Walter E. Sage, III served as collection manager of the AMNH mollusk collection from 1983 to1995 under Curator William K. Emerson. He was equally active in shell-club organizations, including Conchologists of America and the New York Shell Club, and was a frequent contributor to their publications and others. He published 343 articles over his active career, including an astounding 205 book reviews. From 1976 until his move to New York, he was an active member of The Louisville (Kentucky) Conchological Society, editing their newsletter and instigating the annual meeting of the American Malacological Union (now Society) in Louisville in 1980. He was author of “News of New Species” for Of Sea & Shore Magazine and later a similar column for American Conchologist, penning more than 50 feature articles to keep shell collectors abreast of interesting new taxa. While at AMNH, he co-authored eight papers with Dr. Emerson and, posthumously with resident-student Christopher B. Boyko, the first in a series of molluscan type catalogs for the department. Walter is fondly remembered by many for his collection of shell shirts, tailor-made for him locally from an astounding supply of shell-motif material that he purchased wherever he traveled. He sometimes wore them in layers at shell shows, peeling off shirt after shirt as the day progressed. After his untimely death to cancer in 1995, his shirt and cloth collection was auctioned by COA, which benefited from the enthusiasm of many who, in tribute, aspired to own a “Walter Sage shirt.” Monetary donations to AMNH in his memory form part of a special Malacology Fund that supports various operations of the mollusk collection.

See also:

Boyko, Christopher. 1996. Walter E. Sage, III - a bibliography. American Conchologist, March 1996: 6-7.

Emerson, W. K. 1983. Walter Sage joins the AMNH. New York Shell Club Notes, no. 288: 2.

Emerson, W. K., and T. Lourbacos. 1995. Walter E. Sage, III (1949-1995). New York Shell Club Notes, no. 336.

Scheu, Lynn. 1996. Walter E. Sage, III - a bibliographical biography. American Conchologist, March 1996: 6.