Ludlow Griscom - Mt. Auburn Cemetery - Watertown, MA - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

In Watertown, within Mt. Auburn Cemetery, is this grave for Ludlow Griscom.

The cemetery entrance is located off Mt. Auburn Street, near the intersection with Belmont Street. From there, stop by the Stone Chapel/information center and buy ($1) a map of the cemetery showing notable graves. This grave is located under some trees near the Washington Monument Observation Tower along a loop named Palm Ave.

The grave is a simple stone monument about five feet tall and several inches thick. It is rounded at the top and has a cross design. The front (well it depends on what you call front) says "Griscom." The back has the following text:

"Ludlow Griscom
June 17, 1890 - May 28, 1959
Edith Sloan Griscom
June 19, 1895 - Feb. 22, 1895"

Ludlow Griscom was born in New York to Clement Acton Griscom and Genevieve Sprigg Ludlow. At an early age he took interest in birds and joined the Linnaean Society of New York. He went to Columbia University and received an A.B. Degree with a concentration in Pre-Law. However, he went on to Cornell at the ornithology school and received an A.M. Degree there in 1915. He married Edith Summer Sloan in 1926 and they had three children.

Griscom worked for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and then Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology. He also helped transform the Boston Society of Natural History to the present Boston Museum of Science and was its first President.

He also was involved in several ornithological societies and clubs, including the Nuttall Ornithological Club, National Audubon Society, and Massachusetts Audubon. At both Audubon clubs, he contributed articles to publications, reviews and bird reports. He served as Directory of Massachusetts Audubon for nine years.

He birded in many parts of the world and even was able to identify new species. Though he was a duck hunter, himself, Griscom was an advocate of identifying live birds using markings (ex. plumage) compared to shooting it first then look it over. He was a main force in changing to this practice. But, he was especially a force in promoting bird watching by organizing and sponsoring bird counting events in the Boston area. He also kept lists of birds identified. In 1939, he recorded 640 species. His work, Birds of the New York City Region and other works about birds in Massachusetts were some of the first books about birdfinding. He was a major influence of Roger Tory Peterson a painter who eventually wrote, Field Guide to the Birds, in 1934. Griscom tested Peterson's paintings in the field to show that they were useful in identifying birds.

After he passed on, he has been remembered in several ways, including a plaque at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts, and an award by the American Birding Association.

Description: Griscom was a well known bird watcher who successfully changed the hobby from one where birds were identified after being shot to using other cues. He was also an influence to field guide author Roger Tory Peterson, and was Director for Massachusetts Audubon for nine years. Date of birth: 06/17/1890 Date of death: 05/28/1959 Area of notoriety: Science/Technology Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Cemetery Hours - generally daylight Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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