Dr. William LeGrange Ralph was born at Holland Patent, New York, in 1851.
He graduated in medicine in 1879 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and afterwards engaged in the practice of his profession in Utica, where he had resided since early childhood; but delicate health obliged him to abandon a medical career, and he turned to the less exacting study of natural history.
From early boyhood he had cultivated a taste for this subject, and he now began in earnest the formation of a local collection of birds, eggs, and nests. In the study of the local avifauna, he was associated with Mr. Egbert Bagg, and the research of the two students resulted in the publication of an “Annotated List of the Birds of Oneida County, New York” (1) followed shortly by some “Additional Notes on the Birds of Oneida County, New York.” (2) Egbert Bagg, Jr. (1850–1915) was a successful businessman in Utica, NY, and an amateur ornithologist. He was an authority on the birds of Oneida County.
It was to the subject of oology, however, that Dr. Ralph chiefly directed his attention, and after nearly completing his collection of local species he spent much time in searching for desiderata, even employing men by the year in the Adirondacks and in Florida to hunt for certain rarities. In this way, and by direct purchase, he added many choice specimens to his collection, and secured valuable information on the nesting habits of various rare species.
In 1892, he sent the first installment of his collection to Washington, as a gift to the National Museum. This generous act was followed year after year by other donations, numbering in all about 10,000 specimens, almost all of which were in faultless condition, and accompanied by ample data.
In 1897, Dr. Ralph was chosen to fill the vacancy at the National Museum caused by the death of Major Bendire, and in 1901 his title was changed from Custodian to Curator.
William died in Washington, D.C. on July 8, 1907 at the age of 57.
1. Trans. Oneida Hist. Soc., III, 1886, pp. 101-147
2. Auk, VII, 1890, pp. 229-232
The Condor, Sept. 1907
W.J.B. Williams received many eggs from Ralph beginning in 1884 when William was just 18. He also sold eggs to Ralph in 1891 which he collected from 1883 to 1890. It is no doubt they were well acquainted with each other as both were born in Holland Patent, NY and lived in Utica.
Article on W.L. Ralph – 1907 The Condor Ralph obit
Article on W.L. Ralph – The auk 1907 Ralph-461-462