Collection Timeline

1921 to 1988

1921
A hunting journal and records compiled by Frederic Leopold. The journal covers several trips including: a Christmas trip, Superior Forest trip, Current River trip, Red Fox Day, and an Iowa River float trip. The journal contains 76 black and white photographs, notes on several species of fish, plant species seen, animal species seen, bird species seen, packing lists, and camping equipment and supply lists. This appears to be typed copy of an Aldo Leopold journal.

1936
A hunting journal and records compiled by Frederic Leopold. The handwritten journal covers the years 1936-1945 and gives detailed information on trips to several locations, including: Quetico, White River, West Plains, Iowa River, Keosauqua, and Garner. The journal contains camping equipment and supply lists, recipes, mileage and gasoline usage for the trips, daily log of trip activities and the number of birds seen.

1939
Wood duck nesting records covering the years 1939-1953 compiled by Frederic Leopold. The mostly handwritten volume contains Leopold's detailed notes on the nesting habits of wood ducks, including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, incubation, hatching, and departure from the nest. Also included in this volume are a few hand-drawn illustrations, newspaper clippings and a twelve page photocopied article from volume 53 of The Condor titled "A study of nesting wood ducks in Iowa" written by Leopold.

1940
Frederic Leopold, seated and holding a rifle, and John Hale along with a hunting dog in a small paddle boat. The boat is situated near a tree-lined stretch of Two Key Island located nearby the Mississippi River above the Iowa River.

1951
Letter from A. Starker Leopold to Frederic Leopold regarding a paper on wood ducks and a hunting trip, October 3, 1951. The letter conveys F. Fraser Darling's praise of Frederic Leopold's paper on wood ducks that was published in the Condor. A summary of a recent hunting trip to Powell Lake is also mentioned.
Letter from A. E. Borell to Frederic Leopold regarding wood duck houses, December 12, 1951. The letter details the placement and success of wood duck houses in Vermont and New Jersey.
A paper written by Frederic Leopold that describes the details of hunting trip that he and his wife Edith and several others took to the Mason City-Clear Lake area, November 16-17, 1951.

1952
The program for the 30th Annual Iowa Ornithologists' Union Convention which was held May 10-11, 1952, on the campus of Coe College. The Cedar Rapids Bird Club was the host for the event. Frederic Leopold was one of the featured speakers and gave a presentation titled "Experiences with wood ducks." This document is related to correspondence discussing the convention.
Letter from Frederic Leopold in response to Keith M. Schreiner regarding Schreiner's thesis and wood duck nest predation, March 5, 1952. The letter discusses similarities in data between Schreiner's master's thesis and Leopold's wood duck nesting study paper. The impact of nest predation by squirrels is also addressed. This document is in response to a letter from Keith M. Schreiner.
Letter from Keith M. Schreiner to Frederic Leopold regarding a wood duck nesting study paper, February 21, 1952. The letter discusses similarities in data between Schreiner's master's thesis and Leopold's wood duck nesting study paper. This document is related to a reply from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from Frederic Leopold in response to a request for wood duck house information, February 1, 1952. The letter details specific instructions on how to attract nesting wood ducks as found in Leopold's article "A Study of Nesting wood ducks in Iowa" which was published in the Condor, September 1951. This document is in response to a request from Ronald H. Wilkison.
Letter from Raymond Findley to Frederic Leopold regarding a request for information on wood duck houses, February 4, 1952. Findley is requesting more information on how to build and place wood duck houses on his farm after reading an article in the Des Moines Register written by Ries Tuttle.
Letter from Peter P. Laude to Frederic Leopold regarding the acceptance of the invitation to speak at the Iowa Ornithologists' Union convention, February 13, 1952. The letter gives details on the expectations for the address. Laude also expresses interest in a trip to Burlington to see the wood ducks. This document is continuation of a previous conversation between Laude and Leopold.
Letter from Lee Miller to Frederic Leopold regarding wood duck houses, February 8, 1952. The letter inquires about the design of wood duck houses and the impact on the duckling's ability to get out of the house.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Peter P. Laude regarding the Iowa Ornithologists' Union annual meeting, January 16, 1952. The letter details Leopold's affirmative response to a request that he speak on the topic of wood ducks at the annual meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. This document is related to a request from Laude.
Letter from Robert F. Vane, on behalf of the Cedar Rapids Bird Club, regarding an invitation to the 30th annual convention of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union, April 10, 1952. The letter invites members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union to the annual convention to be held on the campus of Coe College, May 10 and 11, 1952. This document relates to the program and correspondence about the convention.
Letter from Peter P. Laude to Frederic Leopold regarding an invitation to view nesting wood ducks, April 16, 1952. The letter details Laude's regretful decline of Leopold's invitation to visit Burlington and view nesting wood ducks due to conflicts in the scheduling of the trip. This document is continuation of a previous conversation between Laude and Leopold.
Letter from Peter P. Laude to Frederic Leopold regarding an invitation to speak at the Iowa Ornithologists' Union convention, January 10, 1952. The letter details the interest in having Leopold appear on the program for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union convention after members of the Cedar Rapids Bird Club read an article by Ries Tuttle describing Leopold's wood duck experiences. This document is related to a response from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from K. D. Bartell to Frederic Leopold requesting information on construction and placement of wood duck houses, January 9, 1952. Bartell intends to pass along the information to the members of the Cresco Wildlife Club.
Letter from Clark Hollingsworth to Frederic Leopold regarding a request for information on wood ducks, January 6, 1952. The letter details Hollingsworth's interest in feeding and attracting birds as well as his desire to learn more about wood ducks.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Peter P. Laude regarding nesting wood ducks and the Iowa Ornithologists' Union annual convention, May 12, 1952. Leopold extends an invitation to visit his wood duck nesting area as well as thanks Laude for the invitation to speak at the Iowa Ornithologists' Union annual convention. This document is continuation of a previous conversation between Laude and Leopold.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Peter P. Laude regarding an invitation to view the wood ducks and the Iowa Ornithologists' Union annual meeting, February 18, 1952. The letter details an invitation to Burlington and the best times to see the nesting wood ducks. This document is a continuation of a previous conversation between Laude and Leopold.
Letter from Ries Tuttle to Frederic Leopold with a forwarded letter from Ronald H. Wilkison, January 9, 1952. Wilkison is requesting more information on how to build wood duck houses after reading an article in the Des Moines Register written by Tuttle. This document is related to the reply from Frederic Leopold.

1954
Wood duck nesting records covering the years 1954-1966 compiled by Frederic Leopold. The mostly handwritten volume contains Leopold's detailed notes on the nesting habits of wood ducks, including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, incubation, hatching, and departure from the nest. Also included in this volume are newspaper clippings, correspondence, Clemson Agricultural College Leaflet No. 20 on the wood duck written by Robert E. Ware, instructions on how to build a wood duck nesting box, and an article from National Wildlife titled "Of spring and an egg" written by Jean George.

1955
Hunting journals and records compiled by Frederic Leopold. The handwritten journals cover the years 1955-1977 and give detailed information on Leopold's quail studies and numerous trips.

1960
A wood duck is perched on top of a wooden wood duck house that is attached to a tree trunk, 1960.
A bare tree with a ladder leaning next to the wood duck house that is attached to the tree trunk, 1960. An observation blind is located close to the base of tree. Behind the tree and the blind is Frederic Leopold's house.
A wooden wood duck house that is attached onto a tree trunk, 1960.

1962
Letter from Peter Ward to Frederic Leopold regarding raising wood ducks, May 30, 1962. Ward outlines the process he uses for artificial brooding, including advice on the following: heat lamps, indoor containment pens, food, and when to safely introduce the ducklings to outdoor pens.

1963
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Clarence Schneider regarding a wood duck study, March 29, 1963. The letter informs Schneider of an upcoming wood duck study that Leopold is launching. Leopold is requesting Schneider's assistance in gathering information on wood duck houses located in a park. This document is related to additional correspondence, a wood duck study report and wood duck study materials.
A brief letter and a questionnaire relating to a wood duck study done to gather information on nesting wild wood ducks, 1963. The letter describes the purpose of the study and asks for help in filling out the attached questionnaire. The questionnaire covers topics including: the date the ducks were first seen, the date incubation started, the date of hatch, number of young ducklings and if there was a nest failure. This document is related to correspondence and wood duck study report.
A report sent to wood duck observers with attached mailing list, September 13, 1963. The report compiles the data from the twenty people that reported their observations on 50 wood duck nesting boxes. Also included with the report is a copy of the original wood duck nesting boxes information sheet from January 17, 1963. This document is related to correspondence and wood duck study materials.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Clarence W. Moody regarding a wood duck study, March 29, 1963. The letter informs Moody of an upcoming wood duck study that Leopold is launching. In an effort to attain more participants, Leopold is requesting Moody's assistance in writing a newspaper article to reach out to people who may be watching wood duck houses and would be willing to join the study. This document is related to additional correspondence, a wood duck study report and wood duck study materials.

1964
Letter from John C. Welter to Frederic Leopold regarding wood duck house information, September 9, 1964. The letter details a request from Welter, on behalf of the Des Moines County Conservation Board, for information on how to build wood duck houses and suggestions for placement when completed. This document is related to the reply from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to John C. Welter regarding a request for wood duck house information, September 14, 1964. The letter details instructions on where to place the completed houses to successfully attract wood ducks. This document is in response to a request from John C. Welter.
A postcard, mailing lists, a handwritten note, and a questionnaire relating to a wood duck study Frederic Leopold coordinated, February 27, 1964. The reminder postcard was sent to the study participants on the mailing lists regarding preparations for the spring return of wood ducks. Also included is a questionnaire for study participants to complete regarding the number of duck nests, the number of young hatched and if nests were destroyed by predators. This document is a version of wood duck study materials from 1963.

1965
A paper describing Frederic Leopold's wood duck nesting project which was later presented at Wood Duck Management and Research: A Symposium which was held on December 8-9, 1965. The paper covers several topics including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, predatory animals, egg incubation, hatching and departure of the ducklings, and how to handle orphaned ducklings. A table for the years 1943-1965 listing the number of nesting boxes available and used, the number of eggs laid and hatched, and the number of nests destroyed by predators is also included.
Several trees along a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River that each have a wooden wood duck house attached to the trunk, 1965.
A wood duck looks out of a string covered opening in a wood duck house, 1965. The string stretched across the bird house opening was used by Frederic Leopold to determine whether birds had entered or left the nest.
Frederic Leopold on a ladder checking a wooden wood duck house that is attached to a tree trunk, 1965.
A male and female wood duck perched in a tree, 1965.
A snake coiled around wood duck eggs located in a wooden wood duck house, 1965.
A male and female wood duck perched on a tree branch, 1965.
An adult wood duck leaving a wooden wood duck house that is attached to a tree, 1965
A mother wood duck on the ground, with her ducklings following directly behind her, 1965.
A snake crawling out of the opening in a wood duck house that is attached to a tree trunk, 1965.
The nesting material and other debris on the inside bottom of a wooden wood duck house, 1965.
A bucket with eight wood duck ducklings swimming in a small amount of water, 1965.

1966
Letter from Sue L. Schroder to Frederic Leopold regarding wood ducks, May 29, 1966. The letter expresses the enjoyment of a recent article about wood ducks that was published in the Des Moines Register. The letter also gives details about life in a home for the blind as well as requesting more stories about wildlife. This document is related to a reply from Frederic Leopold.
Don Joffray letter to Frederic Leopold regarding wood duck houses and nest takeover and predation, April 20, 1966. The letter talks about wood duck houses being taken over by Eastern Screech Owls. Joffray discusses his interest in providing ample housing for both species as well as a request for more information on signs of nest predation and indications of a successful hatching of duck eggs. This document is related to a reply from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Don Joffray regarding wood duck houses and nest predation, April 25, 1966. The letter discusses Leopold's view on allowing eastern screech owls to use wood duck houses. The letter also offers advice on how to prevent nest predation, encourages frequent nest inspection, and how to interpret a successful hatch of duck eggs. This document is in response to a letter from Don Joffray.
Letter from Stella Perkins to Frederic Leopold regarding wood duck houses. The letter asks for guidance on how to attract wood ducks to duck houses instead of raccoons. A hand-drawn picture of a raccoon and a wood duck house in a tree is included. This document is related to a reply from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from Lawrence A. Bjonerud to Frederic Leopold regarding a mallard nest and identifying wood ducks, May 16, 1966. The letter describes a mallard nest that was found and the resulting hatching period. Initially, the duck nest was thought to belong to a wood duck but the duck was identified as a mallard. This document is related to a reply from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from Grace McManis to Frederic Leopold regarding wood ducks, May 15, 1966. The letter expresses appreciation for Leopold's work with wood ducks. McManis also conveys a personal experience with hand raising seven young orphaned wood ducks. This document is related to a reply from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Gus Glaser regarding wood duck houses, May 23, 1966. The letter offers suggestions on how and where to place wood duck houses to successfully attract nesting ducks. This document is in response to a letter from Gus Glaser.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Stella Perkins regarding wood duck houses, May 19, 1966. The letter offers suggestions on how to build wood duck houses and attract nesting ducks rather than raccoons. This document is in response to a letter from Stella Perkins.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Lawrence A. Bjonerud regarding identifying wood ducks, May 18, 1966. The letter offers suggestions on how to tell the difference between a Mallard and a wood duck since the two ducks look similar. This document is in response to a letter from Lawrence A. Bjonerud.
Letter from Merle Strasser to Frederic Leopold regarding wood ducks, May 18, 1966. The letter conveys thanks and appreciation for Leopold's work with wood ducks. Strasser, who was a secretary to Jay N. Darling, also includes a few of Darling's remarks on conservation, Aldo Leopold and wood ducks. This document is related to a reply from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from Gus Glaser to Frederic Leopold regarding wood duck houses, May 20, 1966. The letter asks for suggestions on how to attract wood ducks to nest and where the best location would be to place the houses. This document is related to a reply from Frederic Leopold.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Sue L. Schroder regarding wood duck houses, June 1, 1966. The letter offers advice on the building and placement of wood duck houses. This document is in response to a letter from Sue L. Schroder.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Grace McManis regarding wood duck houses, May 17, 1966. The letter gives details on the purpose of using string on a wood duck house. Leopold also expresses interest in learning more about the rearing of the young wood ducks that had been orphaned. This document is in response to a letter from Grace McManis.
A wooden wood duck house attached to the side of tree trunk, May 1966. The opening to the duck house is covered by a piece of paper that is fastened with string.
A mother wood duck sits on top of nesting material inside a wood duck house, surrounded by her ducklings, 1966.
A mother wood duck sits on top of nesting material inside a wood duck house, 1966. Three wood duck eggs are visible beneath her.
A mother wood duck walking on grass with several ducklings following closely behind her, 1966.
Wood duck nesting records covering the years 1954-1966 compiled by Frederic Leopold. The mostly handwritten volume contains Leopold's detailed notes on the nesting habits of wood ducks, including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, incubation, hatching, and departure from the nest. Also included in this volume are newspaper clippings, correspondence, Clemson Agricultural College Leaflet No. 20 on the wood duck written by Robert E. Ware, instructions on how to build a wood duck nesting box, and an article from National Wildlife titled "Of spring and an egg" written by Jean George.
The inside bottom of a wood duck house covered with nesting material, 1966. wood duck eggs are visible beneath the mother's down feathers.
Three wood duck eggs in the early stages of hatching, May 1966
A wood duck duckling jumps from a wooden wood duck house, 1966. The duck house is attached to the side of a house directly underneath a window.
A mother wood duck sits on top of nesting material inside a wood duck house, May 1966. Five wood duck eggs are visible beneath her.
The inside bottom of a wood duck house covered in nesting material, 1966. Twelve wood duck eggs lay in the middle of the nesting material.
A wood duck duckling jumping from a wooden wood duck house that is fastened to a tree trunk, May 1966.
Several wood duck ducklings nesting among hatched egg shells and other nesting material, May 1966.
A wooden wood duck house attached to a tree located along the Mississippi River, 1966.
Several recently hatched wood duck ducklings intermixed with egg shells and other nesting material in a wood duck house, May 1966.
The house of Frederic Leopold located in Burlington, Iowa, situated overlooking the bluffs of the Mississippi River, 1966. A wooden wood duck house is attached to a tree located nearby the house.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to Merle Strasser regarding wood ducks and Jay N. Darling, May 20, 1966. The letter conveys appreciation for the memories of Jay N. Darling. The letter also includes information on wood duck houses. This document is in response to a letter from Merle Strasser.

1967
wood duck nesting records covering the years 1967-1978 compiled by Frederic Leopold. The mostly handwritten volume contains Leopold's detailed notes on the nesting habits of wood ducks, including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, incubation, hatching, and departure from the nest. Also included in this volume are newspaper clippings, a few hand-drawn illustrations, correspondence, and the program for the 50th Annual Convention of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union where Leopold gave a presentation titled "Nesting habits of the wood duck."

1970
A list of topics to discuss at a visit from members of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union compiled by Frederic Leopold, May 17. The list includes locations on his property to tour and statistics for the nesting wood ducks that utilize his duck houses.
Letter from Wilma Walton and enclosed letter from fifth grade student Ronald Wright to Frederic Leopold regarding wood ducks, May 28, 1970. The letter from Wilma Walton expresses appreciation from her fifth grade class for a talk about wood ducks given by Frederic Leopold. An enclosed letter from Walton's student, Ronald Wright, asks several questions about wood ducks and extends further gratitude for Leopold's visit and talk.
Letter and attached list from John C. Welter, on behalf of the Des Moines County Conservation Board, to Frederic Leopold regarding wood duck houses, May 14, 1970. The brief letter includes a list of the people in and around Burlington who received a wood duck house from the Des Moines County Conservation Board. This document is in response to a request from Frederic Leopold.
An article on how to build a wood duck nesting box compiled by Frederic Leopold, October 12, 1970. The article includes instructions on the types of materials required, the proper dimensions to use, where and how to hang a completed wood duck house, and how to track wood duck activity.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to the Des Moines County Conservation Board regarding wood duck houses, April 21, 1970. The letter asks for a list of people in the local area who have erected and are watching wood duck houses. Leopold is interested in compiling a report on how many wood duck houses are being used and how many ducklings are being hatched. This document is related to a reply from John C. Welter.

1971
A wood duck duckling looking out of the opening of a wood duck house that is attached to a tree, July 1971.
A raft of wood duck ducklings swimming together in open water, June 1971.
Five wood duck eggs that are just beginning to hatch, June 1971. A pencil is pictured below the five eggs to give perspective on the size of the eggs. A handwritten note on the back on the photograph indicates that this was the second day since the duckling eggs pipped, or cracked the shells.
A mother wood duck and several ducklings on the inside bottom of a duck house, June 1971.
Three marked wood duck eggs that are just beginning to hatch, July 1971. A small tube of paint and a wax pencil are pictured below the eggs to give perspective on the size of the eggs.
A mother wood duck looking out of the opening of a wood duck house that is attached to a tree, July 1971
Several trees along a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River that each have a wooden wood duck house attached to the trunk, May 1971.
A wood duck duckling diving out of the opening of a wood duck house that is attached to a tree, July 1971.
A mother wood duck diving out of the opening of a wood duck house that is attached to a tree, July 1971.
Frederic Leopold dressed in a suit posed in a formal photograph from the Donnellson Star, January 13, 1971.

1977
Letter from Ray Warner to Frederic Leopold regarding a wood duck presentation and thoughts on hunting, March 21. The letter details Warner's interest in becoming a conservation officer and his thoughts on a hunting ban.
Several wood duck ducklings laying in nesting material on the inside bottom of a wood duck house, May 1971.
A raft of wood duck ducklings swimming together in open water, June 1971.
Hunting journals and records compiled by Frederic Leopold. The handwritten journals cover the years 1955-1977 and give detailed information on Leopold's quail studies and numerous trips.
A raft of wood duck ducklings swimming together among plants along a tree-lined stretch of water, June 1971.
A mother wood duck and several ducklings on the inside bottom of a duck house, June 1971.

1978
Frederic Leopold, carrying a rifle, walks across a snow covered field with a hunting dog, 1978.
wood duck nesting records covering the years 1967-1978 compiled by Frederic Leopold. The mostly handwritten volume contains Leopold's detailed notes on the nesting habits of wood ducks, including the following: nest site selection, egg laying, incubation, hatching, and departure from the nest. Also included in this volume are newspaper clippings, a few hand-drawn illustrations, correspondence, and the program for the 50th Annual Convention of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union where Leopold gave a presentation titled "Nesting habits of the wood duck."

1984
A report compiling the discoveries from 35 years of nesting wood duck studies written by Frederic Leopold. The typewritten report details Leopold's findings on the nesting habits of wood ducks, including the following: nest site selection, wood duck nesting boxes, mating, egg laying, incubation, hatching, departure from the nest, travel of ducklings to water, predatory animals, and maintenance of the wood duck nest boxes. A table of 35 years of statistics based on over 10,000 observations is included at the end of the report.

1988
Letter from Frederic Leopold to A. S. Hawkins regarding hunting and the effect on duck populations, January 13, 1988. The letter voices reasons why Leopold disagrees with the theory of unsuitable habitats as a cause for the declining duck population. F. Leopold references his brother, Aldo Leopold, and his book "Game Management" as well as the philosophy of limiting factors. F. Leopold expresses his belief that spending more money on habitat improvement will not produce more ducks and the best solution would be to have less hunting of ducks.
Letter from Frederic Leopold to the editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch regarding hunting and the effect on duck populations, April 27, 1988. The letter voices concerns about the laws governing the hunting of migratory waterfowl. F. Leopold references his brother, Aldo Leopold, and his book "Game Management" as well as the philosophy of limiting factors. F. Leopold expresses his belief that the limiting factor in the declining duck population is a lack of living, breeding ducks due to excessive hunting and not a shortage of suitable nesting areas.
Letter from Bill Gombold to Frederic Leopold regarding duck conservation, April 2, 1988. The letter calls on Leopold's knowledge and insight of waterfowl conservation to help in the fight to end the decrease in the duck population.