 Roy Latham Archives
“A clear warm day with heavy white frost in the morning… Meadowlarks were fluting sweetly on the frosty salt meadows in the early morning. In the dusk of early evening a red bat was flying.” –Excerpt from Roy Latham’s Journal, November 1, 1907
Legendary naturalist and Orient native son Roy Latham (pictured above) spent decades examining the natural world of the easternmost part of the North Fork, amassing what’s thought to be the most extensive natural history collection ever assembled by one individual. He bequeathed a zoological collection of 10,000 birds, mammals, and fish to the NY State Museum in Albany, along with over 100,000 botanical specimens, and to Cornell University, over 100,000 insects. He also published over 300 articles in scientific journals.
Last year, Latham’s daughter, Diana Latham, donated her father’s papers to the Oysterponds Historical Society. This donation, on a very human level, reveals Latham’s deep passion for and appreciation of the flora and fauna of eastern Long Island while also providing a detailed historical snapshot of 20th century Orient and East Marion.
John Holzapfel has spearheaded the enormous task of organizing and transcribing the voluminous material, which is comprised of thousands of pages of Roy’s writings, including his Journal (1904-1978), correspondence, field notes, and more.
This donation represents a remarkable addition to OHS’s archives. We are honored and grateful that Ms. Latham has entrusted OHS to be the caretaker of such important and unique materials.
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