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Paul Lester and Carolyn Errington papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: RS 13/25/51

Scope and Content

This collection (1906-2008, undated) contains correspondence with numerous colleagues including Durward L. Allen, Marston Bates, Kai Curry-Lindahl, Jay N. Darling, Charles Elton, Ira N. Gabrielson, Joe Hickey, David Lack, A. Starker Leopold, Aldo Leopold, G.W. Malaher, W.L. McAtee, Margaret M. Nice, Lauri Siivonen, Herbert L. Stoddard, and William Vogt. The documents also contain articles, papers and stories, a bibliography of his writings, and manuscripts of books, which include Muskrats and Marsh Management (1961), Muskrat Populations (1963), Of Men and Marshes (1957), Of Predation and Life (1967), and The Red Gods Call (1973). Also in the collection are research and lecture notes pertaining to vertebrate ecology, population dynamics. In addition there are materials regarding the professional organizations to which Dr. Errington belonged including American Ornithologists' Union, Iowa Conservation Commission, Ecology Society, National Audubon Society and the Wildlife Society.

Dates

  • Creation: 1929-2008, undated

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

Dr. Paul Lester Errington was born June 14, 1902 near Bruce, South Dakota. He earned a B.S. (1930) from South Dakota State College (University). He received his Ph.D. (1932) from the University of Wisconsin.

Dr. Errington joined the Iowa State faculty as a Research Assistant Professor (1932-1938) in zoology to establish and lead the first Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit in the United States. During his years at Iowa State, he was promoted to Research Associate Professor (1938-1948) and to Research Professor (1948-1962). Dr. Errington was considered an international authority on the phenomena of predation and automatic mechanisms of population regulation. His professional area of expertise included vertebrate ecology and population dynamics.

During his lifetime he was a member of numerous professional societies and was awarded the Aldo Leopold Medal in 1962. He wrote more than 200 articles and authored four books. His book Muskrat Populations (1963) was awarded the Iowa State University Press award for faculty publications in 1962.

Dr. Errington married Carolyn Storm in 1934. They raised two sons: Peter and Frederick. Dr. Errington died in 1962.

Extent

15.12 Linear Feet (36 document boxes)

Arrangement

Writings by Carolyn Errington are separated in their own series.

Copies

Digital reproductions of a selection of materials from the Paul Lester and Carolyn Errington papers are available electronically. Please see the Electronic Resources section for a link.

Items in related collections

RS 13/25. Iowa State University. Department of Zoology and Genetics records, 1879-2008

Collection Files

Processing Information

Released on 2018-11-01.

Title
RS 13/25/51. Paul Lester and Carolyn Errington papers, 1929-2008, undated
Date
May 29, 2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
403 Parks Library
701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames Iowa 50011-2102 United States
(515) 294-6672