author
Robert F. (Robert Francis) Clarke
1919–2008
A longtime Kansas herpetologist and educator, he wrote clear, practical books and studies that helped readers better understand the reptiles and amphibians of the Great Plains. His work is especially remembered for making snake identification and natural history more approachable for general readers.
1 Audiobook
Poisonous Snakes of Kansas
by Robert F. (Robert Francis) Clarke
About the author
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on October 18, 1919, Robert Francis Clarke later built his career in Kansas as a biologist, teacher, and writer. Sources from Emporia State materials and herpetological organizations show that he published research on reptiles and amphibians and was closely associated with the biology program at what was then Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia.
Clarke is best known as the author of Poisonous Snakes of Kansas, a work first published in 1959 that was meant to educate readers about the state's venomous snakes and correct common misunderstandings. He also wrote research studies on Kansas reptiles and amphibians and on the behavior of iguanid lizards, showing a career that combined field observation, teaching, and public education.
He died in Emporia, Kansas, on April 2, 2008. Remembrances from the Kansas herpetological community describe him as a dedicated figure in regional herpetology whose writing helped both students and general readers take a calmer, more informed view of animals that are often feared.