A prolific and diverse scholar, Hans Friedrich Gadow (1855-1928), wrote on such topics as birds, Mexican peoples and animals, reptiles, and other vertebrates. Born in Germany in 1855, he studied anatomy with Ernst Haeckel in Germany before moving to England, where his research on avian anatomy and systematics had broad influence. In 1892, Gadow published his classification system of birds, partially founded on the work by Maximilian Furbinger. Alexander Wetmore used Gadow's classification of birds for his own work, published in 1930 and James L. Peters adapted Wetmore's research, in turn, for his "Checklist of Birds of the World" series.

Gadow was Curator of the Stricklandian Collections at Cambridge University and a Reader on the morphology of vertebrates. He and Haeckel co-authored the book "The Lost Link," published in 1898 and Gadow collaborated with Richard Sharpe on the "Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum", he wrote two volumes on the Passeriformes (perching birds). Gadow wrote two volumes in the British Museum series: Catalogue of the Passeriformes, or perching birds, in the collection of the British Museum. Cichlomorphae: pt.V. containing the families Paridae and Laniidae (titmice and shrikes) and Certhiomorphae (creepers and nuthatches), no. 8, and Catalogue of the Passeriformes... Cinnyrimorphae: containing the families Nectarinidae and Meliphagidae (sunbirds and honey eaters), no. 9. Gadow also authored a volume in "The Cambridge Natural History," series on reptiles and amphibia.

In 1908, Gadow published "Through Southern Mexico," which described the ruins, natural history, flora, and people of the area between Oaxaca and Vera Cruz and included many illustrations (primarily photographs). Gadow also wrote a book on Jorullo in Mexico. Jorullo is a cinder-cone volcano that erupted continuously between 1759 and 1774. Gadow's book on Jorullo was a study of the effect that the volcanic eruption had on the wildlife and fauna of the region and was published posthumously in 1930.

The Gadow Papers consists of twenty letters (1907-1914) from Hans Gadow to William Morris Colles and to Colles' firm 'Author's Syndicate' that discuss Gadow's work "Through Southern Mexico" (1908). Colles was an agent who helped writers to publish their work. The early letters deal with editorial changes to the book, the later letters are about A & C Black, a publishing firm, which Gadow believed had not properly compensated him for his contributions to "The Lost Link," a book he co-authored with Ernst Haeckel. Gadow wanted Colles to assist him in retrieving funds that he believed that the publishers owed him for the book. He also wrote to ask for information on the status of sales for his book "Through Southern Mexico". Most of the letters are very brief. The letters do not discuss personal matters in Gadow's life nor do they contain much information on Gadow's scholarly work, except for references to the editing process. Similarly, they provide no information on Gadow's travels in Mexico.

Provenance

Acquired 1979 (accession no. 1979-1638ms).

Preferred citation

Cite as: Hans Gadow Papers, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information

Processed by Robin Elliot, May 2004.

Related material

Little survives of Gadow's correspondence. The major collections are:

1. Henry Bradshaw Papers, Hans Gadow letter to HB Reference BRA /2/43 Covering dates 24 Aug. 1885, Cambridge University.
2. Gadow, Hans Friedrich (1855-1928) notebook held at The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
3. Gadow, Hans Friedrich c.100 items corresp. Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.

Bibliography

• Author's Syndicate

• Mexico -- Description and travel

• Colles, William Morris
• Gadow, Hans, 1855-1928
• Haeckel, Ernst, 1834-1919

• Gadow, Hans, 1855-1928. Through Southern Mexico