Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives
National Museum of Natural History. Division of Birds
Curatorial Records, 1972-2000
This accession consists of materials documenting the career of Roxie C. Laybourne, a pioneering forensic scientist at the Smithsonian Institution whose expertise in identifying bird feathers helped government agencies and jet engine manufacturers take measures to keep birds away from aircraft. Laybourne worked in the Division of Birds for more than 40 years before retiring in 1988 as curator emeritus. In later years, she served as a consultant to the division of law enforcement of the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory and taught biology at George Mason University as an adjunct professor.
These records consist of correspondence, articles and publications, law enforcement files, research materials, video and audio cassettes, and photographs. Some materials are in electronic format.
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 04-086, National Museum of Natural History. Division of Birds, Curatorial Records