Joel Asaph Allen
1838 – 1921

Joel Asaph Allen

American zoologist and ornithologist (1838–1921)

scientific collectorexplorermammalogistbotanical collectorornithologist
Born
1838-07-19, Springfield
Died
1921-08-29
Birthplace state
Massachusetts

Biography

Joel Asaph Allen was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1838 and died in 1921. He worked as a zoologist, mammalogist, and ornithologist, and served as the first president of the American Ornithologists' Union and the first curator of birds and mammals at the American Museum of Natural History. Allen formulated a rule explaining that the bodies of endotherms vary in shape according to climate, with increased surface area in hot climates to shed heat and minimized surface area in cold climates to retain heat.

Occupation

Joel Asaph Allen is recorded as a scientific collector, a explorer, a mammalogist, a botanical collector, a ornithologist, a curator, a zoologist, a naturalist and a writer, born in Massachusetts (1838–1921).

Connections to Massachusetts

Joel Asaph Allen was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1838. Explore other notable figures from Massachusetts, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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More notable figures from Massachusetts

Other historical figures born in Massachusetts, ranked by historical prominence.

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Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
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Benjamin Franklin
American polymath and statesman (1706–1790)
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 (1924-2018)
John Adams
John Adams
Founding Father, U.S. president from 1797 to 1801
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
President of the United States from 1825 to 1829
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American philosopher (1803–1882)

Frequently asked about Joel Asaph Allen

Who was Joel Asaph Allen?
Joel Asaph Allen was American zoologist and ornithologist (1838–1921), born in Massachusetts (1838 – 1921).
When and where was Joel Asaph Allen born?
Joel Asaph Allen was born on 1838-07-19 in Springfield.
When did Joel Asaph Allen die?
Joel died on 1921-08-29.
What was Joel Asaph Allen known for?
Joel Asaph Allen is recorded as a scientific collector, a explorer, a mammalogist, a botanical collector, a ornithologist, a curator, a zoologist, a naturalist and a writer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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