Archie F. Carr Hall

Honoree

Archie F. Carr

Archie Fairly Carr, Jr., University of Florida Graduate Research Professor of Zoology, was associated with the University for more than fifty years. As a zoologist, he was most noted for his pioneering work on the study of sea turtles, especially their migration patterns. Dr. Carr served as the scientific director of the Caribbean Conservation Commission, a position he held until his death. As a conservationist and writer, he sparked worldwide interest in saving turtles from threatened extinction, and he was known as the "father of sea turtle research." His entire career was spent at the University of Florida, earning a bachelor's degree in 1932, a master's degree in 1934 and the University's first Ph.D. in 1937. He was a UF faculty member until his death in 1987.

Additional accolades earned by Dr. Carr include the Daniel Giraud Elliott Medal from the National Academy of Science in 1952 for his Handbook of Turtles, the John Burroughs Medal for nature writing in 1955, a University Distinguished Alumnus award in 1972 and the University's Presidential Medallion in 1986. In 1987, Carr received the Gold Medallion of the New York Zoological Society and in 1984, the first Hal Borland Award from the National Audubon Society. The Florida Museum of Natural History periodically awards the Archie F. Carr Medal to individuals who have distinguished themselves in biological conservation.

Facility History

Carr Hall is one of the UF Life Sciences buildings. It was designed by Freedman, Clements, Rumple, AIA of Jacksonville, supervised by Forrest M. Kelley, Jr., AIA, architect to the Board of Regents. Gainesville-based M.M. Parrish Construction built the structure at a cost of $2.1 million. The facility houses research and instructional laboratories as well as the Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research.

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