A Guide to the Archie F. Carr, Jr. Supplemental Papers

Finding aid created by Frank Orser

University of Florida Smathers Libraries - Special and Area Studies Collections
September 2010

Biographical/Historical Note

Archie Fairly Carr, Jr., University of Florida Graduate Research Professor of Zoology, was associated with the University for more than fifty years. As a zoologist, he was most noted for his pioneering work in studying sea turtles and especially for discovering their migration patterns. Earlier in his career he specialized in the regional natural history of reptiles and of turtles in general. As a conservationist and writer, he sparked worldwide interest in saving turtles from threatened extinction. His entire career was spent at the University of Florida, first as a student, B.A. (1932), M.S. (1934), and as the University's first Ph.D. (1937) in biology. He continued as a faculty member until his death.

One of the University's Life Sciences buildings, Carr Hall, and the Archie F. Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research are named in his honor. Other distinctions earned by Dr. Carr include the Daniel Giraud Elliott Medal from the National Academy of Science (1952) for his Handbook of Turtles, the John Burroughs Medal for nature writing in 1955, a University Distinguished Alumnus award in 1972 and the University's Presidential Medallion in 1986. In 1987 Carr received the Gold Medallion of the New York Zoological Society and in 1984, the first Hal Borland Award from the National Audubon Society. The Florida Museum of Natural History periodically awards the Archie F. Carr Medal to individuals who have distinguished themselves in biological conservation.

Dr. Carr's most noted work, the Windward Road (1956) is credited with creating world wide attention on the plight of the sea turtle. His other works include High Jungles and Low (1953, republished 1992), Ulendo, Travels of a Naturalist in and out of Africa (1964, republished 1992), So Excellent a Fishe, a Natural History of Sea Turtles (1967), and three Time-Life books, Everglades (1973), Land and Wildlife of Africa (1964), and Reptiles (1963). Dr. Carr was also the author of a Guide to the Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes of Florida (1955) and a Handbook of Turtles (1952). A Naturalist in Florida was published posthumously in 1994 by the Yale University Press.

Sources: Independent Florida Alligator, March 9, 1987, May 26, 1987, April 4, 1989; Audubon, March, 1982, and July, 1984; New York Times, May 23, 1987, Biological Conservation (August, 1987), and letter to Kenneth Cooper, May 18, 1959. A folder of bio-bibliographical information on Dr. Carr may be found in the University Archives Vertical File.

Scope and Content

The Supplement includes several important additions to the main group. There are numerous personal records, documenting Carr's career and personal life. Many additional manuscripts, including one complete monograph and the text and supporting data for many journal articles, are included.

Personal records contain several files relating to rewards Carr received, bibliographical, biographical, and professional records, and to the Carr family. Box 1, folder 12 contains what appears to be the most complete list of his writings.

Writings include one box of manuscripts related to Carr's books, mostly complementing material in the major group, but including a new monograph on animal navigation. Additional manuscripts of Florida essays and "Lifeline" columns are also held. Several boxes hold sea turtle manuscripts, some with supporting data, which are present in greater quantities than in the original papers. There are also some additional environment and nature writings on other subject.

The correspondence box is a small supplement to the second series of the Papers. Most notable are two folders of correspondence with the publisher Alfred A. Knopf, 1953-1975. The correspondence files are usually wholly with an individual or organization. Letters, as parts of other files, may be found throughout the Supplement.

The miscellaneous part includes material from symposiums and other meetings in which Carr participated, many subject files, and some files of original scientific data. Only a few files in this section are not related to sea turtles.

An addition, boxes, 15-19, was added to this group in 2002. It includes Caribbean Conservation Corporation record, IUCN and CITES records, Carr's early turtle notes, and photographs and lay-out material for some publications.

Arrangement: Personal records, Box 1; Writings, Boxes 2-7; Correspondence, Box 8; Miscellaneous, Boxes 9-14; Caribbean Conservation Corporation, IUCN, and CITES records, Boxes 15-17; Turtle notes, Box 18, and Illustrations, Box 19.

Access or Use Restrictions

Access

The collection is open for research.

Related or Separated Material

These primary collection of Carr Papers are described separately in the Guide to the Archie F. Carr, Jr. Papers, MS 30. Throughout this inventory, there are references to any related materials found in the Carr Papers, MS 30 (e.g., "Cf. Series 2, Box 12").

Along with Professor Carr's papers, the Carr gift included papers of turtle scientist and conservationist Tom Harrisson, D.S.O., O.B.E. (1911-1976). For more information see the guide to the Harrisson Papers.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Archie F. Carr, Jr. Supplemental Papers, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Acquisition Information

This supplemental collection, an integral part of Carr's office files, was received in 1999. Materials in Boxes 15-19 were added to the Papers in 2002. The primary collection of Carr Papers, Ms Coll. 30, were donated by Carr's widow, Marjorie Harris Carr, beginning in 1987.

For further information, please contact: Special Collections Access Services.

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