Cochran, Doris M. (Doris Mable), 1898-1968

Doris Mable Cochran (1898-1968) was born in North Girard, Pennsylvania on May 18, 1898, 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, and died on May 22, 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.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Field Book Project: Person : Description : rid_452_pid_EACP449