CalPoly

McMillan-Wreden California Condor Collection, MS 044

Pages: Collection Summary | Biographical Note | Scope and Content

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains correspondence between naturalist and environmental activist Ian McMillan, rare book dealer and rancher William P. Wreden, and other conservationists and government officials on the conservation of the California condor. Wreden owned the Pinole Land and Cattle Company, located near McMillan's ranch in eastern San Luis Obispo County and the two men corresponded on environmental advocacy efforts on behalf of California condors in 1953.

The provenance, or original organization, of the papers has been preserved for the most part. The collection is housed in one box and has one series: Correspondence and Clippings.

Researchers should note that Cal Poly also holds the papers of Ian McMillan (MS 111), which contain extensive primary source documentation in Series 1. Subseries D. of his efforts to save the California condor, including manuscripts, correspondence, field studies, photographs, and research material relating to McMillan's book, Man and the California Condor: The Embattled History and Uncertain Future of North America's Largest Free-Living Bird (New York: Dutton, 1968). Also included are decades of McMillan's field notes and survey data on condors, long-term correspondence on condors with naturalists Aldo and Starker Leopold, soil scientist William A. Albrecht, author and activist W.H. Ferry, and New York Times theater critic Brooks Atkinson.

Pages: Collection Summary | Biographical Note | Scope and Content