William L. Brown Holding Hippo Model
Object Details
- Category
- Historic Images of the Smithsonian
- Summary
- Taxidermist William L. Brown holds a clay model of a hippopotamus for exhibition in the United States National Museum (now the National Museum of Natural History). He wrote on the back of photo: "This was when I was best. 40 yrs old. As a taxidermist, I was the first person ever to mount a successful hippo and probably will be the last. Mr. Himmalstein tanned the hide soft as a kid glove and he said it was the last thing in taxidermy. His secret was probably known only to him. Secretary Dr Wetmore said he would put it up against any other piece of taxidermy. Staff artist at the American [Museum of Natural History] said it was Tops. A preparator in a Museum in California said it was a masterpiece."
- Contained within
- Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7320, Box 3, Folder: 2
- Contact information
- Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Archives - History Div
- Date
- 1930s
- Standard number
- SIA2011-0033
- Author
- Unknown
- Subject
- Brown, William L
- United States National Museum
- Model and Taxidermy Shop
- National Museum of Natural History (U.S.)
- Taxidermist (USNM)
- Restrictions & Rights
- No restrictions
- Type
- Photographic print
- Person, candid
- Model
- Physical description
- Number of Images: 1; Color: Black and white; Size: 5w x 7h; Type of Image: Person, candid; Model; Medium: Photographic print
- Topic
- Hippos
- Taxidermy
- Model and modelmaking
- Clay
- Taxidermists
- Hippopotamus
- Smithsonian Institution--Employees
- Record ID
- siris_sic_12546
