William Keith Emerson
Encyclopedia
William Keith Emerson, usually known as Bill Emerson, (born 1925), is an American malacologist, a biologist
who studies mollusks. He is currently a Curator Emeritus at the American Museum of Natural History
in New York City
where he has been a curator since 1955. He was also Chairman of the Department of Living Invertebrates and head of the Malacology section for several decades.
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
who studies mollusks. He is currently a Curator Emeritus at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he has been a curator since 1955. He was also Chairman of the Department of Living Invertebrates and head of the Malacology section for several decades.
Taxa
Emerson has named and described numerous taxa of mollusks, including:- Cymatium perryi Emerson & Old, 1963, a sea snail or marine gastropod
Books
Emerson has written a number of popular shell books including:- The American Museum of Natural History Guide to Shells: Land, Freshwater, and Marine from Nova Scotia to Florida by William K. Emerson and Morris K. Jacobson, 1976, Alfred A. Knopf
- Shells by William K. Emerson, Andreas Feininger, Hardcover, Thames and Hudson, ISBN 050054008X (0-500-54008-X)
- Shells from Cape Cod to Cape May: With Special Reference to the New York City Area by Morris K. Jacobson, William K. Emerson, Softcover, Dover Pubns, ISBN 0486254194 (0-486-25419-4)
- Wonders of Barnacles by William K. Emerson, Arnold Ross, Hardcover, Dodd, Mead, ISBN 0396069711 (0-396-06971-1)
- Wonders of the World of Shells: Sea, Land, and Fresh-Water by Morris K. Jacobson, William K. Emerson, Hardcover, Dodd, Mead, ISBN 0396063268 (0-396-06326-8)
External links
- 2,400 years of Malacology info here (search for Emerson in the appropriate section)
- Bio at the American Museum of Natural History
Further reading
- H. S. Gordon, 1960. Conchological Interviews – Part I. William K. Emerson at the American Museum of Natural History. New York Shell Club Notes 64: 4-6
- W. K. Emerson, 1975. The malacological collection of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York. New York Shell Club Notes 208: 2
- Anonymous, 1988. Honors to Dr. William K. Emerson. New York Shell Club Notes 306: 2
- Anonymous, 2001. Retirement, Emerson style. New York Shell Club Notes 360: 4