The diary documents Waldo Schmitt's work during the Smithsonian-Bredin Society Islands Expedition, 1957. Entries cover April 4 - May 9, 1957. Notes in the front indicate destinations of expedition voyages with dates. Includes descriptions of accommodations, environments observed during collecting (especially around coral reefs), specimens collected including coral, deciding where to collect, interactions with expedition participants, and local inhabitants of islands. Locations in the Society Islands [Îles de la Société] of French Polynesia include the vicinity of Makatea, Borabora [Bora-bora], Moorea, and Tahiti. In back of notebook includes lists of expenses per stop for groceries, repairs, and other supplies.
Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu.
