Victor Blanchard Scheffer

Victor Blanchard Scheffer (November 27, 1906 – September 20, 2011)^[1] was an American biologist and the author of eleven books relating to natural history. He was born in Manhattan, Kansas and moved to Washington state at a young age.

Early years and education

Scheffer received his bachelor of science in 1930, his master of science in 1932, and his doctorate in zoology in 1936 at the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1937, he began his tenure as a biologist for the United States Bureau of Biological Survey, and remained there for three years. From 1940 to 1956, Scheffer worked for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Later years

Scheffer's first book, Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses, was published in 1959, shortly after he joined the United States Bureau of Fisheries. While at the Bureau of Fisheries, Scheffer became a lecturer for the Ecology Department at the University of Washington from 1966 to 1972 and was named chairman of the initial United States Marine Mammal Commission from 1973-1976. Dr. Scheffer has served on the advisory board of BirdNote, a radio show about birds, and dedicated to education and conservation, since its creation. His 1969 prize winning book The Year of the Whale is a classic of marine biology that appeared on the New York Times best-seller list.

Scheffer lived to the age of 104 and wrote eleven books, many of which are highly regarded by zoologists. Scheffer's father Theophilus (also a biologist) lived be nearly 100 years old, dying in 1966 at age 99.

Gallery

• 

  Northern fur seal (callorhinus ursinus) photographed by Victor Blanchard Scheffer

• 

  Tagging seal pup at Tolstoi rookery

References

External links

• An article mentioning his 100th birthday with a picture
• Guide to the Victor B. Scheffer Photograph Collection 1918-1976