Watson M. Perrygo (1906-1984) field collector, taxidermist, and exhibits specialist for the United States National Museum (USNM) began his career at the USNM in 1927 as a scientific aid in the Division of Mammals and the taxidermy studio. In addition to taxidermic and other collection-related work, Perrygo was sent on field trips to collect natural history specimens unrepresented in the USNM. His collecting activities included trips to Haiti, 1929, and again in 1930 (the Parish-Smithsonian Expedition); West Virginia, 1936; Tennessee, 1937; Kentucky, 1938; North Carolina, 1939; South Carolina, 1940; and Rampart Cave, Arizona, 1942. Perrygo also accompanied Alexander Wetmore, then Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to Panama to collect birds, 1946-1953. Perrygo served as exhibits preparator and zoological exhibits worker in the Department of Zoology, USNM, 1952-1958, and as zoological exhibits worker in the Office of Exhibits, Museum of History and Technology (MHT), 1958-1960. He was in charge of taxidermy for MHT, 1960-1962, and for the Museum of Natural History (MNH), 1962 to 1964. Perrygo was also an important figure in the exhibitions modernization program at the USNM during the 1940s and 1950s.
Related entities:
Wetmore, Alexander 1886-1978: Perrygo was Wetmore's assistant during field work.
United States National Museum: field collector, taxidermist, and exhibits specialist for the United States National Museum
