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Mecklenburg County Ornithology Collection, 1926-2017

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-2020-025

Content Description

This collections contains materials relating to the Carolina Bird Club, Mecklenburg Audobon Society, Parks and Recreation Department, Catawba Waterfowl Inc.. Examples of materials include bulletins, correspondence, scrapbooks, environmental program analysis, newsletters, bird watching notes, and newspaper clippings, among other materials. Materials dated 1926-2017. Collection materials are arranged into 8 series:

Series 1: “The Chat,” 1937-2017, Carolina Bird Club bulletins.

Series 2: Mecklenburg Audubon Society, 1970-1991, “Audubon News” newsletter (1970-2006) and minutes from the Mecklenburg Audubon Society Board Meeting and Planning Sessions, 1982-1991. Also includes correspondence from regional Audubon societies and a guest book.

Series 3: Parks and Recreation Department,1994-2006, contains environmental program analysis and newsletters from the Division of Natural Resources.

Series 4: William B. McIlwaine’s Bird Notes, 1926-1931, includes typed bird watching notes and newspaper clippings from the Charlotte News.

Series 5: Flo Cobey records,1960-1991, Florapearl Armstrong Cobey bird watching notes and check list cards.

Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1957-1981, Catawba Waterfowl Inc. scrapbook with newspaper clippings and correspondence covering the creation of the Catawba Waterfowl Inc. Also includes film reels.

Series 7: Audubon Society Scrapbook, 1960-1981, contains newspaper clippings from 1960-1981, letters and photos.

Series 8: Miscellaneous, 1834-2000, includes Boy Scouts of America Handbook for boys and a bird study merit badge series, Nature magazine, various books and a photograph.

Dates

  • 1926 - 2017

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to the public without restriction. The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to duplicate or publish material from [Enter collection title] must be obtained from the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Biographical / Historical

The Carolina Bird Club was founded in 1937 for the study and conservation of birds in the Carolinas. The club holds annual meetings, conducts field trips and bird censuses and collaborates with government agencies. “The Chat” was the club’s official bulletin and included articles and bird censuses written by members.

The Mecklenburg Audubon Society is the Charlotte region’s oldest environmental organization. It was formed in 1940 and was affiliated with the Carolina Bird Club. Floralpearl Armstrong Cobey was a party leader for this organization.

William B. McIlwaine, Jr. was a reverend at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. He regularly wrote articles for the Charlotte News on his bird watching experiences.

Catawba Waterfowl Inc. was formed in 1960 to establish a waterfowl sanctuary on Lake Norman. Their mission was to aid in the conservation of the waterfowl population and to provide hunting opportunities for its members.

Extent

7.66 Linear Feet

9.33 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains scrapbooks, artifacts, bulletins and newsletters pertaining to local ornithology clubs including the Carolina Bird Club, the Mecklenburg Audubon Society, Parks and Recreation and private individuals’ personal collections. Materials are in good condition and dated 1926-2017.

Arrangement

Collection materials are arranged into 8 series:

Series 1: “The Chat,” 1937-2017, Carolina Bird Club bulletins.

Series 2: Mecklenburg Audubon Society, 1970-1991, “Audubon News” newsletter (1970-2006) and minutes from the Mecklenburg Audubon Society Board Meeting and Planning Sessions, 1982-1991. Also includes correspondence from regional Audubon societies and a guest book.

Series 3: Parks and Recreation Department,1994-2006, contains environmental program analysis and newsletters from the Division of Natural Resources.

Series 4: William B. McIlwaine’s Bird Notes, 1926-1931, includes typed bird watching notes and newspaper clippings from the Charlotte News.

Series 5: Flo Cobey records,1960-1991, Florapearl Armstrong Cobey bird watching notes and check list cards.

Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1957-1981, Catawba Waterfowl Inc. scrapbook with newspaper clippings and correspondence covering the creation of the Catawba Waterfowl Inc. Also includes film reels.

Series 7: Audubon Society Scrapbook, 1960-1981, contains newspaper clippings from 1960-1981, letters and photos.

Series 8: Miscellaneous, 1834-2000, includes Boy Scouts of America Handbook for boys and a bird study merit badge series, Nature magazine, various books and a photograph.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room by Donald Seriff (on behalf of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation) on 2019-11-06.

Related Materials

“Audobon News.” Charlotte, NC: The Society, 19--. (NCR 598.2 M487 A916)

Clarkson, Elizabeth Barnhill. “Birds of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.” Charlotte, NC: Dowd Press, 1970. (NCR-598.2 C613b)

Seriff, Donald. “Birds of the Central Carolinas: Including Ornithological Records and Firsthand Accounts from the Civil War Era to Today.” Charlotte, NC: published in partnership with The Mecklenburg Audubon Society and the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, 2018. (NCR 598.09756 S485b)

“The Chat.” Raleigh, NC: Carolina Bird Club, 1937-2017. 81 volumes. (NCR 598 C492)

Condition Description

Series 4 William B. McIlwaine’s bird watching notes are yellow and brittle; Series 6 Catawba Waterfall Inc. Collection contains microfilms and the scrapbook isn’t bound together. Series 7 Audubon Society Scrapbook is brittle.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of this collection was completed by Lacey Stith in November 2019.

Title
Mecklenburg County Ornithology Collection, 1926-2017
Status
Completed
Author
Lacey Stith
Date
2019-11
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Repository

Contact:
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library-Main
310 N. Tryon Street
Charlotte NC 28202 USA