Tappan Gregory

Arthur Tappan Gregory (1886– April 30, 1961) was an American lawyer and naturalist. In the legal profession, he served as president of the Chicago Bar Association (1939–1940), Illinois State Bar Association (1945–1946), and the American Bar Association (1947–48). Outside of law, he was an accomplished nature photographer and mammalogist, involved with the Chicago Academy of Sciences. He also served as president of the Izaak Walton League of America. Gregory's wolf, the sole living subspecies of the red wolf, is named for him.

Early life

Gregory was born in 1886, Gregory was the older brother of Stephen S. Gregory Jr., an investment advisor and noted naturalist. He also had a sister, Charlotte.

Nature photography and studies In addition to his work in the legal field, Gregory was a naturalist known for his work as a mammalogist and nature photography. He was one of the first photographers to utilize the so-called "self-portrait flash photography" method of capturing photographs of wild animals, in which animals would be baited to a tripwire that would trigger a camera to photograph them. Gregory's wolf, the sole living subspecies of the red wolf, is named for him.

Gregory wrote numerous works published in natural science publications. He as a founding member of the Kennicott Club at the Chicago Academy of Sciences. At the Chicago Academy of Sciecnces, Gregory also served as a scientific governor and honorary curator of mammalogy. He was also a member of the American Forestry Association, American Society of Mammalogists, American Ornithological Union, National Wildlife Federation, Photographic Society of America.

Gregory assembled a private collection of mammal skin, which was donated upon his death in 1961 to the Chicago Academy of Sciences.

Death Gregory died at the age of 74 on April 30, 1961 at Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital. At the time of his death, he had been living in Northbrook, Illinois.