Francis Cottle Willard was born in Germany on April 30, 1874, while his parents were traveling abroad. His father, Thomas R. Willard (1844-1929) of Illinois was a Greek and German professor at Knox College. His mother was Mary Wolcott (1845-1933).
Frank became interested in birds during his youth and started collecting in Galesburg, IL. There is a set of purple martin eggs collected in 1893 in W.J.B. Williams’s collection. Frank sold the set to Williams in 1894 per Williams’s log.
Frank graduated in 1896 from Knox College and moved to Tombstone, Arizona to work in his uncle’s store and to be a principal and teacher at a local school. In 1908, he was manager of the F.N. Wolcott Department Store. During his years here, he became quite knowledgeable of Arizona birds and traded with many of the best egg collectors, thus gaining a fine reputation.
He became a member of the American Ornithologists’ Union in 1909.
Frank moved east in 1916 to work with another uncle at the Willard Sand and Gravel Company in Farmingdale, Long Island. Before he moved, he sold his collection to a California oologist and after moving he created a large new one.
He wrote several ornithological short papers on the nesting habits of Arizona birds which were published in The Auk, The Oologist and The Condor.
In 1923, he married Beatrice Biddle (1891-?) and they had three children.
Francis C. Willard died suddenly of a heart attack on February 21, 1930, at his place of business in Farmingdale leaving behind his wife and three young children. A.C. Bent (Ornithologist) spoke highly of him and how great a loss his passing was to American ornithology. Willard Obituary 455-456 written by A.C. Bent
Sources: Biodiversitylibrary.org, Ancestry.com, Findagrave.com, Newspapers.com
There are no egg sets from Willard in the Pember collection. Williams purchased and traded with him and there are 15 sets in his collection.
