Paul Belcher, born in 1901, showed an eager interest in birding and ornithology from an early age. Belcher bought his first bird book at the age of 12 in 1913 and won medals and prizes for writing about birds in school. He lived in Akron since 1922 and became a prominent banker, lawyer, and civic figure in the community. Belcher worked in banking for 51 years, starting at People’s Bank in 1921 and eventually becoming the Board Chairman of Ohio’s largest independent bank, First National Bank. After retiring from banking in 1973, Belcher worked at the Brouse & McDowell and Co. Law Firm and handled most of the external legal work for First National Bank.
From the 1930s to 1970s, Belcher was one of Akron’s most influential civic leaders, serving on the boards of the Akron Community Foundation, Edwin Shaw Hospital, Akron Zoological Park, and Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority. The aviary at the Akron Zoo is named for him. Belcher also served on several boards and committees at The University of Akron, including as a founding member of the first Board of Trustees in July 1967.
Even with this busy schedule, Belcher never lost his love for birds. He wrote weekly columns on birds in the Akron Beacon Journal from 1955 to 1982 and gave lectures and talks to local birding groups. In January 1992, Belcher donated an extensive collection of avian books to University Libraries at UA. The donation was approximately 1,800 volumes, 1,500 pamphlets and serials, and some bird call recordings, all valued around $40,000. The topics ranged from physiology, migration, art, sport, extinctions, birdhouses, and field guides, and a few volumes dated back to the mid-1800s. A small endowment was established for purchasing additional books for the collection. Five years after his generous donation to University Libraries, Belcher passed away in December 1997. Selected works from the Belcher Bird Collection are displayed in the exhibit and can be found in our catalog.
The University of Akron Board of Trustees, July 1967. Standing L-R: Dominic J. Guzzetta, Paul Belcher, W. Howard Fort, Ben Maidenburg, Joseph Leyden, Norman P. Auburn, Ian R. MacGregor, Joseph Thomas, Harry Schrank, Edwin J. Thomas, Arthur Kelly. Photograph courtesy of University Archives and Special Collections at The University of Akron.
The Buchtel article about Mr. Belcher's donation to University Libraries, Feb. 1992.
Are you eager to discover more bird books in our library? Browse the University Libraries catalog to view material donated by Mr. Belcher.
1. Visit the Library's catalog, which is accessible from University Libraries homepage.
2. Ensure "Keyword" is selected from the drop-down menu.
3. Type "Belcher bird library" into the search bar, then click "Search."
Books catalogued to the Belcher Bird Library will appear in the search results screen. Happy reading!