Willard Joseph Chamberlin {1889-1971)...The Flying Professor

[Jommayca]

Willard J. Chamberlin earned a Bachelor of Science at the Oregon Agricultural College {Now Oregon State University) in 1915 then in 1917 graduated from the School of Military Aeronautics. During World War I he served in England, France, and Italy and is credited with downing 3 German aircraft and under great difficulties carried out the longest reconnaissance over German territory of any American aviators. He received the cross of War from the French and was recommended three different times for the Distinguished Service Cross. He was discharged from active duty in February 1919 and became a professor at Oregon State at which time helped produce the first crop duster aircraft.

Chamberlin specialized in jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) and bark beetles (subfamily Scotylinae). He earned his PhD from Stanford University in 1930 with a dissertation on jewel beetles of the north Pacific coast. His works include The Buprestidae of North America, exclusive of Mexico (1926) and The Bark and Timber Beetles of North America north of Mexico (1939), as well as the text book An Introduction to Forest Entomology and Entomological Nomenclature and Literature.

In 1950, he sold his beetle collection to the California Academy of Sciences

Chamberlin's daughter Hope Chamberlin (1918–1974) was a journalist and author whose book A Minority of Members won the 1974 Christopher Award for adult nonfiction

Student/Researcher/War Hero/Innovator(crop duster)/Entomologist/Teacher/Author...Decent resume imo

WILLARD J CHAMBERLIN....Entomologist & WWI pilot

[trehopr1]

Interesting article. A very full and productive life !

Thank you for sharing the history of this Entomologist/Coleopterist.

Also, welcome to the forum...

[Jommayca]

Thank you Aurelian....I have some of his work in my collection and found his story fascinating when I researched him so thought I'd share

[nomad]

Interesting Short bio on Chamberlin. What work do you have in your collection? The history section is quite extensive here and its nice to have others add to it. I probably add a few more articles this winter here, as that is when I do (did before China hit the planet with Covid 19) my research, and museums are now out of bounds. I am usually busy in the summer, early autumn out studying.. photographing insects... usually Diptera in the field.

[Jommayca]

Hello Nomad

I'm hoping I don't bore ya but to understand the place I stand as far as insects perhaps an explanation is in order....especially since I plan on a few more historical and art yada's

My business is finding/selling rare/unique/historical items and what I call my "collection" is a purchase I made from a Major well known for entomology University collection. The story of that purchase is an unbelievable story I'll perhaps share sometime but the end result was I had what I now call my collection which includes around 400 Riker Mounts, significant number of prints, photographs, vials I haven't even got to yet...At least a thousand items

The first piece I looked at was a Chamberlin from 1914 and researching him/the piece hooked me on the History of the first years specimen dealing and it's role in the transition into entomology as a science. Also the growth from taxidermists being the early specimen dealers in the ol' USA(Ward/Southwich/Angell & Cash/American entomological Co ect.) to what exists today...

The pieces I have all had one prior owner (The University) which means their condition is pretty darn good plus the link/connection to people/events is direct and the provenance couldn't be better.

Now I have no clue if history means all that much to today's insect collector or naturist but those into vintage pieces with a great story plus direct connection and an excellent condition.....it's gold 

When I do the next histories/art yadda's I'll use photos of my junk as examples...if I figure out the photo thing

[nomad]

I look forward to more of your pieces. Just join Imgur, its free and so easy to use, one click and paste and your image pops up in a nice size so you can see everything clearly. 

[Adam Cotton]

To add to what nomad said about posting photos, see my post (4th down the thread) here:

collector-secret.proboards.com/thread/11/attach-picture

Adam.

[trehopr1]

Riker mounts were a very economical means for those lepidopterists who either:

A. Could not afford drawers (back in the day).

B. Could not find a GOOD builder for drawers.

C. Lacked sufficient space for a proper Schmitt box OR Drawer type collection.

D. Found the collecting, preparation, and subsequent data important BUT, storage was of cursory importance...

Those who made riker mount collections still enjoyed them and found preservation important. So, more often than not they would put the data on the back and kept the rikers stacked usually in some dark cabinet(s) which would close tightly so they could place napthalene in for protection of the specimens.

Rikers were comparatively cheap when compared with the cost of drawers or Schmitt boxes (even back in the day)! Heck, some would buy a couple of big boxes worth in a couple of sizes and have room for several years...

I have seen two such collections in my time created by lepidopterists who had passed on. One was a splendid Papilionid collection which my retired dealer friend purchased in the mid-1980's. He said he spent 6 or 7 months putting all the specimens back on pins as any serious collectors had to have them that way. Of coarse, some of the common material stayed in rikers and was sold as wall mounts for offices or homes.

The bother I see with collections stored in such a way are several.

A. You cannot see the (verso) side of a specimen.

B. You really can't place a verso specimen in without either breaking it in some way (due to the compression of closing the glass top together with the bottom).

C. Large saturniid moths don't generally do well for long as they are not in a space (like a drawer) with air; they are in a confined space where they soon grease-up and look just plain awful and then the body oils eventually leach into the cotton turning it yellow or brown.

D. Labels can fall off the back if taped and legible handwriting can sometimes be wanting...

E. Most credible museums or universities with a collection lack any staff/time/money to transfer the specimens onto pins to view them properly or scientifically.

So, unfortunately if kept they only wind up in some cabinet largely unlooked at until someone decides one day WHAT do we do with this ? There are certainly some descent specimens here and there to be found (if the collection has been properly stored -- not displayed). However, making the specimens useful is another thing especially if there are hundreds or a few thousand...

These days, I would NEVER recommend anyone put any specimen (worth its scientific salt) into a Riker mount for storage. At least buy schmitt style boxes or other foam bottom type pinning cases to pin your treasures into... There are affordable and yet practical storage means out there which won't cost you what a drawer will.

[Jommayca]

Thought I'd post another piece from Willard J. Chamberlin and what interesting to me is the DATE on it...

As I posted before: "Willard J. Chamberlin earned a Bachelor of Science at the Oregon Agricultural College {Now Oregon State University) in 1915"

The date on this piece is 1914.....before he graduated & before he became the "Flying Professor"