The presence of this moth collection at Elmira College is likely the work of Professor Elizabeth Leigh Whittacker. Elizabeth Leigh Whittaker was born on 21 September 1874, in Salford, Lancashire, England. She attended Cornell University and received a BA in Biology. In 1905 she joined the Elmira College Faculty. Shortly after her arrival Elmira's long time science professor, Darius Ford, retired. She was a professor at Elmira College for the next 39 years, retiring in 1942. She received an honorary doctorate Sc.D from the college in 1925. The British Government awarded her the King George Medal for her work in British War relief during World War II. She died on 6 April 1954, at the age of 79, and is buried at Trumansburg, New York. I suspect this moth collection was something she may have acquired while at the college. Many specimens within our teaching collection were prepared by Professor Whittacker and many of the slides our students use have her name in beautiful script at the bottom of the labels.

All species names listed are those from the specimen labels and may not be accurate identifications or currently valid. This list is a historical record of several collections including an amateur lepidopterist's collection and should not be used for identification. For more information on the collection please contact Dr. Daniel Kjar at Elmira College.