandoned his functions as first editor of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Club, and became quite distressed upon learning that he had missed an item.
Wendell Taber concluded his obituary with an account of his last encounter with the man:
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
and naturalist. He was an early member and President of the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
, and of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. He also edited The Auk
The Auk
The Auk is a quarterly journal and the official publication of the American Ornithologists' Union, having been continuously published by that body since 1884. The journal contains articles relating scientific studies of the anatomy, behavior, and distribution of birds. The journal is named for the...
, and before it, the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club.
Biography
Batchelder was born to Francis Lowell Batchelder and Susan Cabot Foster-Batchelder, and grew up next to Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. As a youngster, he developed a friendship with a number of future figures in ornithology, such as William Brewster
William Brewster (ornithologist)
William Brewster was an American ornithologist. He was the curator of birds at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University from 1885 until his death. He was the co-founder, with Elliott Coues and Joel Asaph Allen, of the American Ornithologists' Union in 1883...
, Henry Wetherbee Henshaw
Henry Wetherbee Henshaw
Henry Wetherbee Henshaw was an American ornithologist.Henshaw studied at Cambridge High School where he met William Brewster. In 1869 he was forced to give up school due to ill health, and went on a collecting trip to Louisiana. This marked the start of his career as a field naturalist.In 1870...
, Henry Augustus Purdie, Charles Johnson Maynard
Charles Johnson Maynard
Charles Johnson Maynard was an American naturalist and ornithologist born in Newton, Massachusetts. He was a collector, a taxidermist, and an expert on the vocal organs of birds....
and William Earl Dodge Scott. Batchelder hardly knew his father, who had died when he was 18 months old. His sister also died at about the time he entered Harvard, having completed his studies at the local public high school.
In university, he came in contact with several leading thinkers, and had a particular admiration for Nathaniel S. Shaler and Henry L. Eustis
Henry L. Eustis
Henry Lawrence Eustis was a civil engineer, college professor, and soldier who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
. He graduated in 1882 with a degree in engineering science. During that time, the group of nature-inclined youth led by Brewster met at the latter's home, and these meetings would eventually evolve into the Nuttall Ornithological Club (officially in 1873), of which Batchelder became a member in 1877. Two years later he was elected vice-president before later becoming treasurer, a position he would keep for half a century.
After his graduation, he traveled and collected extensively in the Southwestern United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
. He pursued a brief career in his original vocation upon his return in 1884, which only served to shake his frail health, a situation that was not helped by his subsequent travel to Europe, which lasted until 1887. His health would only be restored a few months before his return. Stuck in his oversea quarters, he worked on developing better labels and checklists.
He married Laura Poor Stone in February 1895. Of their four sons, only two survived to adulthood: Laurence and Charles Foster Jr. The family moved twice before settling at Peterborough
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, on a farm with dilapidated lands that Batchelder used to make horticultural experiments, commenting: "there is no danger of my undertakings reaching such complete fruition that I shall be left with idle hands at the end." In the latter part of his life, the couple was renowned for their hospitality. Batchelder himself was gifted with a great capacity to analyze his fellow humans, and knew how to ask questions without antagonizing his interlocutor. He was also known for his dry wit and a habit of thinking aloud and abruptly changing subjects. In one instance he commented of another ornithologist, aged 85: "I think he is beginning to get old. I was very much tempted to give him a piece of my mind, but, under the circumstances, I think perhaps the best thing to do is to let matters slide." Batchelder's age at the time was ninety-five.
Batchelder was always very keen to dispel the originally widespread impression that the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
(AOU) had originated in the Nuttall Ornithological Club. In fact, the Nuttall members were not very happy with how the Club was "rather unwillingly compelled" to transfer control of its Bulletin, which was to become The Auk
The Auk
The Auk is a quarterly journal and the official publication of the American Ornithologists' Union, having been continuously published by that body since 1884. The journal contains articles relating scientific studies of the anatomy, behavior, and distribution of birds. The journal is named for the...
, to the AOU. Despite these tensions, Batchelder served as associate editor of the new publication from 1888 to 1893, and vice-president, then President (1900-1905) of the AOU.
As editor, he was envied for his ability to obtain any amount of money necessary to maintain the publication. Within the Nuttall Club, however, he kept in the background. After the death of Brewster, who had been President almost continuously since the Club's inception, the meetings naturally transferred to Batchelder's house, but he refused to be elected even as honorary President. He also originated and hosted the annual New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
party, at least until 1949, when his increasing deafness and loss of eyesight made these too difficult. At the time, he was also handicapped following a hip fracture in 1943 that forced him to use crutches.
Although ornithology was his main interest, he also worked in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, taking notes on, amongst other things, the activities of the hedgehogs living under his barn. He was a founding member of the New England Zoological Club in 1899, of which he published the proceedings, which Thomas Barbour
Thomas Barbour
Thomas Barbour was an American herpetologist. From 1927 until 1946, he was director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology founded in 1859 by Louis Agassiz at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
characterized as "a modest but enduring monument". Although he had taken classes in the subject, he became a member of the New England Botanical Club (and thus began regular contact with established botanists) only in 1905. He would contribute much to the collection of herbarium specimens (over 5,000) from southern New Hampshire, but generally thought little of his achievements in the subject. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1932.
Between 1934 and 1954 he was associated under one title or another with the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. In his later life, he compiled a meticulous bibliography of C J. Maynard as a form of atonement for the harsh feelings he had developed against the man when Maynard had abandoned his functions as first editor of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Club, and became quite distressed upon learning that he had missed an item.
Wendell Taber concluded his obituary with an account of his last encounter with the man: