Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
MS 113
Frederic Leopold (1895-1989)
Papers, 1885-1998, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Leopold, Frederic (1895-1989) |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1885-1988, undated |
| extent: | 6.76 linear ft. (13 document boxes, 1 oversize box) |
| collection number: | MS 113 |
| repository: | Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Frederic Leopold Papers, MS 113, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
Frederic Leopold was born June 16, 1895 to Clara and Carl Leopold. Frederic grew up in Burlington, Iowa with his two brothers, Aldo and Carl, and sister Marie. He received his education at The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, New Jersey) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After serving in World War I (1917-1919) as a first lieutenant of engineers, he entered (1919) the family office furniture business. Frederic, as vice president, helped run the Leopold Desk Company with his brother Carl who served as president. Frederic later became president of the company, and retired in 1970. During and after Frederic Leopold's time at the Leopold Desk Company, the company changed its name to Leopold Company (1937), was acquired by Litton Industries (1965), and Litton Industries merged Leopold with Lehigh (1980). Lehigh-Leopold was sold to Joyce International (1984) and eventually the company ceased operations on March 3, 1990 Like his brother Aldo, Frederic Leopold was very active in conservation efforts and wildlife ecology. During the 1930s, Frederic became concerned about the survival of the wood duck, which was close to extinction in the early part of the 20th century. His brother Aldo put him in touch with one of his graduate students, Arthur Hawkins, who got him started designing houses for wood ducks. In addition to developing a design for wood duck houses, Frederic conducted extensive studies on their mating and nesting habits. Many of these studies were done in his own back yard in Burlington, overlooking the Mississippi River and its bluffs. Leopold held memberships in a variety of organizations, including the Rotary Club, Burlington Chamber of Commerce and the Crystal Lake Club. Leopold was the third generation of the family to be a member of the Crystal Lake Club, located nearby across the Mississippi River in Illinois. Leopold led several efforts to preserve the club's natural forests and prairies from development. Leopold received numerous awards including an Honorary Doctor of Science from Iowa Wesleyan College (undated); the Iowa Wildlife Conservation Award (1966); the Iowa Academy of Science Centennial Citation (1975); and the Ducks Unlimited Conservation Service Award (1981). Frederic Leopold died March 29, 1989. |
Collection description
This collection (1885-1988, undated) contains biographical information, news clippings, wood duck nesting studies, journals, correspondence, publications, writings, and photographs. Leopold's work with wood ducks can be found throughout the collection, including his correspondence, presentations, publications, writings, reminiscences, wood duck records, and photographs. Most of the collection documents Leopold's conservation efforts, wood duck activities, and travels. There are also a number of materials related to his brother Aldo Leopold. The writings contain both drafts and publications written by Frederic Leopold. Other than his writings and publications on wood ducks, much of Frederic Leopold's writings are autobiographical. The materials listed under publications are not authored by Frederic Leopold, but contain writings by friends and acquaintances and publications on subjects in which Leopold was interested. Included in the publications are a selection of writings by his brother, Aldo Leopold, and other family members. Leopold kept very detailed records, as can be seen both in his wood duck nesting records (1939-1978) and journals. The journals document both his hunting and family trips, and often include descriptions of the landscape, animals, farming and crops seen along the way. Photographs within the collection include a few of Leopold and his family, but most of the photographs are of the nesting wood ducks and the ducklings leaving the safety of their nests. Some photographs can also be found within a few of his hunting and travel journals. The correspondence contains letters from a wide variety of people, including friends and family, and on a variety of topics. Most of the correspondence concerns conservation, his wood duck studies and presentations, and travels. Some of the correspondence includes letters thanking Leopold for his presentations. A number often mention his brother Aldo Leopold. Included in the collection are several folders of materials on the Leopold family, including the Starker family (his mother Clara's family). Information on the Leopold family can also be found in the Aldo Leopold Tribute materials. |
Related materials
Related collections in the Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library include:
Related collections in other repositories include:
|
Organization
| The files are listed alphabetically by topic. |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Biographical: articles |
1951-1966 |
1 |
2 |
Biographical: articles |
1951-1985, undated |
1 |
3 |
Biographical: awards |
1954-1981 |
Map case |
C406 D012 |
Biographical: awards (Nash Conservation Award and Maharishi Award) |
1953-1984 |
Artifact Collection
|
Biographical: awards and plaques (Artifacts 2011-R002.001 through 2011-R002.009) |
1967-1987 |
|
1 |
4 |
Biographical: National Wildlife Federation honors Frederic Leopold |
1976 |
1 |
5 |
Biographical: Stanley, George "A Visit with Frederic Leopold" - article and correspondence |
1985-1986 |
1 |
6 |
Biographical - family: articles, membership booklet for Les Cheneaux Club |
1914-1980, undated |
1 |
7 |
Biographical - family: Leopold, Carl |
undated |
1 |
8 |
Biographical - family: Starker, Charles |
1900-1962, undated |
14 |
2 |
Biographical - family: Starker, Charles - invitation to laying of United States Government Building (Chicago, Illinois) |
1899 |
1 |
9 |
Biographical - family: Starker family genealogy |
1956-1958, undated |
1 |
10 |
Biographical - family: Starker-Leopold Historic District |
1982-1984 |
1 |
11 |
Correspondence: article - wood ducks |
1950-1952 |
1 |
12 |
Correspondence: articles |
1976-1979 |
1 |
13 |
Correspondence: Bathhurst Inlet Lodge |
1971-1972 |
1 |
14 |
Correspondence: Burlington Ad Hoc Parks Committee |
1973 |
1 |
15 |
Correspondence: Brown, P. E. (Iowa State College) |
1937 |
1 |
16 |
Correspondence: Godfrey, Arthur |
1970-1976 |
1 |
17 |
Correspondence: compass plant seeds |
1978-1979 |
1 |
18 |
Correspondence: family |
1912-1938 |
1 |
19 |
Correspondence: family |
1962-1979, undated |
1 |
20 |
Correspondence: family |
1964-1972 |
1 |
21 |
Correspondence: friends |
1938-1988 |
1 |
22 |
Correspondence: gardening |
1961-1978 |
1 |
23 |
Correspondence: Boyd, Gibbons |
1980 |
1 |
1 |
Correspondence: Hawkins, Arthur S. (includes 3 color slides |
1975-1979, undated |
2 |
2 |
Correspondence: Hawkins, Arthur S. on Aldo Leopold |
1988 |
2 |
3 |
Correspondence: Hochbaum, H. Albert |
1948-1976 |
2 |
4 |
Correspondence: Hochbaum, H. Albert |
1963-1980 |
2 |
5 |
Correspondence: Hunger, Edwin |
1964-1965 |
2 |
6 |
Correspondence: in response to article in Condor and information about Reis Tuttle's column in the Des Moines Register |
1951-1952 |
2 |
7 |
Correspondence: Leopold, Aldo (about) |
1935-1977 |
2 |
8 |
Correspondence: organizations, journalists |
1972-1988 |
2 |
9 |
Correspondence: pet dog |
1966-1969 |
2 |
10 |
Correspondence: Round River Experiment (Missoula, Montana) |
1972 |
2 |
11 |
Correspondence: Wethern, Bob |
1979 |
2 |
12 |
Correspondence: wildfowl management |
1988 |
2 |
13 |
Correspondence: wood ducks |
1962-1966 |
2 |
14 |
Correspondence: wood ducks |
1969-1977 |
2 |
15 |
Correspondence: wood ducks in Burlington area - studies |
1963-1979 |
2 |
16 |
Correspondence: Canadian Fishing Trip - "The Hales and Leopolds" (journal excerpts from both families) |
1934 |
2 |
17 |
Hunting journals and records: correspondence (also includes vacation inquiries) |
1955-1970 |
3 |
1 |
Hunting journals and records: Christmas trip, Superior Forest, Current River, Red Fox Day, Iowa River float trip (76 b/w photographs) (appears to be a typed copy of an Aldo Leopold journal) |
1921-1942, undated |
3 |
2 |
Hunting journals and records: Crystal Lake Club (Illinois) |
1934-1954 |
3 |
3 |
Hunting journals and records: Crystal Lake Club - birds and plantings for attracting upland game (15 b/w photographs) |
1938-1944 |
3 |
4 |
Hunting journals and records: Crystal Lake Club - birds, upland game and fish studies |
1945-1954 |
3 |
5 |
Hunting journals and records: Lake Penage (Georgian Bay) |
1929 |
3 |
6 |
Hunting journals and records: paper - Upland Birds for a Duck Club |
undated |
3 |
7 |
Hunting journals and records: quail studies and trips |
1955-1977 |
3 |
8 |
Hunting journals and records: Yellow Stone Park and Vicinity (journal of Frank R. Young - trip with Leopolds) |
1903 |
4 |
1 |
Leopold, Aldo: Aldo Leopold Memorial (Burlington, Iowa) |
1980 |
4 |
2-3 |
Leopold, Aldo: articles (about) |
1948-1987 |
4 |
4 |
Leopold, Aldo: articles (by) |
1935-1948 |
4 |
5 |
Leopold, Aldo: articles (reprints) |
1921-1978 |
4 |
6 |
Leopold, Aldo: correspondence (to and from) |
1934-1938 |
4 |
7 |
Leopold, Aldo: Flader, Susan - publications, presentation |
1970 |
4 |
8 |
Leopold, Aldo: Leopold Memorial Reserve (Baraboo, Wisconsin) |
1973-1979 |
4 |
9 |
Leopold, Aldo: obituaries and correspondence |
1948 |
4 |
10 |
Leopold, Aldo tribute (Burlington, Iowa): correspondence |
1979-1980 |
4 |
11 |
Leopold, Aldo tribute (Burlington, Iowa): news clippings, presentations |
1980, undated |
4 |
12 |
Leopold, Aldo tribute (Burlington, Iowa): news clippings, presentations (includes history of Leopold family) |
1980-1981 |
4 |
13 |
Leopold Desk Company: articles, annual reports |
1954-1968, undated |
4 |
14 |
Leopold Desk Company: correspondence (includes 13 b/w photographs of Leopold desks) |
1959-1981 |
5 |
1 |
Organizations: Audubon prints |
undated |
5 |
2 |
Organizations: Crystal Lake Club - by-laws, articles of incorporation |
1885-1968 |
5 |
3 |
Organizations: Crystal Lake Club - correspondence |
1939-1969 |
5 |
4 |
Organizations: Crystal Lake Club - correspondence (includes duck records) |
1949-1977 |
5 |
5 |
Organizations: Crystal Lake Club - reports |
1972-1978 |
5 |
6 |
Organizations: Crystal Lake Club - Wilderness Policy and timber management program |
1951-1955 |
5 |
7 |
Organizations: Crystal Lake Permanent Land Committee |
1973-1980 |
5 |
8 |
Organizations: Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation |
1979-1980 |
5 |
9 |
Organizations: Iowa Wesleyan College - honorary degree and President Louis Haselmayer speech |
1971-1980 |
5 |
10 |
Organizations: memberships |
1937-1985 |
5 |
11 |
Organizations: wildlife management projects |
1972-1980 |
5 |
12 |
Organizations: Burlington parks |
1978-1980 |
6 |
1 |
Photographs: family (4 b/w) |
undated |
6 |
2 |
Photographs: Frederic Leopold (7 b/w) |
undated |
14 |
1 |
Photographs: Frederic Leopold and John Hale - Two Key Island, Mississippi River above Iowa River (1 b/w) |
1940 circa |
6 |
3 |
Photographs: Frederic Leopold, wood ducks, wildflower (from Jane and Jim Spring) (6 color) |
1978 |
6 |
4 |
Photographs: wood ducks (16 b/w) |
1960 |
6 |
5 |
Photographs: wood ducks, barred owl (18 b/w) |
1965 |
6 |
6 |
Photographs: wood ducks (28 b/w) |
1965 |
6 |
7 |
Photographs: wood ducks, houses, and nests (31 b/w) |
1965-1966 |
6 |
8 |
Photographs: wood ducks, lake, bridges, flood (34 b/w) |
1965-1966 |
6 |
9 |
Photographs: wood duck nest - mother, eggs, ducklings (15 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
10 |
Photographs: wood ducks (15 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
11 |
Photographs: wood ducks (5 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
12 |
Photographs: wood ducks and wood duck houses (20 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
13 |
Photographs: wood ducks - jumping from nest, walking on grounds (16 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
14 |
Photographs: wood ducks, nests, houses (13 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
15 |
Photographs: wood ducks, nests, houses (7 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
16 |
Photographs: wood ducks - in trees, houses (19 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
17 |
Photographs: wood ducks (19 b/w) |
1966 |
6 |
18 |
Photographs: wood ducks (7 b/w) |
1971 |
6 |
19 |
Photographs: wood ducks (14 b/w) |
1971 |
7 |
1 |
Photographs: wood ducks (19 b/w) |
1971 |
7 |
2 |
Photographs: wood ducks, houses (20 b/w) |
1971 |
7 |
3 |
Photographs: wood ducks, houses (20 b/w) |
1971 |
7 |
4 |
Photographs: wood ducks, houses (18 b/w) |
1971 |
7 |
5 |
Photographs: wood ducks, houses, eggs (9 b/w) |
1971 |
7 |
6 |
Photographs: wood ducks, houses, eggs (20 b/w) |
1971 |
7 |
7 |
Photographs: wood ducks, houses, snake (16 b/w) |
undated |
7 |
8 |
Presentations |
1976, undated |
7 |
9 |
Presentations: Citizens Natural Resources Association of Wisconsin |
1952 |
7 |
10 |
Presentations: correspondence |
1966-1977 |
7 |
11 |
Presentations: Iowa's Conservation Heritage |
undated |
7 |
12 |
Presentations: Izaak Walton League |
1969 |
7 |
13 |
Presentations: Soil Conservation Society correspondence with Sylvan Runkel |
1967 |
7 |
14 |
Presentations: Student Wildlife Conclave (Iowa State University) |
1974 |
7 |
15 |
Publications: article from Ducks Unlimited (Jim Dinsmore, v. 49 No. 5), Exhibit catalog (Parks Library, Iowa State University), Program for 100th birthday celebration of Aldo Leopold |
1985-1986 |
7 |
16 |
Publications: Errington, Paul (by) |
1940-1948, undated |
7 |
17 |
Publications: Errington, Paul (by) and others - includes accompanying correspondence |
1934-1947 |
8 |
1 |
Publications: gardening |
1957-1962, undated |
8 |
2 |
Publications: Hall, David - duck hunting |
1970-1987 |
8 |
3 |
Publications: Hawkins, Arthur S. |
1937-1983 |
8 |
4 |
Publications: hunting |
1964, undated |
8 |
5 |
Publications: Leopold, A. Starker |
1951-1952 |
8 |
6 |
Publications: Leopold, Edith ("the Ediths") - Trek of the Wood ducks |
1944 |
8 |
7 |
Publications: Leopold, Edith L. Wood Duck Record |
1944 |
8 |
8 |
Publications: articles - nitro-blasting potholes for waterfowl |
1968 |
8 |
9 |
Publications: waterfowl and other birds |
1935-1971 |
8 |
10 |
Publications: wetlands |
1966, undated |
8 |
11 |
Publications: wood ducks |
1958-1977 |
8 |
12 |
Videocassette: interview with Leopold on "Take One," Iowa Public Television, Channel 11, January |
1986 |
9 |
1 |
Wood duck nesting records: volume 1 |
1939-1953 |
9 |
2 |
Wood duck nesting records: volume 2 |
1954-1966 |
10 |
1 |
Wood duck nesting records: volume 3 |
1967-1978 |
10 |
2 |
Wood duck nesting records: volume 3 news clippings |
1967-1978 |
10 |
3 |
Wood duck nesting study: article - includes "Table of 35 Years' Statistics Based on Over 10,000 Observations" |
1943-1977 |
10 |
4 |
Writings: Africa - includes itinerary, ephemera |
1965 |
10 |
5 |
Writings: Alaska |
1969 |
11 |
1 |
Writings: British Columbia - God's Lake, Ontario (journal) |
1954-1956 |
11 |
2 |
Writings: Canada Bound, northwest fishing (journal) |
1958-1959 |
11 |
3 |
Writings: A Day to Remember; Father as a Hunter |
undated |
11 |
4 |
Writings: Excerpts from Sand County Almanac |
undated |
11 |
5 |
Writings: Experiences with Home-Grown Wood Ducks (published) |
1965 |
11 |
6 |
Writings: Frederic Leopold on Aldo Leopold (handwritten drafts) |
undated |
11 |
7 |
Writings: A Historical Quail Hunt (drafts) |
undated |
11 |
8 |
Writings: A Hunter's Lesson (drafts) |
undated |
11 |
9 |
Writings: Keep 'em Down on the Farm |
undated |
11 |
10 |
Writings: Managing the 60 Acres |
undated |
11 |
11 |
Writings: Montana, Arctic Lodges, Florida Bound, South Dakota, Mexico (writings, journals) |
1961-1965 |
11 |
12 |
Writings: Delta Station, Manitoba, Canada (journal, correspondence, ephemera) |
1962-1968 |
11 |
13 |
Writings: Family Summers on Lake Huron |
undated |
11 |
14 |
Writings: Florida; Mudge Camp, Minnesota; Bathurst Inlet, Canada |
1970 |
12 |
1 |
Writings: Lake of the Woods, Montana Bound (journals) |
1960-1961 |
12 |
2 |
Writings: Lake Superior (?) |
undated |
12 |
3 |
Writings: Leopold Anecdotes (handwritten draft) |
1982 |
12 |
4 |
Writings: Leopold Family Anecdotes (typewritten) |
1982 |
12 |
5 |
Writings: Maine, Green River Float, Mexico City, Bathhurst, Florida (journals) |
1972-1975 |
12 |
6 |
Writings: High Sierra; Mason City - Clear Lake, Iowa; Florida Ahoy! (journal) |
1950-1953 |
12 |
7 |
Writings: Nesting Wood Duck Study (35 Years) - drafts |
1984 |
12 |
8 |
Writings: Nesting Wood Duck Study (35 Years) - drafts |
1984 |
12 |
9 |
Writings: nesting wood ducks - drafts |
undated |
12 |
10 |
Writings: A Plan to Save Our Ducks - includes correspondence |
1988, undated |
12 |
11 |
Writings: Quetico; West Plains; Iowa River; Garner, Iowa Trips |
1936 |
12 |
12 |
Writings: Recollections of an Old Member (Crystal Lake Club) - correspondence |
1911, 1977 |
12 |
13 |
Writings: Recollections of an Old Member (Crystal Lake Club) - rough draft |
undated |
12 |
14 |
Writings: Recollections of an Old Member (Crystal Lake Club) |
1977 |
12 |
15 |
Writings: Sand County Almanac introduction (drafts) |
1977 |
12 |
16 |
Writings: Signs of early spring... |
undated |
12 |
17 |
Writings: A Study of Nesting Wood ducks in Iowa - publication, correspondence |
1949-1952 |
13 |
1 |
Writings: A Study of Nesting Wood ducks in Iowa (reprinted from "The Condor") |
1951 |
13 |
2 |
Writings: western trip, Glacier National Park, Montana (journal) |
1948-1949 |
13 |
3 |
Writings: Wet and Dry Bird Shooting (published article) |
1979 |
13 |
4 |
Writings: Wolf River, Norway, Denmark, White Lake, Wisconsin, Tryon-Bulls Isle (North Carolina) |
1966-1969 |
13 |
5 |
Writings: wood duck nesting boxes |
1970 |
13 |
6 |
Writings: Wood Duck Nesting Boxes (pamphlet) |
1970 |
13 |
7 |
Writings: wood ducks - draft |
undated |