Peterson, Roger Tory

born Aug. 28, 1908, Jamestown, N.Y., U.S.

died July 28, 1996, Old Lyme, Conn.

U.S. ornithologist.

He started drawing birds in high school. His Field Guide to the Birds (1934), illustrated with paintings that stressed the features that best identified a species in the field, greatly stimulated public interest in bird study in the U.S. and Europe. Many other guides followed. More responsible than any other person for fostering a widespread awareness of birds by the American public, he received such awards as the American Ornithologists' Union's Brewster Medal (1944) and the World Wildlife Fund's Gold Medal (1972).

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▪ 1997

      U.S. ornithologist, author, conservationist, and wildlife artist (b. Aug. 28, 1908, Jamestown, N.Y.—d. July 28, 1996, Old Lyme, Conn.), wrote the pocket-size field guides that were instrumental in stimulating U.S. and European interest in the study of birds. His illustrations emphasized the features that would aid in identification of each species and used arrows to indicate key characteristics; he grouped birds on the basis of their resemblance to one another instead of by species; and he included descriptions that were short and to the point. Peterson became interested in nature, and especially birds, when he was a young boy. His seventh-grade science teacher encouraged him to apply his meticulous attention to detail to the drawing of birds. Peterson studied in New York City at the Art Students League (1927-29) and the National Academy of Design (1929-31). He then taught (1931-34) at the Rivers School, Brookline, Mass., and worked (1934-43) for the National Audubon Society. A fellow birder, impressed with Peterson's knowledge, had suggested that he produce a guide, and in 1934 A Field Guide to the Birds was published—after having been rejected by at least four publishers. The initial print run of 2,000 sold out within two weeks. Many other books followed, some in the field guide series and others of a more general nature, among them A Field Guide to Western Birds (1941), Birds over America (1948), A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe (1954; coauthored with Guy Mountfort and P.A.D. Hollom), and Wild America (1955). Peterson's books sold in the millions and were translated into at least a dozen languages. His awards included the New York Zoological Society Gold Medal (1961), the World Wildlife Fund Gold Medal (1972), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1980). He was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1986 the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History was founded in Jamestown, N.Y.

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▪ American ornithologist

born Aug. 28, 1908, Jamestown, N.Y., U.S.

died July 28, 1996, Old Lyme, Conn.

 American ornithologist, author, conservationist, and wildlife artist whose field books on birds, beginning with A Field Guide to the Birds (1934; 4th ed. 1980), did much in the United States and Europe to stimulate public interest in bird study.

      The “Peterson Field Guide Series” includes Peterson's own books on birds of western North America (1954), eastern and central North America (1980), Britain and Europe (with British ornithologists Guy Mountfort and P.A.D. Hollum; 1954), and Mexico (1973), as well as his own volume on the wildflowers of eastern North America (with Margaret McHenney; 1968). In addition, the series includes a number of guides by other authors.

      Peterson started drawing birds while in high school. He studied at the Art Students League, New York (1927–29), and the National Academy of Design, New York (1929–31). In painting for the field guides, he stressed those features of each species that would aid the reader in identifying it in the field. In addition to the field guides, he wrote many popular books of a more general nature, among them Birds Over America (1948), Wildlife in Color (1951), Wild America (1955), The Birds (1963), and The World of Birds (with James Fisher; 1964). He received many awards, including the Brewster Medal of the American Ornithologists' Union (1944), the New York Zoological Society Gold Medal (1961), the World Wildlife Fund Gold Medal (1972), the Linné Gold Medal from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (1976), and the U.S. Medal of Freedom (1980).

      Peterson was an officer of many ornithological and conservation organizations, including the American Ornithologists' Union, National Audubon Society, and International Committee for Bird Preservation.

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