About Edmund Jaeger
Lived 1887 – 1983 (aged 96). Edmund Jaeger was an American biologist, ecologist, naturalist, botanist and university teacher, known for Common poorwill.
Life Jaeger first attended the newly relocated Occidental College in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles (in 1914), but moved to Palm Springs in 1915, where he taught at the one-room schoolhouse. At Palm Springs he met artist Carl Eytel, and authors J. Smeaton Chase These men formed what University of Arizona Professor Peter Wild called a "Creative Brotherhood" that lived in Palm Springs in the early 20th century. Other Brotherhood members included cartoonist and painter Jimmy Swinnerton, and Stephen H. Willard. traveled together throughout the Southwest, helped with each other's works, and exchanged photographs which appeared in their various books. in Riverside. During all these years Jaeger used his Palm Springs cabin for his research trips across the desert. Throughout his career he wrote many popular nature books and became known as the "dean of the California deserts".
Works
Books (Listed in order of first publication.)
(Samuel Stillman Berry and Malcom Jennings Rogers contributed chapters)
(illustrations by Merle Gish and the author)
(Irvine H. Page was a co-author) (editor)
(Peveril Meigs contributed a chapter; illustrations by John D. Briggs, Lloyd Mason Smith, Morris Van Dame, and Jaeger ) (illustrations by Morris Van Dame and Jaeger)
(Arthur Clayton Smith was a co-author; illustrations by Gene M. Christman)
Articles Jaeger contributed to over 25 magazines and journals Also see: (Summary: biographical material, list of publications, newspapers articles and correspondence of Edmund C. Jaeger, Head of the Zoology Dept. at Riverside City College. 358 items in one box)
Honors The "Edmund C. Jaeger Desert Institute" on the Moreno Valley College (MVC) of the Riverside Community College District is named in his honor. MVC also offers an "Edmund C. Jaeger Endowed Scholarship". In 1986 The Nature Conservancy completed development of the "Edmund C. Jaeger Nature Sanctuary" in the Chuckwalla Mountains near Desert Center, California. It was in the Chuckwalla Mountains that Jaeger discovered the poorwill, and after his death in 1983, his cremated remains were scattered in the same canyon. The University of La Verne of La Verne, California, Cultural and Natural History Collections (formerly the Jaeger Museum), maintains personal and professional materials pertaining to the life of Edmund C. Jaeger, including his 1947 field notes recording his initial study of the common poorwill in hibernation. The Collections is located inside the Jaeger House, named in his honor. Pacific Union College of Angwin, California, annually presents an "Edmund C. Jaeger Award" in biology and "Dr. Edmund C. Jaeger Scholarship Grant" in education to deserving students. Designated as a Fellow of the California Native Plant Society in 1976. Received the Auld Lang Syne Award from Occidental College in 1982.
Patronyms Some 28 patronyms of Jaeger have been made, Gilia jaegeri (gilia) Helianthus jaegeri – synonym Helianthus annuus – subspecies jaegeri (sunflower) Ivesia jaegeri (Jaeger's mousetail or Jaeger's ivesia) Lupinus jaegerianus (lupin or lupines) Penstemon thompsoniae – subspecies jaegeri (Jaeger's beardtongue) Phacelia perityloides – subspecies jaegeri (Panamint Phacelia) Potentilla jaegeri (a typical cinquefoil) Ribes nevadense – variety jaegeri (Sierra currant and mountain pink currant) Sisymbrium diffusus – subspecies jaegeri (mustard family)
Insecta Hemiptera (true bugs) Nidicola jaegeri (minute pirate bugs or flower bugs) Triatoma rubida jaegeri (a type of assassin bug) Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) Schinia jaegeri – synonym Chlorocleptria jaegeri (moth) Diplopoda (millipedes) Gosichelus jaegeri Onychelus jaegeri Mollusca Pulmonata (land snails) Helminthoglypta jaegeri Oreohelix handi jaegeri
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Important facts
People in Edmund Jaeger's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Edmund Jaeger's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Edmund Jaeger?
American biologist
When was Edmund Jaeger born?
Edmund Jaeger was born on 28 January 1887 in Loup City.
When did Edmund Jaeger die?
Edmund Jaeger died on 2 August 1983 in Riverside.
What was Edmund Jaeger's occupation?
Edmund Jaeger was a biologist, ecologist, naturalist, botanist and university teacher.
What was Edmund Jaeger known for?
Edmund Jaeger was known for Common poorwill.
What nationality was Edmund Jaeger?
Edmund Jaeger was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edmund Jaeger. https://biography.guide/edmund-jaeger/
MLA: "Edmund Jaeger." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edmund-jaeger/.
Chicago: "Edmund Jaeger." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edmund-jaeger/.
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