Faculty Papers/J. M. (John Merton) Aldrich Diaries

Arrangement and Content

Restrictions

Subject Terms

Bibliography

Related Material

Administrative Information

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Collection Summary 

Biography 

J. M. (John Merton) Aldrich was born on January 28, 1866, in Olmstead County, Minnesota, the son of Levi O. and Mary Moore Aldrich. He was educated in the county and high schools of Rochester, Minnesota.  In 1885, he entered Dakota Agricultural College at Brookings, South Dakota.  He received his B.S. degree in the first formal commencement exercises of Dakota Agricultural College in 1888 and was the first graduate who specialized in zoological sciences.  He later received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.

Following graduation from Dakota Agricultural College in 1888, Aldrich was employed as an assistant in entomology at the college between 1889-1890 and an Assistant in Zoology from 1890-1892.  During this time, he was also Assistant to the Agricultural Experiment Station Entomologist.  From 1893 to 1913, he was Professor of Zoology at the University of Idaho.  While at the University of Idaho, Aldrich began work on his Catalog of North American Diptera.  In 1906, he took sabbatical leave to receive a Ph.D. from Stanford University, where his Catalog was accepted as his thesis.

In 1913, after his association with the University of Idaho was terminated, he was then appointed as Entomological Assistant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Bureau of Entomology at West Lafayette, Indiana.  Five years later, he was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.  In 1919, he became Custodian of the Diptera (two-winged insects) and Associate Curator of the museum in its division of insects.  Aldrich was the first Dipterist employed by the Smithsonian Institution who had been previously employed by the USDA.

Aldrich was known for his unusual success in obtaining rare specimens of insect life in various sections of the western hemisphere, including the western United States, Alaska, and Guatemala.  Many of the insects he captured were previously unknown to science.  Because of his extensive knowledge of North American Diptera fauna, his eminence made the National Museum the center for studies on New World Diptera.  In 1923, Aldrich turned over his specimen collection of more than 45,000 insects, with more than 4,000 classifications.  In addition, he donated to the museum a card catalog file of North American literature on these specimens.  This collection is among the most important general Diptera collection in the National Museum.

In addition to his work at the National Museum, Aldrich wrote extensively on subjects of insect life.  He was also President of the Entomological Society of America (1921) and received many honors and awards.

Aldrich died in 1934 but is still honored today by the existence of the Aldrich Entomology Club, which was formed in 1961 at the University of Idaho.  This club provides a forum for student, faculty, and other interested persons to share their enthusiasm for insect biology.

Arrangement and Content

This sub-group consists of three diaries of J.M Aldrich during his tenure as a student at Dakota Agricultural College from 1885-1888.  The diaries give an invaluable account on life as a student during the early years of the college. 

The diaries are separated into three volumes, one for each year Aldrich was a student at the college.  Between 1930 and 1932, Aldrich made typewritten transcripts copied from his original diaries and included parenthetical comments for clarification.  Each daily entry states the day and date, which are underlined, and relate Aldrich’s daily activities.  Most of the entries are trivial, recounting the activity of each day, but give an excellent portrayal of the atmosphere of Dakota Territory life in the1880’s.  Topics included in the diaries range from accounts of his journeys between his home in Minnesota to Brookings to administrative upsets such as President George Lilley losing his position to Lewis McLouth.

Restrictions

Use of Materials

For preservation purposes, the original diaries are restricted for viewing, however, the photocopies are open for research without restrictions.

Subject Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the subject guide. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the subject guide using these headings.

• Agricultural colleges—Dakota Territory—Brookings—History.

• Aldrich, J.M. (John Merton), 1886-1934.

• Faculty (SDSU)

• History (SDSU)

Bibliography

Aldrich, J.M. (John Merton), A catalogue of North American Diptera (or two-winged flies), Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution, 1905. SI1.7:46/1 GovDocs

Aldrich, J.M. (John Merton), et. al., Biologia centrali-americana. Insecta. Diptera., London, Pub. For the editors by R.H. porter, 1886-1903. QL535.2.B5 oversize

Aldrich, J.M. (John Merton), Millard C. Van Duzee, Frank R. (Frank Raymond) Cole, The dipterous genus Dolichopus Latreille in North America, Washington, D.C., G.P.O., 1921. SI3.3: 116 GovDocs

Aldrich, J.M. (John Merton) and I. H. Orcutt, “Report of the Department of Entomology.” South Dakota State College and Experiment Station, Brookings, S.D. South Dakota State College and Experiment Station, no. 30, 1892. 630.7 So87.12 no. 30

Aldrich, J.M. (John Merton) and I. H. Orcutt, “The cut-worn.” South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin, Brookings, S.D. South Dakota Agricultural College and Experiment Station, no. 18, 1890. 630.7 So87.12 no. 18

Aldrich, J.M. (John Merton) and I. H. Orcutt, “Injurious insects” South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin, Brookings, S.D. South Dakota Agricultural College and Experiment Station, no. 22, 1891. 630.7 So87.12 no. 22

Aldrich, J.M. (John Merton), Sarcophaga and allies in North America, La Fayette, Ind., Murphey-Bivins Co. Press, 1916. QL535.1.A4s

Related Material

The John Merton Aldrich Papers are held at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.  A finding aid for this collection can be viewed at:  < http://siarchives.si.edu/ >

Administrative Information

Preferred citation

Faculty Papers/J. M. (John Merton) Aldrich Diaries, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S. D.

Provenance

This collection was long held by the university library.  Due to the age and deteriorating condition of these materials, it was decided  in 2002 to remove these items from the circulating collection and place in the protective custody of South Dakota State University Archives.

Resources for Finding Aid

Aldrich Entomology Club website, 2002, University of Idaho
<http://www.uidaho.edu/pses/aec/index.html>
<http://www.uidaho.edu/pses/aed/biograph.ht>ml

The Diptera Site, 2002, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Department of Systematic Biology, NMNH, SI < http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/Diptera/diptera.htm >

Powers, William Howard, A history of South Dakota State College, Brookings, South Dakota State College, 1931. S537.S6 P6h

Sewrey, Charles L., A history of South Dakota State College, 1884-1959, Brookings, South Dakota, South Dakota State College, 1959. S537.S6 S4h

Smithsonian Institution Archives, 2002, Smithsonian Institution < http://siarchives.si.edu/ >

South Dakota State College, History of S.D.C.S.: v. 24 Entomology and Zoology, Brookings, S.D., South Dakota State College, 1913-c.1930, p. 5-6, 20. S537.S6 H47 v. 24

Lindell, Lisa, “Collegiate Life from Both Sides of the Desk: South Dakota State University in the 1880s.” South Dakota History v. 30 no. 2 (Summer 2000): pp.167-199.

Processing Information

The transcripts were removed from their original bindings and placed in acid free folders for preservation.  Because of the fragility of the paper, photocopies of the originals were made for patron viewing.

This collection was processed by Crystal J. Gamradt on 11 July 2002.

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