Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Professor of fisheries and zoology at University of Michigan. Correspondence files detailing his professional career and his interests in conservation, ichthyology, and fishery research and development.

The original order of the Karl Frank Lagler papers has been maintained and comprises one alphabetically arranged series of topical files.

The bulk of the documents within the files consist of correspondence between Lagler and other fishery biologists throughout the world. Also included, however, are files containing reports and minutes of meetings from a number of scientific and sporting associations in which Lagler was active. Lagler's research interests are well represented in the several groups of files dedicated to his various research projects. His work with salmon in Alaska as a consultant for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the summer of 1958 is particularly well documented. Research project files are alphabetized by geographic place name (i.e., Fleming Creek; Golden Lake; Port Walter, Alaska). In addition to background materials, notes, and final reports on the research project, many of these files contain a substantial amount of raw data on several Michigan lakes and ponds. Together, Lagler's correspondence with his colleagues, the materials he collected concerning his activities with a variety of organizations, and his own research materials chronicle the development of fishery conservation as a profession and as a science in the 1940s and 1950s.

The collection contains a fair amount of correspondence concerning several of Lagler's publications, but not as much as might be expected from such a prolific scholar. Although some course and University materials are included in the collection, there is little documentation of Lagler's administrative work as Chair of the Department of Fisheries from 1950 to 1965. Likewise, there is little documentation of Lagler's activities as a consultant for numerous foreign governments as well as for the United Nations.

Lagler filed his correspondence either by the last name of the correspondent or by subject. Therefore, researchers should search for materials on specific topics by both correspondent and subject.