Naturalist, botanist, zoologist, editor and historian, Witmer Stone came to the Academy in 1888 just after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. His first connection with the Academy was as a Jessup Student, but his long association lasted more than fifty years and while at the Academy he was concerned with scientific observations and administrative work. As an executive he was Assistant Curator, 1891-1908, Curator, 1908-24, Director 1924-28, Director Emeritus 1929 on. However, from 1927 to the date of his death he was also a vice president of the Academy. His writings concern birds, mammals, reptiles, plants, butterflies and land mollusks in the scientific field, and historical notes and biographies of scientists in the field of humanities. He was acutely interested in people and the organization of groups for study and discussion. As a boy he and his brother Frederick with their neighbors Amos and Stewardson and other Brown brothers organized a group called the Wilson Natural Science Association. This met weekly in the Stone home and was concerned with an attempt to study all the plants, animals and minerals in the vicinity of their Germantown residences.

Later, he helped to organize the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, the Philadelphia Botanical Society and the Pennsylvania Audubon Club. He was also very active in the American Ornithologists' Union and in the American Society of Mammalogists. Many of his colleagues have written biographies of Witmer Stone, biographies from all aspects of his contacts. However, it is left to Henry W. Fowler, the Curator of fishes at the Academy to give us in his reminiscences some insight into the background and early homelife of Witmer Stone. As editor of The Auk Witmer Stone included reviews of most of the important ornithological works during his tenure of office, at the same time publishing biographies of his colleagues.

This collection consists of a few letters by Stone and biographies, news clippings and special letters at the time of his death, as well as Biographical material; [UNK] of [UNK]; Field classes; [UNK] [UNK].

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