Smyth, Bernard B., the curator of the Kansas State Museum and Goss ornithological collection, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, March 8, 1843. When ten years of age he came to the United States, locating first at Howell, Mich. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Twenty-third Illinois infantry, which became a part of "Mullin's Irish Brigade." He was captured by Price's army at Lexington, Mo., in Sept., 1861, but was paroled, sent to St. Louis and discharged in October, but the discharge was declared void and he returned to duty. Instead of returning to his old regiment, he enlisted in the Ninth Michigan infantry. In Nov., 1862, he was transferred to the First United States cavalry and served with that regiment until discharged in Nov., 1865. He was in many of the fiercest battles in Virginia, including the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor; was wounded at Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864, but recovered in time to be present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox. At the close of the war he returned to Howell, Mich., where he finished an apprenticeship at the printers trade and taught school. In 1870 he graduated at the Michigan state normal school at Ypsilanti, then taught until 1874, when he came to Kansas and settled in Barton county. Here he followed teaching and farming until 1880, when he removed to Topeka. In 1888 he was appointed librarian of the Kansas Academy of Science, and later curator of the Goss ornithological collection. Four years later he was appointed curator of the Kansas State Museum. These positions he still holds.