Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1921-1983 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
2 cm of textual records.
2 books.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Fredrick (Fred) Albert Urquhart was a professor of zoology at the University of Toronto and the University of Toronto Scarborough. Born in Toronto in 1911, Urquhart studied biology at the University of Toronto, completing an MA in 1937 and a PhD in 1940. His first attempt at tagging monarchs, in 1937, met with limited success, but led to the development of the Alar Tagging Method in the 1940s. In 1945, he married Norah Patterson, who would become a partner in his research endeavours. He was appointed assistant director of zoology at the Royal Ontario Museum in 1945, becoming director in 1949; at the same time, he was appointed as an assistant professor in zoology at the University of Toronto. Urquhart took on full professorship in 1963. In 1966, he spearheaded a program in zoology at Scarborough College, a position that he held until his retirement in 1977. In 1975, two member of Urquhart’s extensive network of monarch trackers, Ken and Cathy Brugger, discovered millions of monarch butterflies in the Neovolcanic Plateau in Mexico, many of them tagged, proving that monarchs did indeed travel thousands of kilometres to breed. Urquhart and his wife were able to visit Mexico in 1976 to see the monarchs firsthand. An internationally renowned entomologist, Urquhart published both books and articles on the migratory patterns of monarch butterflies. He died in 2002.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The 2005-01 accession was deposited by Urquhart's son Doug Urquhart.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds contains a small number of personal items belonging to Frederick A. Urquhart. Personal items include a letter and two books.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Due to the small amount of material in the collection, no further arrangement has been carried out beyond the collection level.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Material is subject to the Copyright Act.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Box list available.
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Citation of the material should include the following elements:
University of Toronto Scarborough Library, Archives & Special Collections, Frederick A. Urquhart fonds, Series Name - Box # File # - Item # (if applicable).