Robert T. Orr
Encyclopedia
Robert Thomas Orr was an American biologist known for his work as a zoologist
and natural historian
.
to Robert Harry and Clara (Cockburn) Orr. He received his B.S. degree in biology from the University of San Francisco
in 1929. His M.A. and Ph.D. degrees were earned at the University of California, Berkeley
while studying in the laboratory of Joseph Grinnell
.
and mammalogy
collections at the California Academy of Sciences
(1936–1963), and a faculty member at the University of San Francisco
(1942–1963). He served as the Associate Director of the California Academy of Sciences from 1964 to 1975. In addition to his work in mammalogy and ornithology, Orr was considered an authority on wild mushrooms. He was known for leading mushroom hunting expeditions in the moist coastal forests of Mendocino County
, delighting many amateur "Mendocino Mushroomers" with fascinating tales of mushrooms and fungi. Orr served as President of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
from 1976-1977. He died at his home in Larkspur, California
on 23 June 1994.
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and natural historian
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
.
Early life and education
Orr was born 17 August 1908 in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
to Robert Harry and Clara (Cockburn) Orr. He received his B.S. degree in biology from the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
in 1929. His M.A. and Ph.D. degrees were earned at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
while studying in the laboratory of Joseph Grinnell
Joseph Grinnell
Joseph Grinnell was a field biologist and zoologist. He made extensive studies of the fauna of California, and is credited with introducing a method of recording precise field observations known as the Grinnell System...
.
Career
Orr spent most of his professional career in San Francisco as curator the ornithologyOrnithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
and mammalogy
Mammalogy
In zoology, mammalogy is the study of mammals – a class of vertebrates with characteristics such as homeothermic metabolism, fur, four-chambered hearts, and complex nervous systems...
collections at the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
(1936–1963), and a faculty member at the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
(1942–1963). He served as the Associate Director of the California Academy of Sciences from 1964 to 1975. In addition to his work in mammalogy and ornithology, Orr was considered an authority on wild mushrooms. He was known for leading mushroom hunting expeditions in the moist coastal forests of Mendocino County
Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...
, delighting many amateur "Mendocino Mushroomers" with fascinating tales of mushrooms and fungi. Orr served as President of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
from 1976-1977. He died at his home in Larkspur, California
Larkspur, California
Larkspur is a city in Marin County, California, United States. Larkspur is located south of San Rafael, at an elevation of . As of the 2010 Census, the city's population was 11,926. Larkspur is located north of San Francisco near Mount Tamalpais. Larkspur's Police Department is shared with that...
on 23 June 1994.
Selected publications
Robert T. Orr was the author of about 260 scientific and popular publications mostly on mammalogy and ornithology, but he had 3 books on fungi and a book on wildflowers from western North America co-authored with his wife Margaret. He authored a textbook on Vertebrate Biology that was first released in 1961, with the final fifth edition released in 1981. Some of his publications included:- Orr, R.T. 1940. The rabbits of California. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences 19:1-227, 10 pls.,30 figs.
- Orr, R.T. 1945. A study of captive Galapagos finches of the genus GeospizaGeospizaGeospiza is a genus of bird in the Thraupidae family; all species of Geospiza are endemic to the Galápagos Islands; together with related genera they are collectively known as Darwin's finches...
. Condor 47:177-201. - Orr, R.T. 1954. Natural history of the pallid bat, Antrozous pallidusPallid batThe Pallid Bat is a species of bat that ranges from western Canada to central Mexico. It is the sole species of its genus and is closely related to Van Gelder's Bat , which is sometimes included in Antrozous...
(Le Conte). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 28:165-246. - Orr, R.T. 1965. The Animal Kingdom Macmillan, New York. 380pp.
- Orr, R.T. 1972. Marine Mammals of California University of California Pres, Berkeley. 64pp. ISBN 0520020774
- Orr, R.T and M.C. Orr. 1974. Wildflowers of Western America. Knopf, New York. 270pp. ISBN 039449363X
- Orr, R.T. and D.B. Orr. 1980. Mushrooms of Western North America University of California Press, Berkeley. 293pp. ISBN 978-0520036567