IN MEMORIAM: RALPH SIMON PALMER, 1914-2003

Auk, The, Jul 2004 by Vickery, Peter D, Krohn, William B

Ralph left the Fogler Library at the University of Maine several separate collections, including The Manly Hardy Collection (see www.library.umaine.edu/friends/otree/otv 9n2/hardy.htm), a collection of rare books on the Maine woods, Indians, and 19th-century explorations, and his reprint collection, which measured approximately 170 linear feet! He had also amassed a large collection of printed materials and artifacts pertaining to early Maine natural history. he donated his extraordinarily diverse mammal collection of >1,700 specimens to the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University; the collection came with very complete data (sex, body measurements, specific localities, and dates). Curatorial assistant judith Chupasko commented that "because of their diversity and excellent data, these specimens have become an invaluable asset to the MCZ collection and to future studies in mammalogy."

He disposed of his remarkable book collection through Watkins Natural History Books. Connie Watkins recounted that these books have been sold all over the world, and were valued

not only for content but, in many cases, were purchased because they belonged to Ralph Palmer and had his name in them. Selling his books was not easy for Ralph and he constantly pulled a book back, that he thought he may need for his ongoing research.

Ralph had a special affection for and connection to the Arctic, and loved to talk of his visits to the eider farms in Iceland. he also visited Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Hudson Strait, Bathurst Island, Alberta; and in Alaska, the Brooks Range and the Aleutian and Pribiloff islands. His final trip north was a hunting expedition to northern Quebec in 1992.

Ralph is survived by his first wife, Eunice Palmer; his second wife, Nancy R. Palmer; two sisters; two sons; one daughter, and three grandchildren. he is also survived by his long-time friend and companion, Marge Cook.

The Bangor Daily News, 26-27 july 2003, advised that "those wishing to honor Ralph's memory can purchase a subscription to a science publication for their local high school biology class," undoubtedly as Ralph would have wished.

PETER D. VICKERY1 AND WILLIAM B. KROHN2

1 Center for Ecological Research, Richmond, Maine 04357, USA; and

2 Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA