Identity area
Reference code
CA OTUTF MS COLL 00387
Title
J. Murray Speirs Papers
Date(s)
- 1923-2000 (Creation)
Level of description
Manuscript Collection
Extent and medium
20 boxes (3.5 metres)
Context area
Name of creator
(1909-)
Biographical history
Dr. John Murray Speirs was born in Toronto in 1909. His lifelong fascination with birds first began with the sighting of a ruby-crowned kinglet in his garden at the age of 6. He kept detailed daily bird sighting notebooks from the age of 15 until his death in 2001. He published hundreds of articles, and was editor of many books and journals, including 12 volumes of The Illustrated Natural History of Canada, 6 volumes of Birds of Ontario County, and co-authored A Naturalist's Guide to Ontario.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of Rosemary Speirs/Estate of J. Murray Speirs
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The collection consists of daily bird journals (1923-2000), daily bird records (1922-1949), first and last sightings records (1922-1990), and research records on the American Robin and the Lincoln Sparrow (1930s-1940s).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Material may be requested in person at the Fisher Library Reference Desk, or in advance using our online stack retrieval request form: https://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/stack-retrieval-request
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English