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Roxie Laybourne Beside Three Open Drawers of Bird strike Remains

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

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Object Details

Author
Unknown
Subject
Laybourne, Roxie C. 1910-2003
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) Division of Birds
Category
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
With Smithsonian Secretary Alexander Wetmore's encouragement, Laybourne accepted a short-term appointment in 1944 in the Bird Division at the National Museum of Natural History, working with taxidermist Watson Perrygo and curator Herbert Friedmann. Known as the "Feather Lady," Laybourne pioneered the field of forensic ornithology at the Smithsonian Institution by studying the detailed microscopic structure of plumaceous (downy) feather barbules and creating a technique of identifying species of birds from fragmentary feather samples. Her methods revolutionized aviation safety by creating a technique of identifying birds involved in aircraft bird strikes. That work led to the development of the first laboratory in the world dedicated solely to feather identification. The methods she developed are now routinely applied to studies of prey remains, evidence from criminal cases, and anthropological artifacts.
For more images of Roxie Laybourne, see SIA2009-2205, SIA2010-0575, SIA2010-0580, SIA2010-0639, SIA2014-07398, SIA2014-07403, SIA2014-07404, SIA2014-07405, SIA2014-07406, SIA2014-07407, SIA2014-07411, SIA2014-07413, SIA2014-07417, SIA2014-07421, SIA2014-07431, SIA2014-07434, SIA2014-07441, SIA2014-07442, and SIA2014-07448.
Summary
In the Bird Division of the National Museum of Natural History, Roxie Laybourne, wearing a lab coat, smiles at the camera while standing at a cabinet with three open drawers holding bagged remains from bird strikes. On the counter to her right are four black binders. On the wall are two photographs of magnified downy barbules, a photo of Roxie at work in a lab setting, and a diagram of the parts of a feather.
Contained within
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 04-086, Box 2, Folder 5
Contact information
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
September 1996
Standard number
SIA2014-07421
Restrictions & Rights
No restrictions
Type
Classification
Photographic print
Person, candid
Physical description
Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 4w x 6h; Type of Image: Person, candid ; Medium: Photographic print
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
Topic
Research--Equipment and supplies
Aircraft bird strikes
Smithsonian Institution--Employees
Biology
Forensic sciences
Ornithologists
Ornithology
Women
Birds--Anatomy
Zoological specimens--Collection and preservation
Record ID
siris_sic_14806
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply

Related Content

  • Roxie Laybourne: Feather Detective

  • Women in Science

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