1.3.2.3a.2.1.6a.1 William DUTCHER 
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| Birth |
20 Jan 1846, Piscataway, NJ11 |
| Death |
1 Jul 1920, Chevy Chase, MD |
| Burial |
6 Jul 1920, Hillside Cemetery, Plainfield, NJ |
| Occ |
Insurance, Ornithologist |
| Educ |
Dropped Out 14, Self Taught |
The following information is extracted from a memorial pamphlet published by the New Jersey Audubon Society:
"...the man who may be properly hailed as the father and originator of bird protection in America..."
He left school at 14 and farmed in Massachusetts until age 20. He removed to NY and "...engaged in the business of life insurance..." for over 40 years. He read extensively and loved natural history, especially ornithology. He was an originl member of the Commitee for the Protection of Birds of the American Ornithologists' Union and remained a member or chairman until their work was subsumed by the Audubon Societies.
He studied the birds of Long Island and published a history of the extict Labrador Duck in the AUK. He was on the council of the American Ornithologists' Union and Treasurer for a number of years and regular contributor to it's journal, the Auk. He travelled in summer to Maine to study and photograph birds, often accompanied by his daughter Mary (with whom he was very close).
The original Audubon Society movement had been launched in 1886 by Forest and Stream but had fallen into decline by 1888 due to lack of financilal support. At that time State Audubon Societies were organized and in 1901 a union of these state societies was begun by the National Committee of Audubon Societies (in 1905 icorporated as the National Association of Audubon Societies). During this time, this organized effort for national protection of birds was maintained "...largely through the untiring efforts and buoyant faith of Mr. Dutcher, who contributed unstintingly of his time, effort and money, as far as he was able, always with no other recompense than a finally realized ideal..." In 1906 the will of benefactor Albert Willcox placed the societies on a secure footing, arranged by Mr. Dutcher.
On October 19, 1910 in Plainfield, NJ he had a stroke. He recovered partially but did not regain his speech or ability to walk. He moved to Chevy Chase, MD on April 18, 1920 and had another stroke on June 23, 1920 and died on July 1, 1920. He was buried in Hillside Cemetery, Plainfield, NJ on July 6, 1920.
His memberships included: American Ornithologists' Union, NY Academy of Sciences, New York Zoological Society, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Royal Society for the Protection of Brids (Great Britain), the Linnaean Society of New York, the American Museum of natural History, the Sons of the American Revolution, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. He was President of the National Association of Audubon Societies from its organization until his death.
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