Documents focus primarily on the destruction of bird nesting sites through the careless practices of the Reclamation Service, including prescribed burning and leasing of land for grazing. Other topics include cooperation between the Reclamation Service and Biological Survey, duck hunting, and recommendations for restoring refuges to ideal nesting conditions. A map of the Klamath Irrigation Project is included.
Correspondence discussing concerns regarding trappers disturbing nesting sites on the Malheur Lake Reservation. Additional topics include the purchase of William Finley’s photographs for the Baldwin Sheep and Land Co. catalogue and inclusion of Finley’s article, “The Cruise of Two Camera Hunters” in the June volume of The Pacific Monthly.
Correspondence discussing William Finley's plans to create a demonstration train exhibit and lecture to farmers' institutes in California regarding the economic value of birds. Additional topics include Finley’s plans to publish a book about condors, the inclusion of a biographical sketch of Finley in Bird Lore, and possible appointment of Grover N. Jameson as the new Game Warden of the Malheur Lake Reservation.
Correspondence discussing William Finley’s lectures for farmers' institutes in California, promoting the agricultural value of birds. Additional topics include a proposal for the federal protection of migratory birds and efforts to remove protection for meadowlarks in California.
Letter from William Finley to Henry O’Malley, Commissioner of Fisheries, responding to O’Malley’s proposal to film wildlife on the Pribilof Islands in Alaska.
A handwritten manuscript from Stanley Jewett to William L. Finley. Jewett writes about a remarkable natural history museum on the Oregon coast. The author raves about the quality of the collection, spending most of the letter praising the preservation of rare species in form of adult specimens and eggs. Jewett ends the letter with advocating a move of the museum to Portland in order for nature teachers to be able to use it as a resource in education.
Letter from J. H. Hüsers to William Finley, requesting a permit to trap on the Malheur Lake Reservation as well as photographs of swan and geese. Hüsers discusses concern about the prevalence of trappers possibly disturbing nesting sites.
Correspondence discussing the inclusion of William Finley’s article in Technical World Magazine and requests from Theodore S. Palmer, Bureau of Biological Survey, for Finley to visit and write a report on the conditions of bird reservations in Arizona and New Mexico, including the Salt River, Rio Grande, and Carlsbad Reservations. Additional topics include a request for a lecture for the Albany Chantauqua Association and the establishment of the Mary Dutcher Memorial fund to support the work of William Dutcher, President of the National Association of Audubon Societies.
Correspondence discussing lecture plans and the inclusion of William Finley’s articles in Technical World Magazine and Everybody’s Magazine. Additional topics include the possible replacement of Claude Hibbard as Game Warden for the Malheur Lake Reservation and notes from Hibbard on the increase of wading bird populations at the Malheur Reserve.
Correspondence discussing concerns regarding Assembly Bill No. 191, which would remove federal protection for meadowlarks. Correspondence also focuses on Oregon legislation, supported by Governor Oswald West, which would replace the position of State Game Warden with a Fish and Game Commission and permit the establishment of game reserves on private property.
Correspondence discussing Oregon and Washington legislation regarding the creation of an Oregon State Fish and Game Commission and Washington State Game Warden position. A second focus is the introduction of Senate Bill No. 701, adding a number of bird species to the list of injurious species of California, including grebes, pelicans, and cormorants.
Letter from I. H. Van Winkle, Oregon Attorney General, to William L. Finley discussing efforts to collect data concerning pollution of the Williamette River.
Correspondence, articles drafts, and notes discussing the Malheur Lake and Lower Klamath Lake Refuges with a focus on the impact of agricultural projects on the reservations, including water shortages and pollution. Additional topics include concerns about an antelope population limit at the Hart Mountain Game Refuge and the introduction of non-native species to replace dwindling native bird and fish populations.
