John Alden Loring

John Alden Loring
Born March 31, 1871
Died May 8, 1947 (aged 76)
Citizenship USA
Fields Mammalogy, natural history
Known for collecting and documenting species of mammals
Influenced field books are part of the Smithsonian's Field Book Registry

J. (John) Alden Loring (March 31, 1871 – May 8, 1947) was a mammologist and field naturalist who served with the Bureau of Biological Survey,[1] United States Department of Agriculture, the Bronx Zoological Park, the Smithsonian Institution and numerous expeditions collecting specimens in North America, Europe and Africa. A voluminous and careful traveling collector, Loring was recognized early in his career for 900 specimens collected, prepared and sent to the United States National Museum over a three-month period during an 1898 expedition through Scandinavia and northwestern Europe.[1][2]

Loring's work and professional relationships spanned several continents focusing on collecting and documenting species of mammals. He served on the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition (1909–1910)[3] as the Smithsonian specialist designated to preserve small mammals collected during the year-long expedition. In 1916, he was sent as a joint envoy of the New York Zoological Park, Philadelphia Zoological Gardens and the National Zoological Park to South Africa to collect animals and if possible to arrange for a supply of future living specimens.[4]

J. Alden Loring's personal papers are held by the Smithsonian Institution Archives. His collection of field books are part of the Smithsonian's Field Book Registry.

Loring's rat was named for him (Heller, 1909).[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "SIA RU007420, Loring, John Alden, John Alden Loring Papers, 1889-1897". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  2. ↑ "President Roosevelt's African Trip". Science 28 (729): 876–877. December 18, 1908. doi:10.1126/science.28.729.876. JSTOR 1635075. PMID 17743798.
  3. ↑ "With Roosevelt in Africa". New York Tribune. Proquest Historical Newspapers. Aug 25, 1910. p. 6.
  4. ↑ Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. 1917.
  5. ↑ Grayson, Michael; Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2009). "Loring". The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 246–247. ISBN 978-0-8018-9533-3.

Publications