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Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Cookman, Alfred
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1891–1972
History
Alfred Cookman was a distinguished biologist, ornithologist, and educator who headed the Biology Department at Los Angeles Polytechnic High School. During the 1920s, he taught courses in general biology, ornithology, and bacteriology, earning recognition for his leadership within the school. In 1924, he was unanimously re-elected as chairman of the biology department, reflecting the high regard in which he was held by his colleagues.
Beyond his work in education, Cookman played a prominent role in Southern California’s scientific community. In September 1926, he was elected president of the Nature Club of Southern California, a position he retained for several years. Holding both B.A. and M.S. degrees, he frequently delivered public lectures throughout the region on subjects such as The Romance of Bird Life in California and Native Birds of California. He was also known for organizing and leading scientific field expeditions. One notable example occurred in September 1928, when he guided a group of 60 Nature Club members on a research and filming trip to Santa Cruz Island to investigate marine life and observe sea lion populations.