Edward Alphonso Goldman

Edward Alphonso Goldman (July 7, 1873 – September 2, 1946) was an American field naturalist and mammalogist. He worked extensively in Mexico with Edward William Nelson and described and revised many groups of mammals. He was considered a leading expert on the mammals of North America. History He was born Edward Alphonso Goltman in Mount Carroll, Illinois, on July 7, 1873, to French-German American parents Jacob H. and Laura C. Goltman. They were originally from Pennsylvania before moving to Illinois, then to Nebraska, where Jacob changed the surname to Goldman, and finally California. There, Jacob, who had an interest in natural history, met naturalist Edward William Nelson, who was looking for an assistant, around 1891. Young Edward became this assistant, beginning a friendship and professional relationship with Nelson that was to last until the latter's death. Goldman did well on their first joint collecting trip in California, which ended in January 1892, and then set out for Mexico with Nelson for a three-month trip. In fact, they stayed for four years, beginning an acquaintance with Mexico that would take them to almost every corner of the country and result in the collection of over 20,000 mammal specimens. After being released from administrative duties in 1928, he was able to devote all his time to scientific study and he continued even after his 1944 retirement. Goldman collected his last mammal on April 4, 1946—a Florida pocket gopher. He continued to work on Mexican mammals until he had a stroke on August 30, 1946; he died on September 2, 1946, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on September 6.

His son, Luther Chase Goldman (1909–2005), became a notable naturalist, wildlife photographer, and conservation official. Luther worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, served as chief photographer for the agency, managed several national wildlife refuges including those at the Salton Sea and Bitter Lake, and gained recognition for his photography of endangered bird species. During the Second World War, he also served as an entomologist in the U.S. Army.

Work

Goldman published 206 papers during his lifetime a snake, a turtle, a frog, and a mollusk. There is even a Goldman Peak in Baja California. In 1946, he became the President of the American Society of Mammalogists. He is credited with describing the coyote as the "archpredator of our time".