Ernest Ingersoll: A Naturalist's Journey Through Words and Worlds
Exploring the intersection of nature, exploration, and literature through the life and work of a pioneering American writer.
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Biography
Early Life and Education
Ernest Ingersoll was born in Monroe, Michigan, on March 13, 1852. His academic journey included studies at Oberlin College and later at Harvard University, where he was a student under the renowned naturalist Louis Agassiz. Following Agassiz's death in 1873, Ingersoll began his writing career, submitting an article on Agassiz's work to the New York Tribune in January 1874. This marked the beginning of his prolific career as a writer and observer of the natural world.
Expeditions and Journalism
In 1874, Ingersoll joined the Hayden survey expedition to the Western United States as a zoologist. During this period, he collected specimens, primarily mollusks, and published scientific papers detailing his findings. He formed a notable friendship with photographer William Henry Jackson, and together they were among the first scientists to investigate and document the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings. His dispatches to the Tribune were so well-received that he was offered and accepted a position on its staff that same year. He also contributed articles to publications like Field and Stream.
Focus on Natural Resources and Conservation
Ingersoll undertook a second Western trip in 1877, continuing to document his experiences for various periodicals. In 1879, he turned his attention to mining operations in Colorado, followed by a significant project describing shellfisheries for the United States Fish Commission and the United States Census Bureau, concluding in 1881. His reports covered contemporary fisheries and also explored the historical utilization of shellfish by Native American and ancient societies worldwide. Ingersoll emerged as an early advocate for wildlife protection and habitat preservation, often favoring field notes and photography over specimen collection, presenting these views in popular lectures around 1888.
Later Career and Retirement
From the 1890s to 1905, Ingersoll dedicated himself to updating guidebooks for Rand McNally. He settled in New York City in 1900, where he wrote a weekly column for a Montreal newspaper. Responding to reader interest, he produced series on Canadian birds and snakes, the latter co-authored and illustrated by his daughter, Helen. He continued writing until his retirement in 1938. Ernest Ingersoll passed away at the age of 94 in Brattleboro, Vermont, after a four-year illness.
Family Life
Personal Connections
Ernest Ingersoll married Mary Schofield in 1873. Together, they had two children: Helen, born in 1874, who assisted him with illustrations for some of his works, and Geoffrey, born in 1889. His family life provided a backdrop to his extensive professional endeavors.
Selected Works
Books
Ingersoll's bibliography is extensive, covering ornithology, zoology, travel, and natural history. His notable books include:
- Nests and Eggs of North American Birds (1880โ81)
- Oyster Industries of the United States (1881)
- Friends Worth Knowing (1881)
- Birds'-nesting (1882)
- Knocking Round the Rockies (1883)
- The Ice Queen (1884)
- Country Cousins (1884)
- The Crest of the Continent (1885)
- Down East Latch Strings (1887)
- The Silver Caves, A Mining Story (1890)
- Handy Guide to Washington and the District of Columbia (1896)
- Wild Neighbors (1897)
- Gold Fields of the Klondike and the Wonders of Alaska (1897)
- The Book of the Ocean (1898)
- Nature's Calendar (1900)
- Handy Guide to New York City (1900)
- Wild Life of Orchard and Field (1902)
- Life of Animals: The Mammals (1906)
- Eight Secrets (1906)
- The Wit of the Wild (1906)
- Animal Competitors (1911)
- Birds in Legend, Fable, and Folklore (1923)
- Dragons and Dragon Lore (with Henry Fairfield Osborn) (1928)
Notable Articles
Periodical Contributions
Ingersoll's contributions extended to numerous articles in prominent magazines, showcasing his versatility and keen observational skills:
- "At the Gateway of the Catskills" in Harper's New Monthly Magazine (1876โ77)
- "The City of Atlanta" in Harper's New Monthly Magazine (December 1879)
- "La Villa Real de Santa Fe" in Harper's New Monthly Magazine (1879โ80)
- "Milwaukee" in Harper's New Monthly Magazine (1880โ81)
- "In the Wahlamet Valley of Oregon" in Harper's New Monthly Magazine (1882)
- "Wampum and its History" in The American Naturalist (May 1883)
- "The Scallop and its Fishery" in The American Naturalist (December 1886)
He also contributed to the New International Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia Americana.
References
Source Citations
The following references were used in the compilation of this information:
External Resources
Further Exploration
Explore additional resources related to Ernest Ingersoll:
- Ernest Ingersoll on Wikisource
- Media related to Ernest Ingersoll at Wikimedia Commons
- Works by Ernest Ingersoll at Project Gutenberg
- Works by Ernest Ingersoll on LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
- Works by or about Ernest Ingersoll at the Internet Archive
- Biographic Memoir of Ernest Ingersoll (Marine Fisheries Review)
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