Harrison G. Dyar, Jr., Entomologist and Tunneler

Feb 7, 2024

Explore the fascinating life of Harrison G. Dyar, Jr., an entomologist and hobby tunneler. From his upbringing and education to his tumultuous personal life and contentious divorce proceedings, Dyar's story is filled with intrigue. Discover his fallout with the Entomological Society, his involvement in publishing entomological journals, and the court ruling that raised questions about his ex-wife's husband. Learn about the professional consequences of his divorce, his donation to the Smithsonian, and his subsequent mental breakdown. Uncover his involvement with the Baha'i Faith and the discovery of secret tunnels in 1924.

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Introduction

00:00 • 4min

Harrison Gray Dyer Jr.'s Early Years and Education

03:59 • 10min

Harrison G. Dyar, Jr.'s Work as an Editor and His Complicated Personal Life

13:57 • 4min

The Complicated Relationship and Divorce Proceedings of Harrison Dyer and Waleska Pollock

17:56 • 12min

Dyer's Post-Divorce Life and Professional Consequences

30:23 • 4min

Harrison's Divorces, Baha'i Faith, and Secret Tunnels

33:53 • 14min

Bank of America and MGM Plus Sponsorships

47:28 • 2min

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

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