Charles Barney Cory amassed one of the most comprehensive private bird collections in existence, documenting Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico specimens. Born in Boston on January 31, 1857, he utilized inherited wealth to pursue scientific interests, international travel, and athletic ventures. His professional life spanned multiple decades, moving from independent research to a permanent curatorial role at the Field Museum.
Early Scientific Development
At sixteen, Cory began collecting bird skins. By February 1876, he secured membership in the Nuttall Ornithological Club, where he engaged with established ornithologists such as William Brewster and Joel Asaph Allen. Although he briefly enrolled at Harvard University and the Boston University School of Law, his focus remained on field collection, with expeditions reaching the Magdalen Islands, the Bahamas, and Cuba throughout the late 1870s and 1880s.
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In 1883, he participated in the founding convention of the American Ornithologists' Union in New York City. By 1887, he served as curator of birds at the Boston Society of Natural History. After donating 19,000 specimens to the Field Museum in Chicago, he joined the staff as Curator of Ornithology. Following a financial collapse in 1906, he transitioned to the position of Curator of Zoology, a role he maintained until his death in 1921.
Sporting and Community Life
Beyond science, Cory engaged in high-level sporting and cultural activities. At his summer estate on Great Island in West Yarmouth, he hosted notable figures including President Grover Cleveland. From 1888 to 1892, he funded the Hyannis town baseball team, recruiting professional players like Dick Conway and Mert Hackett. Additionally, he participated as a golfer in the individual event at the 1904 Summer Olympics, though he did not complete the competition.
Literary Output
Cory authored numerous scientific and popular volumes. Major works included The Birds of Haiti and San Domingo (1885), The Birds of the West Indies (1889), and The Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin (1909). His final project, the Catalogue of Birds of the Americas, began as a multi-part series; two volumes were finished before his death, with Carl Edward Hellmayr later expanding the work to fifteen parts.
Fast facts
- Born: 1857, Boston
- Died: 1921, Chicago
- Occupations: Ornithologist, zoologist, golfer, author
- Museum affiliation: Field Museum, Chicago
- Sporting event: 1904 Summer Olympics (golf)
- Significant authorship: Catalogue of Birds of the Americas
Questions readers ask
Did Charles B. Cory work in a professional capacity?
Yes. While he initially collected specimens using his own wealth, he eventually held salaried positions as the Curator of Ornithology and later Curator of Zoology at the Field Museum.
What was his involvement in the 1904 Olympics?
He participated in the individual golf event but did not finish the tournament.
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