Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

Ornithological notes by Brooks, who was one of four brothers renowned for their studies in biology at WVU around the turn of the century, and after whom Brooks Hall is named. Earl Brooks, WVU Class of 1897, later went to seminary and became a Presbyterian minister before receiving an appointment as professor of Natural Sciences at Boston University. While a student at WVU he began compiling a study of birds of Upshur County. Later this compilation was expanded and published as A Check List of West Virginia Birds, a book that is considered a pioneering classic in the field of ornithology. The collection consists of separate notebooks kept on individual birds that are entitled by the common English name of the bird and also classified in standard scientific fashion according to genus and species. The notebooks are numbered according to the system prescribed by the American Ornithologists Union and each contains a state map with observed sites marked recording field observations by Brooks and his co-workers of nesting sites and habits. These notebooks provided the basis for several publications ca. 1900-16 by Brooks and were later used by Dr. George Hall in a subsequent book on birds of West Virginia.

Correspondence and lecture files of Maurice G. Brooks, a French Creek native and WVU graduate, who served as a professor of biology from 1932 to 1938 and professor of wildlife management from 1938 until 1969. His papers particularly deal with his work with the Wilson Ornithological Club, National Audubon Society, and West Virginia Conservation Commission. Subjects of special note include: Redstart magazine; the formation of the WVU Faculty Senate; the controversy between Gov. Matthew M. Neely and West Virginia University president, Charles E. Lawall; and World War II. Notable correspondents include: Robert G. Kelley, Clarence Meadows, Jennings Randolph, and Irvin Stewart.