Studio Portrait of Archibald James Campbell

This photograph of Archibald James Campbell was taken at an unknown studio in Melbourne. A well-known naturalist and Ornithologist, Campbell's identity was intrinsically tied to his pursuit and experience of the natural environment that we see him here represented in a 'naturalistic bushman scene' with his trusty double-barrel, back-action shot gun as though about to embark on an expedition.Campbell's interest in nature was aroused in childhood at Werribee, Victoria where he lived with his grandparents until the age of 10. His first love was egg-collecting, and his general interest in birds was further inspired by the study of John Gould's works at the Public Library. He was for many years active in the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. By 1896 his collection of eggs represented 500 species. Campbell initiated the first of several dinners which led to the formation in 1901 of the (Royal) Australasian Ornithologists' Union; he was president in 1909 and 1928 and co-editor of its journal, The Emu, for thirteen years. Campbell published widely and was quite an early advocate for the protection of the Australian bush. He was also a keen photographer having taken up courses at the Working Men's College in Melbourne and has been acknowledged as one of the first Australians to employ photography in his fieldwork. Campbell's egg collection along with his vast image collection is housed at Museum Victoria.