William Harroun Behle papers, 1889-2003

William H. Behle donated these papers to the University of Utah in 1990-2004. The collection encompasses a wide range of Dr. Behle's professional life at the University of Utah and in particular, the area of ornithology.

The collection has been divided into many sections. The first section contains personal materials such as thank you notes, retirement information, and an interview conducted by Everett L. Cooley. There is also material on classes he taught, his research, as well as surveys and expeditions he participated in.

The second section deals with orthniology; both in his career and his private life. There are materials on the clubs he belonged to, such as the Utah Audubon Society, the Cooper Ornithological Society, and the American Ornithologists Union. Several journals of zoology, one of which dates back to 1914, are also contained in this section. There is information on the Christmas bird counts, as well as the entire history of the Utah Audubon Society.

Dr. Behle's service to the University of Utah conprises the third section of the collection, including papers from the Central General Education Committee, the Uth Conference on Higher Education, and other committees he served on for the University of Utah, or the biology department. There are also files on the establishment of the Utah Museum of Natural History and its expansion. Detailed records of birds on loan to and from museums across the United States are also in this section.

Organizations make up the fourth part of this collection. There are personal organizations such as the Lakefront Gun, Fur and Reclamation Club, and the Sons of the American Revolution. There are also minutes and other records from professional societies such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the Utah Academy of Sciencs, Arts and Letters; the American Institute of Biological Sciences; and the National Science Foundation.

The fifth section of this collection is comprised of general correspondence, both to and from Dr. Behle, and is divided into two parts. The first part is correspondence within the University of Utah, such as memos and letters between faculty and administration members. The second, larger part, is made up of letters from biologists, ornithologists, zoologists, students, and other professionals from across the United States and various parts of Europe.

Section six contains newsclippings acquired over many years about the events that Dr. Behle started or participated in, as well as articles about him and his work.

Section seven is devoted to the unpublished manuscript "The Great Salt Lake, Utah's Inland Sea." It contains the research, newspaper clippings, manuscript drafts, as well as a working draft, of the book.

Section eight contains biographical documents, as well as correspondence, fraternity materials, booklets, and articles.

Additional materials have been added to the collection and include articles, correspondence, notes, and other papers.

Click here to view digitized materials from the collection or visit ArchivesSpace for a container level list of digitized materials.