Harrison G. Dyar, Jr., Entomologist and Tunneler
Stuff You Missed in History Class
00:00
Introduction
The hosts introduce the life and achievements of Harrison G. Dyar, Jr., a renowned hobby tunneler and entomologist. They share their fascination with Dyar's story, including science, contentious relationships, bigamy, and tunneling, and mention a biography written by Mark Epstein.
Transcript
Play full episode
Transcript
Episode notes
Harrison G. Dyar, Jr. is known today largely as a hobby tunneler. But he was also an influential entomologist, and his personal life was much more convoluted than any tunnel he ever dug.
Research:
- “Allen v. Allen.” The Pacific Reporter, Volume 193. https://books.google.com/books?id=cbyZAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA540&lpg=PA540&dq=wellesca+pollock&source=bl&ots=PvDosq-Q0D&sig=QTmSy0vOgN9DzncgGGpPagodRHE&hl=en&ei=dtjjTaWUNIfhiALuq5mkBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=allen%20v%2C%20allen&f=false
- Boardman, Larry. “Reporter Exlores Tunnel Under Washington Streets.” The Modesto Evening News. Oct. 14, 1924. https://www.newspapers.com/image/689368625/?terms=Harrison%20G.%20Dyar&match=1
- “Claims Defendant in Divorce Case Is Fictitious.” Reno Gazette-Journal. May 22, 1916. https://www.newspapers.com/image/147642470/?terms=zella%20dyar%20wilfred%20allen&match=1
- Dyar, Harrison G. “THE NUMBER OF MOLTS OF LEPIDOPTEROUS LARVAE.” Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 1890. https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/psyche/1890/023871.pdf
- Dyar, Harrison Gray. "A preliminary genealogy of the Dyar family." Gibson Bros. Washington, D.C. 1903. https://archive.org/stream/preliminarygenea03dyar/preliminarygenea03dyar_djvu.txt
- “Entomologist of Renown Asks for Divorce.” Reno Gazette-Journal. Sept 20, 1916. https://www.newspapers.com/image/147654205/?terms=Harrison%20G.%20Dyar&match=1
- Epstein, Marc. “Moths, Myths, and Mosquitos: The Eccentric Life of Harrison G. Dyar, Jr.” Oxford University Press. 2016.
- Kelly, John. “Dyar and Wellesca, together at last and above ground.” The Washington Post. Nov. 6, 2012. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dyar-and-wellesca-together-at-last-and-above-ground/2012/11/06/b620f998-2448-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.html
- Kelly, John. “Inside the Tunnels of Washington’s Mole Man, Harrison G. Dyar.” The Washington Post. Nov. 3, 2012. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/inside-the-tunnels-of-washingtons-mole-man-harrison-g-dyar/2012/11/03/169851cc-1d41-11e2-9cd5-b55c38388962_story.html
- Kelly, John. “1915 letter from Dyar’s mistress to his wife.” The Washington Post. Nov. 5, 2012. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/1915-letter-from-dyars-mistress-to-his-wife/2012/11/05/dc19bb56-1c61-11e2-9cd5-b55c38388962_story.html
- Kelly, John. “Wellesca Pollock, before she Married Harrison G. Dyar.” The Washington Post. Oct. 30, 2012. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/wellesca-pollock-before-she-met-harrison-g-dyar/2012/10/30/52a7009e-1c4e-11e2-9cd5-b55c38388962_story.html
- “Mix-up Over Mosquito Tale.” The Washington Herald. April 28, 1908. https://www.newspapers.com/image/48225958/?terms=Evelyn%20Mitchell&match=1
- “The Mole Man of Washington.” The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-mole-man-of-washington/2012/11/03/da7cc540-25f3-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_graphic.html
- “Mrs. Zella Peabody Dyar filed suit … “ The Washington Post. Oct. 8, 1915. https://www.newspapers.com/image/28826160/?terms=Zella%20Dyar&match=1
- “Mystery Allen Case Is Partially Lifted.” Nevada State Journal. Oct. 15, 2016. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1009663765/?terms=zella%20dyar%20wilfred%20allen&match=1
- “Mystery Tunnel Joins Two Homes.” The Washington Times. May 19, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/79910879/?terms=dyar%20tunnel&match=1
- “Named Defendant in Suit for Divorce.” Evening Star. Oct. 7, 1915. https://www.newspapers.com/image/332095519/?terms=Zella%20Dyar&match=1
- “Sales of Realty.” Evening Star. March 12, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/146325388/?terms=Harrison%20G.%20Dyar&match=1
- Smith, Ryan P. “The Bizarre Tale of the Tunnels, Trysts and Taxa of a Smithsonian Entomologist.” Smithsonian. May 13, 2016. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/bizarre-tale-tunnels-trysts-and-taxa-smithsonian-entomologist-180959089/
- “Tunnel Puzzle Solved; ‘Prof’ a Human Mole.” Chicago Tribune. Sept. 27, 1924. https://www.newspapers.com/image/354882108/?terms=Harrison%20G.%20Dyar&match=1
- “Widow of Dr. H.G. Dyar Dies of Heart Ailment.” The Evening Star. June 23, 1940. https://www.newspapers.com/image/866032864/?terms=Harrison%20G.%20Dyar&match=1
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The AI-powered Podcast Player
Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
