Scope and Content Note
The correspondence of Hans Hermann Carl Ludwig, Graf von Berlepsch (1850-1915), German ornithologist, span the years 1874-1913, with the bulk of the material dating from 1890 to 1906. The correspondence consist of letters and postcards received by Berlepsch and one letter sent by him. Berlepsch was one of the first zoologists to apply Darwinian principles of systematic classification to the study of birds. The collection as a whole relates primarily to neotropical birds. Subjects of the letters include ornithology, taxonomy, taxidermy, the illustration of birds, and the collection of bird skins and eggs. Occupations represented by correspondents include zoologists, curator of birds, administrators of natural history museums, officers in ornithological associations, and amateur ornithologists. Berlepsch maintained correspondence with individuals in Germany, France, England, Poland, the United States, and Brazil, including Jean Louis Cabanis, K. Dernedde, Ernst Hartert, Paul Leverkühn, Adolph Nehrkorn, Tommaso Salvadori, Philip Lutley Sclater, and Jean Stolzmann.
Most of the material is in German, but some is in French and English.