William L. Finley
Encyclopedia
William Lovell Finley (August 9, 1876 - June 29, 1953) was an American
wildlife photographer and conservationist from Southern California
. The William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
was named in his honor.
to John Pettus Finley and Nancy Catherine Rucker. Finley's parents went west by covered wagon in 1852 from Saline County, Missouri to Santa Clara, California
when they were just small children. Finley's middle name, Lovell, was the name of another of the families that went west with the Finleys and Ruckers. Finley's great grandfather was Asa Finley
, the first elected judge of Arrow Rock
in Saline County, and his uncle was William Asa Finley, the first president of Oregon State University
.
and Tule Lake
. Their report in the November-December issue of Bird Lore helped prompt President Theodore Roosevelt
to set the areas aside as federal bird reservations. The same year, Finley was elected to the board of the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals (which later became the National Audubon Society
), to fill the term vacated by Isaac N. Field.
In 1906, Finley was elected the second president of the Oregon Audubon Society (which became the Audubon Society of Portland
in 1968).
In 1907, Finley published American Birds, which he and Herman T. Bohlman illustrated. In 1910 he was appointed to study fish and game commissions in other states, and in 1911, based on his information one was set up in Oregon.
In 1925, Finley was appointed by the Oregon Governor
Walter M. Pierce
to the State Game Commission.
He died on June 29, 1953 in Portland, Oregon
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
wildlife photographer and conservationist from Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge is a natural area in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, United States. It was created to provide wintering habitat for Dusky Canada Geese. Unlike other Canada Geese, Dusky Canada Geese have limited summer and winter ranges. They nest on Alaska's Copper River...
was named in his honor.
Family
He was born on August 9, 1876 in Santa Clara, CaliforniaSanta Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
to John Pettus Finley and Nancy Catherine Rucker. Finley's parents went west by covered wagon in 1852 from Saline County, Missouri to Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
when they were just small children. Finley's middle name, Lovell, was the name of another of the families that went west with the Finleys and Ruckers. Finley's great grandfather was Asa Finley
Asa Finley
Asa Finley , was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, and after marrying his first wife, Esther Gleaves in 1806, they migrated to Christian County, Kentucky and settled on land he had already surveyed for himself in 1803...
, the first elected judge of Arrow Rock
Arrow Rock, Missouri
Arrow Rock is a village in Saline County, Missouri, United States. The population was 79 as of the 2000 Census . The musical Tom Sawyer , based on the novel by Mark Twain, was filmed here. Arrow Rock Historic District has significant properties and the George Caleb Bingham House has been designated...
in Saline County, and his uncle was William Asa Finley, the first president of Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
Career
In 1905, Finley and Herman T. Bohlman visited and photographed Lower Klamath LakeLower Klamath Lake
Lower Klamath Lake is a lake in Siskiyou County, California, that currently serves to hold overflow water for irrigation. At one time it was connected to Upper Klamath Lake....
and Tule Lake
Tule Lake
Tule Lake is an intermittent lake covering an area of , long and across, in northeastern Siskiyou County and northwestern Modoc County in California, along the border with Oregon.-Geography:Tule Lake is fed by the Lost River...
. Their report in the November-December issue of Bird Lore helped prompt President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
to set the areas aside as federal bird reservations. The same year, Finley was elected to the board of the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals (which later became the National Audubon Society
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
), to fill the term vacated by Isaac N. Field.
In 1906, Finley was elected the second president of the Oregon Audubon Society (which became the Audubon Society of Portland
Audubon Society of Portland
The Audubon Society of Portland is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to wildlife conservancy in Portland, Oregon, U.S.Founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1909, it is one of the oldest such organizations in the world....
in 1968).
In 1907, Finley published American Birds, which he and Herman T. Bohlman illustrated. In 1910 he was appointed to study fish and game commissions in other states, and in 1911, based on his information one was set up in Oregon.
In 1925, Finley was appointed by the Oregon Governor
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
Walter M. Pierce
Walter M. Pierce
Walter Marcus Pierce was an American politician, a Democrat, who served as the 17th Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States House of Representatives from . A native of Illinois, he served in the Oregon State Senate before the governorship, and again after leaving the U.S. House...
to the State Game Commission.
He died on June 29, 1953 in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
External links
- American Birds from Google Books
- Selected images from American Birds from the Oregon State University Archives FlickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
page - William L. Finley Manuscript Collection at the Oregon State University Archives