The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives’
record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program
staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted
by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Jones was interviewed for the Oral History Collection because of his long association with the NMNH and outstanding research career in invertebrate zoology.
Descriptive Entry:
Jones was interviewed by Pamela M. Henson on October 23, 1990 at his home in Washington State. This interview discusses his education, his years at Florida State University
and AMNH, his career at the NMNH, research on polycheate worms, especially the eastern Pacific hydrothermal rift fauna of giant tube worms, field work, and reminiscences of
colleagues. The collection consists of 5.5 hours of audiotape recording and 186 pages of transcript.
Historical Note:
Meredith Leam Jones (1926-1996), invertebrate zoologist, received the B.A. in 1948, M.S. in 1952, and Ph.D. in 1956 from the University of California at Berkeley. From
1957 to 1960, he was an Assistant Professor at Florida State University. From 1960 to 1964, he was Assistant Curator in the Department of Living Invertebrates at the American
Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City. In 1964, he accepted a position as Associate Curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology of the National Museum of
Natural History (NMNH). In 1970, he advanced to Curator in the Division of Worms, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, a position he held until his retirement in 1989. Jones'
research focused on systematics of polycheate worms, especially those found at the hydrothermal vents in the eastern Pacific.
Rights:
Restricted. Contact SIHistory@si.edu to request permission.
Topic:
Museum curators -- United States -- Interviews Search this
Covers Jones' youth and education, career at Florida State University and the American Museum of Natural History, career at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Division of Worms, his research on pol...
Papua (British New Guinea). 1933 New Guinea Expedition of The American Museum of Natural History. Common; tops of agglomerate boulders on savannahs; Rona, Laloki River, Central Division., Central, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua (British New Guinea). The 1936 Fly River Expedition of The American Museum of Natural History. Coast between Oriomo and Fly Rivers., Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua (British New Guinea). The 1933-34 New Guinea Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. Daru Island, Western Division., Manus, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua (British New Guinea). The 1936 Fly River Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. Daru Island, Western Division., Manus, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua (British New Guinea). The 1933 New Guinea Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. Baroka, Nakeo District, Central Division., Central, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua (British New Guinea). The 1933-34 New Guinea Expedition of The American Museum of Natural History. Mainland, opposite Daru Island, Western Division., Manus, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua (British New Guinea). The 1936 Fly River Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. Daru Island, Western Division., Manus, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua. (British New Guinea). 1933 New Guinea Expedition of The American Museum of Natural History. Savannah gullies or in shelter of rocks. Rona, Laloki River, Central Division., Central, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua. (British New Guinea). 1933 New Guinea Expedition of The American Museum of Natural History. Mafulu, Central Division., Central, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua. (British New Guinea). 1936 Fly River Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. Daru Island, Western Division., Manus, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
No access restrictions. 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
Papua (British New Guinea). 1936 Fly River Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. Daru Island, Western Division. On waste ground about the township., Manus, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
Papua (British New Guinea). The 1933 New Guinea Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. Mafulu, Central Division., Central, Papua New Guinea, Asia-Tropical
