Barclay-Smith, Phyllis (1903–1980)

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Barclay-Smith, Phyllis (1903–1980)

British ornithologist. Name variations: Phyllis Ida Smith. Born 1903 in England; died Jan 2, 1980; dau. of a professor of anatomy at Cambridge University.

Served as assistant secretary at Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (1924–35); served as assistant secretary (1935–46), secretary (1946–74), and secretary general (beginning 1974) at International Council for Bird Preservation and is credited with building up the organization to its current status; served as editor of Avicultural Magazine (1939–73); trans. ornithology books from French and German, including Birds of the World (1954) and The Bird (1951); writings about birds (under name Phyllis Smith) include British and American Game Birds (1939), Birds of Lake, River, and Stream (1939), Garden Birds (1945), A Book of Ducks (1951) and Woodland Birds (1955). Was the 1st woman named Member of the British Empire (MBE) for work in conservation (1958); made CBE (1971).