J. W. P. Jenks

John Whipple Potter "J. W. P." Jenks (1819–1894) was an American school principal, zoologist, taxidermy collector, and museum curator.^[1] He taught in the South for a few years before marrying into a prominent family and heading Pierce Academy in Middleborough, Massachusetts. After he retired from there he returned to his alma mater, Brown University, established a natural history museum there and taught zoology.

Jenks' book Huntings in Florida recounts his at times arduous expedition to Florida shooting birds, collecting eggs, hunting game, and encountering wildlife including the Carolina parakeet, sawfish, wild cats, mosquitoes, and many gators.^[2]

John Cassin acquired some of his collection. Jenks's "lost" museum was recreated and put on display at Brown University.^[3]

Writings

• Hunting in Florida in 1874^[4]
• "English History" in Short Stories
• Autobiography, unpublished 1891 manuscript^[5]
• Popular Zoology, co-author^[6]
• ”Report on the food of the Robin”^[7]