C. J. (Charles Johnson) Maynard

Born in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1845, Charles Johnson Maynard was an American naturalist, ornithologist, collector, and taxidermist. He became especially known for his close study of birds, including their vocal organs, and for the practical knowledge he shared with other naturalists.

Maynard founded C. J. Maynard & Co. in the 1860s, publishing books and selling natural history supplies. His early Naturalist's Guide helped popularize reliable methods for collecting and preserving specimens, and he went on to write widely on birds, insects, shells, and other aspects of natural history.

What makes him especially memorable is how independent and inventive he was. He often published his own work, and sources note that his books included color plates made with a process he developed himself. He died in 1929, leaving behind a body of work that captures both the curiosity and craftsmanship of 19th- and early 20th-century American natural history.