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The Heath Hen, circa 1932

 Sub-Series
Identifier: M078.7.3

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Series Description

The Heath Hen film (circa 1932) comprises one reel of silent black and white 35mm film (14:03 minutes) recorded on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts in 1928 and 1931 showing the last surviving Heath Hens in their natural habitat. Gross filmed three male birds in 1928, but by 1929 only one male, named “Booming Ben” by the local press, remained. In 1931, Alfred Gross, accompanied by the well-known naturalist and children’s author Thornton Burgess, came to Martha’s Vineyard to make a complete record of the last Heath Hen. They trapped, banded, photographed, filmed, and then released the bird; the film documents all of these activities and explains them with intertitles.

Dates

  • Creation: 1883-1970

Creator

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Extent

From the Collection: 45 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine 04011 Repository

http://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/index.shtml
Contact:
3000 College Station
Brunswick Maine 04011 USA
(207) 725-3288

Acknowledgment of non-neutrality

The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.