Robert Henry Wolcott

Born 1868-10-11 Alton, IL (USA)

Died 1934-01-23
Lincoln, NE (USA)

Buried 1934
Lincoln, NE (USA)
Wyuka Cemetery

Wolcott is best remembered as an Ornithologist, although he played many roles at the University of Nebraska, among them teaching medicine, chairing the Zoology Department,and filling the roles of Professor of Anatomy, and Acting Dean of the College of Medicine. When the College of Medicine moved to Omaha, he resigned from it and remained in Lincoln to pursue his scholarly interests in Zoology and Ornithology. He also had a strong interest in Entomology. Wolcott was one of the organizers of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union in 1899, and served as its first Recording Secretary. He was also the NOU's first publications editor, and later (elected in 1904, 1916, 1923 and 1924) President of the NOU. He was a co-author of A Preliminary Review of the Birds of Nebraska, 1904, and author of An Analysis of Nebraska's Bird Fauna, 1909, and a biology textbook. He was an authority on water mites, and at his death left behind unfinished studies on Nebraska Butterflies and on Nebraska's Tiger Beetles and other beetles found in the state.

See Myron H. Swenk, "Robert Henry Wolcott" (obituary) The Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 47, No. 1 (March, 1935).

Places Lived

Alton, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Lincoln, NE

Author Of

Nonfiction

Keywords

Ornithology; Nebraska Birds; Biology of Birds; Medicine; Entomology; Zoology

Education

Bachelor of Laws, 1890, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelor of Science in Biology, 1892, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
MD, 1893, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Occupation

Zoologist
Ornithologist
Professor of Anatomy
Dean of the College of Medicine, University of Nebraska

Places Worked

Michigan Biological Survey, through 1894
University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE, 1894-1934
College of Medicine, University of Nebraska

Honors

Honorary Member, Lincoln Chapter, Isaac Walton League
Advisory Council, Bird Lore magazine (the direct predecessor of Audubon Magazine)

Associations

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
Wilson Ornithological Club
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Society of Zoologists
Entomological Society of America
Nebraska Academy of Science
(Many other associations)
33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason

Bibliography

A Preliminary Review of the Birds of Nebraska. 1904. (With Lawrence Bruner and M.H. Swenk)
An Analysis of Nebraska's Bird Fauna. 1909.
Eugenics as Viewed by the Zoologist. 1914.
Animal Biology. 1933.

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