Na Ia Hawaiʻi: The Hawaiian Fishes

Fishes--Hawaii
Fishes--South Pacific
Ichthyology--Hawaii
Watercolor painting
Natural history illustration
Hawaiian fishes
Garrett, Andrew, 1823-1887
Wetmore, Charles H., M.D.
Hilo (Hawaii Island, Hawaii)
Hawaiʻi

Album of original watercolor illustrations of fishes painted primarily by Andrew Garrett, circa 1850s. Garrett (1823–1887) was a self-taught naturalist and artist who collected fish and invertebrate specimens in Hawaiʻi and the South Pacific for Harvard University, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Godeffroy Museum. He resided in Hilo from 1853 to 1862.

The inside front cover bears the signature of Charles H. Wetmore, M.D., a tenth company missionary who arrived in Honolulu in 1849 and was stationed in Hilo. The album contains 114 numbered fish illustrations on 53 leaves, corresponding to a list of fishes later in the volume. An additional 5 unnumbered fish illustrations on 3 leaves, painted by a different artist, are signed with the initials “M.S.W.” and dated 1894.

The album also includes a copy of Wetmore’s article “Concerning Hawaiian Fishes,” published in the Hawaiian Almanac and Annual for 1890, followed by 23 pages of Wetmore’s handwritten “Notes of Drawings of Fishes,” listing scientific names, Hawaiian names where known, locale, and size. Loose materials include a first draft of these notes and “A list of fishes sent me by Judge Judd in June, 1890,” a handwritten list of Hawaiian fish names on two pages of lined paper.

An archival box label notes that drawings numbered 78–79 and 80–81 were slashed during removal from display in Chamberlain House, possibly in 1971. Spencer Tinker, director of the Waikīkī Aquarium from 1940 to 1975, examined the paintings on April 13, 1971, and identified them as the work of Andrew Garrett. The album was rehoused in November 1992.

The quarto album was originally bound in full red morocco with elaborate gilt covers, silk-covered free front endpapers and pastedowns, and a spine with five raised bands. The title “Na Ia Hawaii” appears in the second spine compartment. The rear endpaper bears the embossed stamp of Parsons Binders and Booksellers, 107 Union Street, New Bedford.

Garrett, Andrew, 1823-1887

circa 1850s

Wetmore, Charles H., M.D.
M.S.W.
Judd, Judge
Tinker, Spencer

NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.

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Wetmore, Charles H. “Concerning Hawaiian Fishes.” Hawaiian Almanac and Annual, 1890.

Missionary Album, 1937.

Daily Bulletin, February 16, 1888.

1 quarto album; 53 leaves with 114 numbered watercolor illustrations; 3 leaves with 5 unnumbered watercolor illustrations; 23 pages of handwritten notes; loose manuscript materials. Originally bound in full red morocco with gilt decoration, silk endpapers and pastedowns, and raised spine bands. Housed in archival box.

English
Hawaiian
Latin

Still image
Text
Album
Watercolors
Manuscript

US-HHMC-MS-NAIA

Hawaiʻi
Hilo (Hawaii Island, Hawaii)
South Pacific
1850s
1890
1894