OHS Digital Collections

Series 10: Oversize Materials, 1909 - circa 1950

MSS Finley - 10
Series
1909 - circa 1950

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

This series contains oversize materials, including maps and newspaper features and clippings.

Series 6: Organizations and Issues, 1909-1946

MSS Finley - 6
Series
1909 - 1946

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

This series consists of files pertaining to various organization and issues. Organizations represented include the Isaac Walton League, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey, and the Oregon State Planning Board. Issues include reclamation in the Klamath and Malheur basins, salmon and Bonnevile Dam, stream pollution, and mountain lions. Also included is a 1915 report by Stanley Jewett, "Report on Birds Seen at Netarts Bay."

William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

MSS Finley
Collection
1899 - 1946

William L. Finley's papers primarily document his work as a wildlife conservationist, author, lecturer, photographer, and filmmaker from about 1900 to 1940. The collection also documents the work his wife Irene Finley and photography partner Herman Bohlman. The collection consists of published and unpublished manuscripts, lecture and field notes, reports, correspondence, photographs and motion picture films.

An addition to the collection (Accession 2014:062) is made up of correspondence and newspaper clippings documenting the wildlife conservation work of William and Irene Finley. Among the topics addressed in the correspondence include: song bird protection laws in Oregon, requests to Finley for use of his photographs, the forming of an Oregon Fish and Game Commission, biological surveys conducted by Finley, legislation in California repealing meadowlark protection, and letters by Finley to various organizations regarding the presentation of one of his lectures. A highlight among the correspondence is a thank you letter from Finley to President Theodore Roosevelt for his establishment of wild bird reservations. The clippings are newspaper articles written by Irene and William Finley about encounters with wildlife, nocturnal bird sounds, and their filming of wildlife at Paulina Lake. The four articles all appeared in editions of the "Oregon Sunday Journal."

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

Series 2: Publications, 1905-1945

MSS Finley - 2
Series
1905 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

This series consists of publications, including typescripts and newspaper clippings of articles written by William and Irene Finley and Ed Averill for the Oregon Journal and the Sunday Oregonianbetween 1935 and 1945 The articles describe bird, fish and mammal species, wildlife refuges, and trips taken by the Finleys. Some are editorial in nature, such as advocating for a new Portland zoo or calling for certain limits on hunting. The series also includes articles written for Nature, National Geographic, and other publications.

The bat, a winged mammal

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder02_05
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

An overview of bats, including diet, mating season, and appearance. A brief discussion of bat species in Oregon is included.

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

Cock of the plains, its odd traits and habits

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder03_30
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Article describing the sage grouse, including differences to other species in the grouse family.

Averill, Edgar F., 1881-1955

The theory of protective coloration in animals

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder03_32
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Natural camouflage of wildlife is described, including the fur of Arctic foxes and snowshoe rabbits.

Averill, Edgar F., 1881-1955

National park

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder02_18
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Rough draft of the first page of "National Parks Save Mammals."

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

Blue heron, fisherman of the river

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder02_19
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Article describing blue herons in Oregon, including subspecies and behavior.

Finley, Irene

Hawks on trial

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder05_05
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Article discussing negative perceptions of hawks.

Averill, Edgar F., 1881-1955

Kaibab squirrel

mssfinley_series02_box04_folder02_10
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Article discussing observations of Kaibab squirrels in Arizona.

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

The hummingbird, fairy of the flowers

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder03_31
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Article describing hummingbirds, including habitat.

Averill, Edgar F., 1881-1955

Effect of oil pollution on seafowl

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder04_01
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Article describing an oil spill along the Pacific coast and its effect on seabirds.

Finley, Irene

Let's go fishing

mssfinley_series02_box03_folder04_02
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Article discussing a trip to the Deschutes National Forest for research and fishing.

Finley, Irene

Manuscripts

mssfinley_series02_box04_folder02_16
Item
1935 - 1945

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Manuscripts discussing the Braly Museum of Natural History in Depoe Bay, a proposed Portland natural history museum, and birds in Arizona.

Finley, Irene

Conservation work of the Finleys

mssfinley_series02_box04_folder01_17
Item
1935 - 1944

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Article discussing William and Irene Finley's work to educate children with nature films and lectures. The inclusion of the Finleys' photographs and articles in California Monthly is also discussed.

Averill, Edgar F., 1881-1955

Mixed lecture

mssfinley_series01_box01_folder03_28
Item
1910 - 1942

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Manuscript of a lecture that cover topics, including searching for white herons.

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

Table of contents

mssfinley_series01_box01_folder04_01
Item
1910 - 1942

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Table of contents for "Birds every kid should know."

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

We are seven

mssfinley_series01_box01_folder04_02
Item
1910 - 1942

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Manuscript that appears to be an early edit of "The chickadee."

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

Jack crow

mssfinley_series01_box01_folder04_05
Item
1910 - 1942

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Manuscript in which the author writes about being friends with a crow.

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

Photographing a flicker family

mssfinley_series01_box01_folder04_10
Item
1910 - 1942

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

This manuscript appears to be the first rough draft of "Photographing a flicker family", describing High-hole and his family.

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

Hunting grebes

mssfinley_series01_box01_folder04_12
Item
1910 - 1942

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Manuscript that shares a few excerpts from "Plight of grebes", focusing on why grebes have been singled out for their plumage.

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953

Life blood of birds for fashion

mssfinley_series01_box01_folder04_17
Item
1910 - 1942

Part of William L. Finley Papers, 1899-1946

Manuscript describing the wreckage plume hunting has caused to some bird populations. Author points out that six indictments against two plume hunters had been filed. The defendants fled to California.

Finley, William L. (William Lovell), 1876-1953