Parsons, Frank Elliot (1882 - 1968)

Summary

Frank Parsons intended to become a metallurgist, studying at the Adelaide School of Mines, and spent eight years in Kalgoorlie to gain practical experience. He decided instead to become a surveyor and, on returning to Adelaide, joined his father's firm of surveyors, land agents and auctioneers. However, his main interests were birds and butterflies. He became expert in the study of feather tracts in birds (pterylography), his illustrations used in a number of publications while his original drawings were donated to the CSIRO Division of Wildlife Research. Parsons was also skilled in the preservation of bird skins. In 1941 the South Australian Museum purchased over 1,000 of these specimens. A member of the South Australian Ornithological Association from 1912, Parsons served four terms as President. He was often in the field with Mat Morgan, John Sutton, John McGilp and Herbert Condon, in South Australia and other states. From 1936 h is main interest turned to butterflies, becoming an authority on this field. In search of specimens he made several trips to Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Details

Chronology

1902

Life event - Moved to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

1910

Life event - Moved back to Adelaide

1912 - 1957

Career position - Member, South Australian Ornithological Association

1923

Career position - President, South Australian Ornithological Association

1929

Career position - President, South Australian Ornithological Association

1934

Career position - President, South Australian Ornithological Association

1937

Life event - Donated egg collection to the South Australia Museum

1939

Career position - President, South Australian Ornithological Association

1941

Life event - Over 1,000 bird skins purchased by the South Australian Museum

1957 - 1968

Award - Honorary Member, South Australian Ornithological Association

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• Parsons, F. E., Pterylography: the feather tracts of Australian birds with notes and observations (Adelaide: Libraries Board of South Australia, 1968), 60 pp. Details

Journals

• Paton, Penny, ed., 'Frank Elliot Parsons (1882 - 1968), part 2', The birder, 251, 2019, i-iv pp, https://resources.birdssa.au/wp-content/uploads/251_Spring_2019-2-min.pdf. Details

Journal Articles

• Parsons, F. E., 'The flight of birds', South Australian ornithologist, 19 (8) (1930), 257-63. Details
• Parsons, F. E. and McGilp, J. N., 'The two red-throated whistlers', Emu, 35 (2) (1935), 113-26. Details
• Paton, Penny, 'Frank Elliot Parsons (1882 - 1968), part 1', The birder, 250 (2019), i-iv, https://resources.birdssa.au/wp-content/uploads/250_Winter_2019.pdf. Details
• Ragless, G. B., 'Frank Elliot Parsons, 1882-1968', South Australian Ornithologist, 25 (4) (1969), 107-108. Details