The Annual Meeting and Dinner of the Boone and Crockett
Club was held in the Harvard Club, New York City, at 7:50 on the evening of Wednesday, December 11, 1940.
In the President’s absence the meeting was called to order by the Vice-President, Mr. E. Hubert Litchfield.
Dr. Harold E. Anthony presented the following memorial resolution on the death of Mr. W. Redmond Cross, which was adopted by the meeting and ordered incorporated into the Minutes:
BE IT RESOLVED, that it is with the deepest sorrow that the members of the Boone and Crockett Club record the death of their beloved friend and associate, William Redmond Cross. A member of the Club for thirty-two years and Treasurer for twenty-seven years, Redmond Cross leaves a place in our hearts that cannot be filled. We, his friends and associates, will always remember him for his integrity, his simplicity and his kindliness. We mourn the passing of a dear friend.
The Minutes of the previous Annual Meeting were read by the Secretary and on motion duly made and seconded, were approved.
There were present the following members of the Club:
William Lord Smith Oliver D. Filley
DeWitt L. Sage A. C. Gilbert
A. Perry Osborn George G. Carey, Jr.
Henry G. Gray Edward Mallinckrodt,#Jr.
Frederic C. Walcott E. Hubert Litchfield
Alfred Ely Harold J. Coolidge, Jr.
William G. Sheldon Dean Sage, Jr.
C. Suydam Cutting John H. Baker
R. R. M. Carpenter Richard Borden
Robert A. Bartlett Karl T. Frederick
William F. Whitehouse Francis T. Colby
Evan Hollister Harold E. Anthony
Richard K. Mellon R. Stuyvesant Pierrepont
James L. Clark Roy Chapman Andrews
Carl Rungius Childs Frick
Richard Derby F. Carrington Weems
DeForest Grant William N. Beach
Theodore Roosevelt E. Roland Harnman
Archibald B. Roosevelt Townsend Lawrence
Chauncey J. Hamlin Fairman R. Dick
Alexander Wetmore John P. Holman
Allan W. Ames Dr. Arthur W. Elting
Frank R. McCoy A. Phimister Proctor
Goodhue Livingston, Jr.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
The following attended as guests:
T. Donald Carter Major John Nethersole
Daniel W. Streeter Harold Brooks
Belraore Browne Duncan Hodgson
Andrew Murray Williams Eugene DuPont Theodore Cremer Dean Sage
G. M. Phelps, Jr. Lt. Col. Littleton W. T. Waller
Edward House
The Secretary reported that during the year there had been three deaths among members of the Club - Regular members, C. Arthur Comstock, Wilton Lloyd-Smith and W. Redmond Cross.
During the year the following were elected to Regular
membership: Allan Ames, S. Sloan Colt, Sidney Legendre,
Richard K. Mellon and Van Santvoord Merlesmith.
An audit of the Treasurer’s accounts was submitted by
the Auditing Committee consisting of Mr. Archibald B. Roosevelt
and Mr. Dean Sage, Jr. Upon motion duly made and seconded this
report was adopted and ordered filed with the Minutes. The
Auditing Committee recommended that action be taken by the
Executive Committee towards segregating the moneys of the W.
Austin Memorial Fund in a separate account.
Mr. E. Roland Harriman, presenting the report of the
Nominating Committee, submitted the following names to be
voted upon by the Club as officers for the ensuing year:
President: Frederic C. Walcott Secretary: Dean Sage,Jr.
Honorary President: Kermit Roosevelt Treasurer: Alfred Ely
First Vice-Presidents: Executive Committee,
W. Douglas Burden Class of 1942:
C. Suydam Cutting Harry P. Davison
E. Hubert Litchfield Richard Derby
Vice-Presidents, Class of 1945: Executive Committee,
Hon. George Shiras, 3rd Class of 1943:
Hon. Henry L. Stimson Willxam N-Jeach^
R. R. M. Carpenter The Chairman called for additional nominations, and there being none forthcoming, the Club voted on those submitted
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
by the Nominating Committee. They were unanimously elected and the Secretary was instructed to cast one ballot in the name of the Club.
Mr. Litchfield thereupon turned over the Chair to the newly elected President, Mr. Frederic C. Walcott.
The annual report of the American Committee for International Wild Life Protection was submitted by Mr. Harold J. Coolidge, Jr., and mimeographed copies of the report were presented to the members. Mr. Coolidge spoke briefly of the Pan- American Conference, to the accomplishment of which he had devoted a great deal of time and work, and which promised so much for the future joint conservation and game protective activity among the American Republics. Mr. Coolidge also stated that the Harper Allen report on extinct and vanishing species had been completed, and steps were being taken to bring about its publication in the near future.
The Secretary read a letter from Mr. J. N. Darling, who had been invited to speak at the dinner, but was unable to attend. Mr. Darling stressed the need for activity on the part of the Club in the field of conservation.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned for dinner.
After dinner the meeting was again called to order, and the President introduced the oldest member of the Club present at the dinner, Mr. A. Phimister Proctor.
Mr. DeForest Grant spoke briefly of the early history of the Club, reminding the members that 1940 was the 53rd Anniversary of the ClubTs founding. Mr. Grant stated that it had been deemed appropriate to commemorate the occasion by showing
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
a moving picture of the Club?s founder, Theodore Roosevelt. The picture was then shown.
Mr. R. R. M. Carpenter next showed a reel of slow- motion pictures of quail shooting taken in South Carolina.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Edward Mallinckrodt of St. Louis, a film showing two bull moose fighting with locked horns was next projected.
In conclusion, Mr. A. C. Gilbert spoke and showed some very fine pictures of big game in Alaska and on the Olympic Peninsula.
At the termination of Mr. Gilbert1s pictures the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
American Committee
International Wild Life Protection
ADVISORY BOARD Clinton G. Abbott
SAN DIEGO SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY
Thomas Barbour
MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY
Frederick R. Burnham
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Charles M. B. Cadwalader
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA
James L. Clark
THE CAMP FIRE CLUB OF AMERICA
Harold J. Coolidge. Jr.
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS
W. Redmond Cross
NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Stanley Field
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Frank B. Foster
PHILADELPHIA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Childs Frick
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
•Joseph Grinnell
MUSEUM OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Kxecuiive Committee
Childs Frick, chairman Harold J. Coolidge. Jr. Dean Sage. Jr.
Warren Kinney Laurance S. Rockefeller
Dr. W. Reid Blair, secretary
ZOOLOGICAL PARK. NEW YORK, N. Y.
ADVISORY BOARD Chauncey J. Hamlin
BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE
William P. Harris. Jr.
MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Edward House
CARNEGIE MUSEUM
Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr.
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, ST. LOUIS
John T. McCutcheon
CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Robert T. Moore
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Kermit Roosevelt
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES
RODOLPHE M. DE SCHAUENSEE WILDERNESS CLUB
William G. Sheldon
BOONE & CROCKETT CLUB
Frederic C. Walcott
AMERICAN WILDLIFE INSTITUTE
Alexander Wetmore
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR 1940.
December 11th, 1940.
The American Committee for International Wild Life Protection has now completed eleven years of its existence in the field of conservation and wild life protection throughout the world,
The Advisory Committee has suffered a great loss in the untimely death of Mr, V/. Redmond Cross, who had been for a number of years a loyal and influential supporter of all the conservation activities of this Committee,
Mr. Cross had always shown a great interest in the cause of international conservation and by his counsel and material aid he had promoted its welfare at every possible opportunity.
The American Committee has continued to function because of the belief of its members that only through the cooperation of the conservationists of many nations in the establishment of National Parks, Permanent Sancturaies, and by enforcing of suitable Game Laws and Regulations, could the wild life throughout the world be perpetuated. The preservation of wild life is not merely a local national problem, but is one that effects the interests of the people of all nations. If civilization is driving us toward the total extinction of wild life, then the central problem of our time is to consider what this will mean to future generations.
What may ultimately prove to be one of the most effective measures in steming the tide of destruction, and save the wild animal life of the world, is that which has been applied to such good advantage in other worthy causes, namely, the creation among the young students of our schools and colleges of an appreciation of the wonder and value of animal and bird life when it is maintained under natural conditions. The conservationists are hoping for the support of the young people of all nations to secure better protection for our wild life in order to preserve it for future*generations to enjoy.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
While the great wr,r now raging in Europe is transforming the lives of the people of many nations, and grave economic disturbances may persist for years, it may be too much to expect that any great progress can be made in the development of constructive wild animal preservation along international lines at the present time. However, our committee intends to stand ready to take the first opportunity to press for the immediate initiation of the fullest possible
program of active measures of preservation at the termination of the war.
Because of the meager information reaching us we are unable to estimate what damage is being done to animal life in the actual tneatres of war* The killing of wild animals either for food or to save food during a prolonged war is almost inevitable.
During the World’s War, hostilities had a most unfortunate zoological effect by nearly exterminating the small number of Wisents of European Bison, then in existence. After the war was over it was lound that most of the Wisents had been transmuted into food for the armies. The few surviving members of the species were, however, collected and conserved with great care. At the beginning of the present war there were more than one hundred pure bred Wisents in Europe, principally located in the Blaloweisa Forest, in Eastern Poland, and all reports conceraing them were most encouraging.
Perhaps the fate of the European bison has been decided by this time, if not, it*s seriousness depends upon how long the present war continues. It is hoped that all the effort and money expended to restore the Wisents after the effects of the World’s War will not have been wasted.
Special Committee on Pan American
The Special Committee on Pan American affairs, under the Chairmanship of Harold J9 Coolidge, Jr., has been very active throughout the year in formulating the convention on "Nature Protection and Wild ^lfe Preservation in the Western Hemisphere", which was recommended in a resolution of the Eighth Pan American Conference, held at Lima. Peru, in December, 1938.
As set forth in its preamble, the Convention has for its purpose the protection and preservation of all species and genera of the native flora and fauna of the American Continent, in sufficient numbers and over areas extensive enough to assure them from becoming extinct, £ind the protection and preservation of scenery of extra— ordinary beauty, unusual and striking geologic formations, regions and natural objects of aesthetic, historic or scientific value.
The Convention, consisting of twelve articles was drawn uo by a Committee of Experts from the 21 American Republics, which mkln Washington in &ay of this year, and was approved by the Governing Board of the Pan American Union a,t its meeting in June.
In October, the plenipotentiaries of six Latin American Governments and the United States signed the Convention at the Pan American Union in Washington. The Convention v/ill come into form three months after the deposit of not loss than five ratifications vich the Pan American Union.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
The Countries signing were; Cuba, £1 Salvador, Nicaragua, peru, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Several other Governments have already signified their intention to sign the convention, so it will remain open for signature of all the American Republics.
It is hoped that the American Republics will sign and pass enabling laws in order to obtain the greatest benefit from this International Convention as soon as possible.
The Convention provides for the protection of certain species, and for their killing, capturing or taking, permission will only be granted in order to further scientific purposes*.
Chairman Coolidge, in addition to actively serving as a member of the Committee of Experts,, has made several trips to Washington to confer with Dr. Rowe and other officials of the Fan American Union in order to promote the broad conservation program which this Convention is designed to provide for the protection of the flora and fauna of all the American Republics>
Dr. T. Gilbert Pearson, who only recently returned to the United States after completing a ten months survey of wild life conditions in nine of the republics of South American, has reported that he was able to find many men of prominence in the countries visited, who readily agreed to take an active interest in the Pan American movement for the establishment of National Parks and the preservation of wild life,
Dr. Pearson found in Argentina many magnificent areas which will ultimately become National Parks and Sanctuaries for wild life, when funds become available for their development. He found the greatest interest and activity in the matter of bird preservation in the Republics of Brazil and Argentina.
Dr. Pearson has kindly furnished us with much data which will be of value in connection with the Committeefs Pan American Activities.
Foreign Societies
Under what must be a very difficult situation, the British Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire is still maintaining its position in the field of wild life conservation, and it continues to make its voice heard above the hideous din of war.
Now that the war has reached Eastern Africa great anxiety is felt concerning the wild life of Kenya, where the great National Park for Kenya was in the process of development. The British Society continues to publish its Journal in order to keep its membership informed concerning the status of wild life throughout the Empire.
The international office for the Protection of Nature, which had been located in Brussels, Belgium, for a number of years, was transferred in February, 1940, to the Colonial Institute in Amsterdam, Holland, and is now under the directorship of Dr. Ir. van W&terschoot van der Gracht. In a recent communication, the Director Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
reports that their office files, books and periodicals were in a safe location and that he felt confident that any danger to these records appeared remote.
It is hard for us, here in America to fully appreciate the difficult situation under which this pioneer society for the protection of nature is laboring during these troublous times.
The American Committee made a contribution of $250 to this Society this year.
Publications
The American Committee has published and distributed Special Publication No. 10, entitled "Ratifications and Applications of the London Convention for the Protection of African Fauna and Flora".
The Committee felt that this was an opportune time to publish this material as a record of what had been accomplished in wild life preservation in the African Colonial possession to date.
Dr. Thomas Barbour, of our Advisory Board, has recently transmitted to the Committee for possible publication an excellent report on the "Protection of the Cuban Fauna", prepared by Dr. Abelardo Moreno, Professor of Zoology, at the University of Havana, Cuba.
This study shows that many species of mammals have been completely exterminated from the island, and others are disappearing as a result of the ruthless destruction of the forests in order to utilize the land for the raising of sugar cane and other agricultural products.
It is hoped that funds may soon be available for the publication of this important paper.
Unfortunately the American Committee has been unable to publish many desirable papers because of Inadequate funds for this purpose.
The American Committee purchased and distributed reprints of Dr. Francis Harper*s paper on "The Nomenclature and Type Localities of Certain Old World Mammals", which was published in the Journal of Mammalogy for May, 1940.
The Manuscript of the report on the "Extinct and Vanishing Mammals of the World", prepared by Dr. Francis Harper and Dr. Clover M* Allen, are now in the hands of the special committee consisting of Messrs. Cadwalader, Cooldige and Wetmore.
This Committee has obtained estimates of the cost of publishing Sals report, from several sources, but the plans for financing its publication • have not yet been completed.
The preparation of this report has required about four years of research and study, at a cost of nearly ten thousand dollars. The fund for making this work possible has come from thirty-seven contributors.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
I
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Executive Office.
The central office of the American Committee is being maintained on a most economical basis. Except for a small amount of office equipment, which the Committee owns, all facilities, including rent are obtained without cost to the Committee.
While it is desirable that the American Committee should have a representative at the annual meetings of the American Society of Manmalogists, and other organizations that are concerned with wild life problems, this has not been possible because of the limited funds which are available to the Committee.
During the present unsettled condition of world affairs the responsibility for keeping alive and carrying forward the international work of wild life must fall heavily on the shoulders of 1 the American Committee. The work of furthering the interests of wild life in the New World is a big undertaking and must not be allowed to lapse.
Fortunately the State Department in Washington has always shown its interest in the objectives of the American Committee, and has cooperated in every possible v.ray.
The American Committee needs the help end support of all the friends of wild life.
Respectfully submitted,
W. Reid Blair Executive Secretary
i
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
Boone and Crockett Club Records
