Personal Papers
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7293, William M. Mann and Lucile Quarry Mann Papers
William M. Mann (1886-1960) was born in Helena, Montana. He attended Lyon School for Boys, Spokane, Washington, 1900-1902, and Staunton Military Academy, Virginia, 1902-1905. During a brief furlough from the academy in 1903, Mann worked as an animal cage cleaner at the National Zoological Park (NZP). After graduating from the academy in 1905, Mann worked as a rancher in Texas and New Mexico where he also collected entomological specimens.
Mann attended Washington State College, Pullman, 1907-1909, and Stanford University, 1909-1911, where he received his B.A. Mann continued his entomological studies under William Morton Wheeler at Bussey Institution, Harvard University, where he received his Sc. D. degree in Entomology in 1915.
Between 1911 and 1916, Mann made several entomological collecting trips abroad: as a member of the Stanford Expedition to Brazil, 1911; to Haiti, 1912; to Cuba and the State of Hildago, Mexico, 1913; as a member of the Philip Expedition to the Middle East, 1914; and as a Sheldon Traveling Fellow to Fiji and the Solomon Islands, 1915-1916. He also studied briefly in Switzerland, 1914.
Mann served as an entomologist for the Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1916-1925. During this period, Mann made entomological collecting trips to Spain, Columbia, Central America, Mexico, and Cuba, and as assistant director of the Mulford Expedition to the Amazon River Basin, 1921-1922. He also did entomological studies in Holland and Italy.
In 1925, Mann was appointed the fifth Superintendent of the NZP. In 1926, the title of Superintendent was changed to Director. Mann held that title until his retirement in 1956. Mann's major achievements during his tenure as head administrator of the NZP included the Park's building program, 1927-1940, and his various expeditions to collect live animals in order to increase the NZP population.
In 1944, Mann was appointed Technical Observer by the Quartermaster Corps, United States Army, to report on the living conditions in the United States military bases in Fiji and the Solomon Islands. After his retirement in 1956, Mann was director emeritus of the NZP, and was made honorary research associate of the Smithsonian Institution.
Mann was also an honorary curator of Entomology at the United States National Museum during almost his entire career, and donated his entomological collection to the USNM.
Lucile Quarry Mann (1897-1986) was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Michigan in 1918. She worked for Military Intelligence
in Washington, D.C., during the last remaining months of World War I. She served as assistant editor at the Bureau of Entomology, USDA, 1918-1922, and as editor for
In 1926, Lucile Quarry married William Mann, shortly after Mann's return from an animal collecting expedition to East Africa. As a wife of a zookeeper, Lucile Mann traveled with her husband to Europe and on live-animal collecting expeditions. She also acted as a foster parent to many of the orphaned infant NZP-born animals at the Manns' apartment.
Lucile Mann worked in the NZP administrative offices from 1951 until her retirement in 1967, but she continued to work there part-time until 1971. She also was editor of
A taped interview with Lucile Mann was made in 1977 as part of the Archives' Oral History Project. The tapes and transcripts can be found in RU 9513.
Materials in this record unit were donated to the Archives by Lucile Quarry Mann and the National Zoological Park between 1977 and 1988. During 1980 and 1981, Lucile Mann narrated the 16mm motion picture on audiotape with scripts by Pamela M. Henson, Oral Historian. In 1985, the motion picture was transferred to a 3/4" videotape and the taped narration was synchronized with the image.
These papers consist of correspondence from professional colleagues and government officials concerning entomology and live zoological collections as well as correspondence from personal acquaintances concerning zoo visits, lectures, published works, social events, and the occasions of the Manns' retirement (and including photographs). Also included are William M. Mann's correspondence to his mother in which he described his school activities and field trips abroad, and to Lucile Mann during his travels on the Smithsonian-Chrysler Expedition to East Africa, 1926, and as Technical Observer for the Quartermaster Corps during World War II.
These papers also document the Manns' trips abroad: the Smithsonian-Chrysler Expedition to East Africa (Tanganyika) in 1926, British Guiana in 1931, the National Geographic
Society-Smithsonian Institution Expedition to the Dutch East Indies in 1937, to Brazil and Argentina in 1939, the Smithsonian-Firestone Expedition to Liberia in 1940, visits
to European zoos in 1929, 1938, and 1948, Lucile Q. Mann's trips, 1962-1974, and William M. Mann's entomological trips, 1912-1922. Documentation includes correspondence, diaries,
field notes, photographs, souvenirs, lists of animals brought back by the 1937 expedition, and newspaper and journal articles, in particular, articles by William H. Shippen
of Washington, D.C.'s
In addition, there are manuscripts and printed materials covering the Manns' trips and NZP experiences, including outlines for lectures and radio talks; drafts and outlines
for biographies of William H. Blackburne and William M. Mann; book reviews by William M. Mann; materials on the Mulford Biological Expedition to the Amazon River Basin; William
M. Mann's entomological monographs; a report to the Quartermaster Corps. and a scrapbook of newspaper articles on William M. Mann's autobiography,
Photographs include William M. Mann's collection of portrait photographs of individuals, mostly naturalists; photographs taken during the Manns' trips abroad; group photographs of the Manns with acquaintances; photographs of animals and insects; and a photograph of Smithsonian officials and staff with President Calvin Coolidge, 1927. Audiovisual materials include motion pictures of scenes filmed in Liberia, 1940, audiotapes containing a narration by Lucile Mann for the Liberian film, 1981, and videocassettes taped from the motion picture and audiotapes, 1985.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Smithsonian-Chrysler Expedition to East Africa, 1926 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi47]
Smithsonian-Firestone Expedition to Liberia, 1940 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi48]
This series consists of diaries written by William M. Mann during his last term at Staunton Military Academy, trips to Texas and New Mexico, and to Fiji and the Solomon Islands (and including field notes); diaries by Lucile Q. Mann documenting the Manns' animal-collecting expeditions; and Lucile Q. Mann 's travel notes in which she described her trips abroad during her retirement years.
Diary, 1915-1916 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi39]
Diary, 1916 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi40]
Diary, 1937 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi41]
Diary, 1939 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi42]
Diary, 1940 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi43]
Field notes by William M. Mann, Fiji Islands, 1915-1916 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi46]
Field notes by William M. Mann, Fiji and British Solomon Islands, 1915-1916 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi45]
This series consists of photographs of individuals, mostly naturalists, probably part of William M. Mann's collection for the Scientific American Series. Most of the photographs were taken by John Howard Paine, a Washington, D.C., photographer between 1916 and 1926. Also included are photographs of stage and circus celebrities, adventurers, and scientists who were not part of the Scientific American Series.
Lucile Mann riding on elephant Buema at Mills Bros Circus. Print taken by Charles F. Miles of Action! Sports Photos. Date unknown, c. 1940s. [Image No. SIA2018-093162]
Eugene Amandus Schwarz, March 23, 1916 [Image No. SIA2010-0641]
This series consists of group photographs of the Manns and acquaintances; the Manns' European trips and expeditions; William M. Mann's retirement party, 1956; Smithsonian buildings and grounds; Smithsonian staff members with members of the Board of Regents of the SI and President Calvin Coolidge, 1927; scene at Stanford University, undated; insects and animals, undated; and drawing of a head of the tiger and of an unidentified woman, undated.
British Guiana, 1931 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi55]
William and Lucile Mann in British Guiana on a collecting trip for the National Zoological Park [Image No. 79-11666]
Middle East trip, 1914 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi56]
National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Institution Expedition to the Dutch East Indies, 1937 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi58]
Original pencil sketch of William M. Mann, by Warren Cutler, c. 1950s [Image No. SIA2007-0166]
Smithsonian-Firestone Expedition to Liberia, 1940 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi60]
William M. Mann (1886-1960) and Lucile Quarry Mann (1897-1986), 1940 [Image No. SIA2009-0984]
This series consists of photograph albums of the Manns' travels abroad; oversize photographs; an album containing signatures of NZP staff presented to William M.
Mann upon his retirement, 1956; and a scrapbook of reviews of the
Haiti, 1912 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi49]
Cuba and Mexico, 1913 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi50]
Philip Expedition to the Middle East, 1914 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi51]
Fiji and Solomon Islands, 1915-1916 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi53]
Men loading vehicle, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2299]
Camp site, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2301]
People in and around a shelter, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2302]
Camp site, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2304]
Men near river bank, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2308]
Men standing around small animal, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2311]
Hunters with giraffe in foreground, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2312]
White men in safari gear observe crates at train station, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2316]
Men at train station, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2318]
Men in street, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2381]
Men sitting next to crate, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2384]
Man walking through street, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2385]
Porter seated with load, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2387]
Three Maasai standing, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2388]
Crates with animals, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2390]
Muslim servant in Dodoma yard, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2391]
Native safari gathered near shelter, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2392]
Natives with trap in bush, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2393]
Two wildebeest standing, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2394]
Wildebeest standing, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2395]
Cars and tents at campsite, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2396]
Truck at campsite, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2397]
Wildebeest herds, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2398]
Hill country with houses, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2399]
Women with ladle and basket, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2400]
Two women standing near building, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2401]
Group of women standing, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2402]
Hunters in circle prepare, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2404]
Campsite in hilly country with trees, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2405]
Group of zebras roped together, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2407]
Campsite with natives, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2408]
Native dance, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2409]
View of river with swamp grass, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2411]
Man standing with spear, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2412]
Native safari group, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2413]
Campsite with tent, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2414]
Group of white men and natives in brush, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2415]
White man inspecting natives, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2416]
Baboon with wart hog, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2417]
Baboon on drum, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2418]
Baboon with wart hog, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2419]
Natives with ropes, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2420]
Hunters crouching in bush, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2421]
Safari group leaving, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2423]
Gathering of natives near tree and thatched hut, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2424]
Group of natives and white man on a road, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2425]
Giraffe on ground with rope, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2427]
Giraffe with ropes and white man next to tree, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2428]
Giraffe with ropes from back, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2429]
Giraffe with ropes and white men next to tree, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2430]
Giraffe felled to ground, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2431]
Giraffe seated with rope and natives, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2432]
Two porters carrying trussed animal, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2433]
Group of locals standing near building, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2434]
Locals walking and sitting near huts, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2435]
Locals carrying crates near tracks, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2436]
Crane lifting crate with natives at port, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2437]
Men and crates on ship, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2439]
Crates on board ship, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2440]
Men lowering crates on ship, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2441]
Hunters in tree, 1926 [Image No. SIA2010-1068]
Man carrying animal (wild dog?), 1926 [Image No. SIA2010-1069]
Loading animal crates aboard ship, 1926 [Image No. SIA2010-1070]
Animal crates on ship deck, 1926 [Image No. SIA2010-1071]
Smithsonian-Chrysler Expedition to East Africa, 1926 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi54]
William M. Mann with group of East Africans, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2300]
Man holding chickens, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2303]
Man with spear, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2305]
Group of men dancing, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2306]
Man with zebra, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2307]
Group of men with crates, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2309]
William M. Mann with two East Africans, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2310]
Man with monkey, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2313]
Men unloading crate from train, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2314]
White men in safari gear observe crates at train station, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2315]
Crates being moved by crane, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2317]
Giraffe in rail car, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2319]
Crates on ship, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2320]
Three Maasai seated on ground, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2386]
Three men standing near crates, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2389]
Man and woman seated with gourd ladles, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2403]
Man standing with zebra, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2406]
Natives resting by river, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2410]
Man playing drum, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2422]
Giraffe on ground with rope and white men, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2426]
Giraffe in train car, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2438]
William M. Mann feeding dik dik, 1926 [Image No. SIA2008-2442]
Primate and tiger cub, 1937 [Image No. SIA2012-3233]
Tiger cub being fed by Lucile Mann, 1937 [Image No. SIA2012-3234]
Tiger cub being fed by Lucile Mann, 1937 [Image No. SIA2012-3235]
Unidentified child with tiger cub, 1937 [Image No. SIA2012-3236]
Pangolin, 1937 [Image No. SIA2012-3237]
Photograph Album: National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Institution Expedition to the Dutch East Indies, 1937 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi64]
Photograph Album: National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Institution Expedition to the Dutch East Indies, 1937 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi65]
Scrapbook: National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Institution Expedition to the Dutch East Indies, 1937 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi66]
South American Trip, 1939 [Fieldbook Registry Item modsi75]
French battleship, Richelieu in the harbor at Dakar, 1940 [Image No. SIA2012-7656]
Damaged stern of the French battleship, Rechelieu (33,000 tons), 1940 [Image No. SIA2012-7658]
Expedition team carrying hammocks across a river, 1940 [Image No. SIA2013-06637]
Ralph Norris, Keeper at the National Zoological Park, with baby pygmy hippo, 1940 [Image No. SIA2013-06638]
This series consists of two films taken by William M. Mann. One film was taken in 1944 while Mann served as U.S. Army Technical Observer in the South Pacific during World War II. The other film documents the Smithsonian-Firestone Expedition to Liberia in 1940, narrated by Lucile Q. Mann in 1981. The silent film and narration were brought together in one video in 1985. This film covers the Manns' travels, plantation headquarters, bush trips to Belleyella, the Gibi Mountains, Bromley, Cape Mount, Bendaja, the Polish Plantation, their initiation into the Snake Society, and the animals they collected for NZP.
A copy of the Smithsonian-Firestone Expedition to Liberia is available in the Film and Video Reference Library.