Williams, Francis Xavier (1882-1967)
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Doctor Francis Xavier Williams, distinguished student of insect behavior and ecology, entomological taxonomist and embryologist, expert illustrator, entomological explorer and world traveler, author, associate entomologist of the Hawaiian Planters' Association from 1916 to 1948, was born in Martinez, California on 6 August 1882, and died at Chula Vista, California, on 16 December 1967, during his 85th year. He was the gentlest of persons, living moderately and modestly, and among his riches were his entomological pursuits. Dr. Williams traveled extensively and his field laboratories were successively portions of California, the Galapagos Archipelago, Kansas, Massachusetts, the Hawaiian Islands, the Philippine Islands, Panama, Ecuador, British Guiana, Brazil, Missouri, Guatemala, New Caledonia, and East Africa.
A biography of the life of Dr. F. X. Williams, written by Dr. Elwood C. Zimmerman, has been published in the Pan-Pacijic Entomologist (vol. 45, pp. 135— 146). Therefore, only a brief account of Dr. Williams' association with and great interest in the California Academy of Sciences, for a period of over 60 years, will be elucidated here.
Personal Information
Dr. Williams became a member of the California Academy of Sciences in 1918, a Life Member in 1943, a Fellow on 11 March 1952, and an Honorary Member on 6 October 1954. He was appointed a Research Associate in the Department of Entomology on 11 October 1949.
ANT TAXONOMY
Dr. F.X. Williams collected ants from the Philippines and the Galapagos (1899).
PUBLICATIONS
REFERENCE
- Arnaud, P.H. 1968. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 43: 325.
- Pemberton, C.E. 1968. Proc. Hawaii ent. Soc. 20: 247-255, bibliography, portrait.
- Biography by Dr. Elwood C. Zimmerman, has been published in the Pan-Pacijic Entomologist (vol. 45, pp. 135 -146).
- Paul H. Arnaud, Jr. 1970. Lists of the scientific publications and insect taxa described by Francis Xavier Williams (1882-1967) Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences, No. 80, 33pp