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ireneae (1 Viewer)

Taphrospilus

Well-known member
Small addition on ireneae in the key.

I am not sure if it is her maiden name or where the middle name derived from. According here Irene Hambright Morden wife of William James Morden (1886-1958). In here she is called:

He leaves his wife. Mrs Irene Hambright Morden former personel director of General Foods...

Maybe someone can add her life dates?
 
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• Sokoke Scops-Owl Otus ireneae RIPLEY 1966 (OD here, even if cut short, only the first page), a k a Morden's Scops Owl or Morden's Owlet (alt. Petit-duc d'Irène, in French)

However, it ought to be named after "Mrs. William M. Morden, who with her late husband, has been most generous in the various causes of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, ..."

Which (in spite of the typo the OD!) ought to be aimed at the wife of William James [!?] Morden (1886–1958, here, a k a "Bill" Morden), which leads us to (his second wife) Irene Hambright Morden, "... an active participant on these expeditions and the two completed a book on some of their experiences entitles Our African Adventure, published in 1954" (the book itself here, or here).

In the Obituary of her husband (here, from 1958, like Martin pointed out) we also find the additional piece: "He leaves his wife, Mrs. Irene Hambright Morden, former personnel director for General Foods, who accompanied him as co-leader on several expeditions. ..."

They were married in 1940. See the Bronxville Review-Press (here, from 25 April 1940): "The marriage of two prominent villagers, Mrs. Irene Hambright of Alden Place and William J. Morden of Pondfield Road, noted explorer, will take place here Saturday".

Possibly clues on finding her years?

Also see the "William J. Morden papers" (here), Creator "Morden, Irene", or here, from the same Museum (AMNH).

Good luck pin-pointing her!

/B

PS. She seems to have been still going strong, still generous, still donating, in 1975 (here) and 1977 (here, p. 886).
-
 
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https://www.fold3.com/document/226939175/
(Unfortunately, viewing the full-sized scan requires a "Premium Membership", which I do not have.)
This document appears to be part of the 15th census of the United States, 1930, for New York: Westchester: Bronxville Village. In the "Records on this document", if you scroll down almost to the end, you'll find:
Hambright, Irene
226939243
Full Name Hambright, Irene
Family Number 14
Age 34
Estimated Birth Year 1896
Residence WESTCHESTER, New York
Irene Hambright and William J. Morden were called "two prominent villagers" in the Bronxville Review-Press announcing their marriage (see link in Björn's post above), thus this seems to be the right place to find her. "Family number 14" in this document was composed of Gilbert Hambright, 36, Irene Hambright, 34, Patricia Hambright, 10, and Elizabeth Mc Geaugh, 29. Irene was called 'Mrs.' (not 'Miss') in the marriage announcement (same link), where we can also find "Mrs. Hambright will be attended by her daughter, Miss Patricia Hambright".

I conclude that Hambright was the last name of her first husband. (I.e., neither a maiden name, nor a real middle name.)
 
https://newspaperarchive.com/bronxville-press-may-25-1934-p-1/ -- The Bronxville Press, Friday, May 25, 1934.

Gilbert Hambright died on 23 May 1934, shortly after a car accident that had left him apparently uninjured, due to "acute dilation of the heart and shock".
His wife, Mrs. Irene Shields Hambright, and a daughter, Miss Patricia Hambright, survive him.
Shields was presumably Irene's maiden name...? Or is this a middle name ?
 
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In here we can find about her daughter:

Mr. Sweet graduated from Bronxville High School, Bronxville, New York, in 1932. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and an all Southern player on the football team. He obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Washington and Lee in 1936. He received the degree of Bachelor of Laws at Harvard Law School in 1939, and while a law student helped coach the Harvard freshman team. During World War II, he served with the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946 with the rank of lieutenant, and previously he had served in the Marine Corps with the rank of second lieutenant. Assistant to the trust officer of the County Trust Company in White Plains, New York, and then in law practice in New York, Mr. Sweet became associated with the North Side Bank and Trust Company of Bristol, Connecticut, and was made president in 1958.

Mr. Sweet has been active in community organizations and is a member of the Bristol Board of Education. He served as president of the Bristol Rotary Club in 1955-1956.

....

Always interested in sports, Mr. Sweet assists in coaching the Bristol High School football team, but his favorite hobby is the collection of lead soldiers. He has followed this hobby for twenty years, and his collection of more than twenty-five hundred soldiers of all ages is one of the best in the world, and is particularly notable for its group of American troops of the Colonial Era. Purchasing his....

He was married at Bronxville, New York, on December 30, 1941, to Patricia Hambright, born on April 29, 1919, the daughter of Gilbert Hambright and of Irene Hambright. Her mother's second husband is William J. Morden, the noted big-game hunter.

Probably here . Her husband was Charles Atwater Sweet (1914-2001)
 
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If the "Estimated Birth Year" in the 1930 census data was based only on a declaration of the age of people, a birth on June 20, 1895, is in any case not in conflict with these data.
(The sensus day was April 1, 1930, according to https://www.archives.gov/research/census/1930/general-info.html; if she was 34 on that day, she was born between 1 Apr 1895 and 31 Mar 1896.)

According to your sysoon.com link, if I understand correctly, she would then be burried at "Zip: 06115, United States", which is Hartford, CT. Quite away from her native Bronxville, but quite close to Bristol, CT, where her son-in-law was working, and presumably residing with her daughter. Thus not really unexpected either.
 
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Quick one ...

https://newspaperarchive.com/bronxville-press-may-25-1934-p-1/ -- The Bronxville Press, Friday, May 25, 1934.

Gilbert Hambright died on 23 May 1934, shortly after a car accident that had left him apparently uninjured, due to "acute dilation of the heart and shock".
His wife, Mrs. Irene Shields Hambright, and a daughter, Miss Patricia Hambright, survive him.
Shields was presumably Irene's maiden name...? Or is this a middle name ?
Her full name could, possibly (at least in 1952) have been: Myrtle Irene Morden (Disclaimer; based only on this single document).

If of any help?

/B
 
First, nothing major, mostly fun to know/read ...

Bronxville Review Press and Reporter, 18 February 1960, page 9 (with photos of "our" dear Irene), here, in short (bits and pieces):
Villager is First American T o Hunt In Soviet Preserves
From drawing room to Russian shooting preserve, that in seven words and two pictures illustrates this story of Irene (Mrs. William J.) Morden of Bronxville. At the left, she is shown in gala attire; at the right, as she appeared dressed for her hunting trip in the U.S.S.R. last summer ...

Being A Grandmother Doesn't Interfere With Local Woman's Ability As A Hunter, Even In Far-Off Russia
... Mrs. Morden is accustomed to being in od places generally considered a man's part of the world.

Widow of Col. William J. Morden of Chappaqua, who was a noted explorer and hunter, Mrs. Morden has gone along with him on expeditions to Africa in 1947, 1953 and again in 1956, collecting rare and unusual animals for museums.
...
A grandmother, Mrs. Morden says she is blessed with excellent health and a good share of initiative.

[... and onwards]

After the Death of Mr Morden "... she led an expedition to Africa in 1965 under the auspices of the Yale Peabody Museum." (according to here), and even later there's also a three week-long Morden-Smithsonian Expedition to Dominica, in 1969, supported by "Mrs. William J. Morden", who also took part of it (here).

Nothing new found regarding her years (more than what's already been pointed at in this thread), and (this far) still no signs of (what we for certain know is) her, later than in 1977 (see PS., in post #2). The only additional part that I could/would add (to what's told in today's Key entry): "US businesswoman, sponsor, collector in East Africa ..." is "Hunter". She has also been called "a Sharpshooting Grandmother" (here) ;)

However, regarding her possible death year (as of/if in 1978) ... it would/could fit the List of Benefactors of the Smithsonian institution ("$10,000 or more"), for the year 1979 (here): "Irene Morden Trust". In my mind it's highly likely that the estate of the deceased would donate a more substantial sum after her passing, to an institution she'd been supporting for years and years.

To me, it sure looks like Martin has found the proper Irene. If he truly has ... I cannot tell. The very last piece in this puzzle still seems missing.

Either way, enjoy!

Björn
--
 
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The Eponym Dictionary of Birds claims:
Morden's Scops Owl Otus ireneae Ripley, 1966 [Alt. Sokoke Scops Owl]
Myrtle Irene Morden (DNF) was an American sponsor of expeditions and a collector. William and Irene Morden undertook several collecting expeditions in Kenya (1953, 1956, 1965) on behalfofthe AMNH, New York. They co-wrote Our African Adventure (1954) and several articles including 'The last four Strandlopers' (1955).
 
Myrtle Irene Schultz
Birth20 Jun 1895 Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA
Residence1 Apr 1940 Mount Vernon, Westchester, New York, USA
Marriage27 Apr 1940 Bronxville, Westchester, New York, USA
Death13 Oct 1978 Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
Spouse 1Gilbert Frederick Hambright (1893-1934)
Spouse 2Dr. William James (Lt. Col) Morden (1886-1958)
 
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