Roxie Laybourne Holding a Duck

Object Details

Author

Unknown

Subject

Laybourne, Roxie C. 1910-2003

National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) Division of Birds

United States National Museum Dept. of Biology 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

Roxie Laybourne (1910-2003) is standing at a counter in the Bird Division of the National Museum of Natural History holding a duck specimen from the collection. Roxie is wearing a dark suit and has bare arms. She is wearing eyeglasses. In the background, there are more duck specimens on a table.

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

c. 1960

Standard number

SIA2014-07441

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Type

Classification

Photographic print

Person, candid

Physical description

Number of Images: 1; Color: Black and white; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Person, candid; Medium: Photographic print

Smithsonian Archives - History Div

Topic

Biology

Research--Equipment and supplies

Ornithologists

Ornithology

Women

Smithsonian Institution--Employees

Specimens

Birds--Anatomy

Birds--Collection and preservation

Record ID

siris_sic_14805

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply