That teenager's name was Robert Kennicott. He went on to become an accomplished naturalist and herpetologist and contributed hundreds of pieces to the Smithsonian during his life.

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A photographic portrait of Robert Kennicott taken before his death in 1866. Kennicott was one of the earliest contributors to the Smithsonian Institution.

Unknown/Smithsonian Archives

"He basically collected things that are in all of our departments," said Gene Hunt, a curator and paleontologist at the Smithsonian. "He sort of pulls together all the departments of our museum, in one person."