Charles K. Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Charles K. Carpenter was a prominent minister in northern Illinois
and a charter member of the Illinois State Academy of Science. During his years of service as a minister, his avocation
was recording observations of nature and preparing study skins and life mounts of animals of the region. After his retirement from the church in 1940, he organized his collections and observations into the Northern Illinois Museum of Natural History
, which he maintained at his home in Baileyville
, Ogle County, Illinois
. After his death in 1948, most of his life mounts were given to a high school, where they remained until 1983 when they were donated to the Illinois State Museum
. Many of his bird study skins, egg sets, and photographs were given to Cornell College
in Mount Vernon, Iowa
; in 1985-1986 these were transferred to the Illinois State Museum
. Among his specimens was a life mount of a (now extinct) Passenger Pigeon
, Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus, 1766), collected by his father, Edwin A. Carpenter (born in 1846 in Pennsylvania
, died in 1919 in Illinois). This specimen is one of only 19 complete and 7 partial skeleton specimens of Passenger Pigeons known to exist in museum collections.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and a charter member of the Illinois State Academy of Science. During his years of service as a minister, his avocation
Avocation
An avocation is an activity that one engages in as a hobby outside one's main occupation. There are many examples of people whose professions were the ways that they made their livings, but for whom their activities outside of their workplaces were their true passions in life...
was recording observations of nature and preparing study skins and life mounts of animals of the region. After his retirement from the church in 1940, he organized his collections and observations into the Northern Illinois Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History
A museum of natural history is a museum with exhibits about natural history, including such topics as animals, plants, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, and climatology. Some museums feature natural-history collections in addition to other collections, such as ones related to history, art and...
, which he maintained at his home in Baileyville
Baileyville, Illinois
Baileyville is an unincorporated community in Ogle County, Illinois, and is located west of Rockford.- Demographics :- External links :*...
, Ogle County, Illinois
Ogle County, Illinois
Ogle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 53,497, which is an increase of 4.8% from 51,032 in 2000. Its county seat is Oregon, and its largest city is Rochelle...
. After his death in 1948, most of his life mounts were given to a high school, where they remained until 1983 when they were donated to the Illinois State Museum
Illinois State Museum
The Illinois State Museum is the official museum of the natural history of the U.S. state of Illinois. The headquarters museum is located on Spring and Edwards Streets, one block southwest of the Illinois State Capitol, in Springfield, the state capital...
. Many of his bird study skins, egg sets, and photographs were given to Cornell College
Cornell College
Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Originally called the Iowa Conference Seminary, the school was founded in 1853 by Reverend Samuel M. Fellows...
in Mount Vernon, Iowa
Mount Vernon, Iowa
Mount Vernon is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States, adjacent to the city of Lisbon. The city's population was 3,390 when the 2000 census figures were released, but that number was later revised to 3,808 because the Census Bureau had incorrectly reported that 418 residents of a Cornell...
; in 1985-1986 these were transferred to the Illinois State Museum
Illinois State Museum
The Illinois State Museum is the official museum of the natural history of the U.S. state of Illinois. The headquarters museum is located on Spring and Edwards Streets, one block southwest of the Illinois State Capitol, in Springfield, the state capital...
. Among his specimens was a life mount of a (now extinct) Passenger Pigeon
Passenger Pigeon
The Passenger Pigeon or Wild Pigeon was a bird, now extinct, that existed in North America and lived in enormous migratory flocks until the early 20th century...
, Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus, 1766), collected by his father, Edwin A. Carpenter (born in 1846 in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, died in 1919 in Illinois). This specimen is one of only 19 complete and 7 partial skeleton specimens of Passenger Pigeons known to exist in museum collections.