R,  Homer

English

R,   Homer

The Palimpsest

Breton

Museum Expeditions and Gifts

Iowa Research Online

Masthead Logo The Palimpsest
Volume 33 | Number 2 Article 3
2-1-1952
Museum Expeditions and Gifts
Homer R
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Recommended Citation
R, H. "Museum Expeditions and Gifts." The Palimpsest 33 (1952), 38-43.
Available at: https://ir.uiowa.edu/palimpsest/vol33/iss2/3
Museum Expeditions and Gifts
E x p e d i t io n s
T h e  e x p e d it io n s  s e n t  o u t b y  th e  M u se u m  m a y  
b e  d iv id e d  in to  tw o  c la s se s . T h e  firs t w e re  a lm o s t 
e n t ire ly  fo r  th e  c o lle c tin g  o f m a te r ia l  fo r th e  u se  o f 
th e  s y s te m a tic  z o o lo g is ts ; in  th e  se c o n d  c la ss , a  
b r o a d e r  v ie w  w a s  ta k e n , a n d  m a te r ia l c o lle c te d  
w a s  fo r  e x h ib itio n  p u rp o s e s  a s  w e ll a s  fo r  s tu d y .
In  1890  P ro fe s s o r  N u t t in g  a n d  P ro fe s s o r  C a l ­
v in  m a d e  o n e  o f  th e  e a r l ie s t  M u s e u m  e x p e d itio n s  
—  to  th e  B a y  o f F u n d y .  T h e r e  th e y  c o lle c te d  sea  
b ird s , se a ls , a n d  m a r in e  in v e r te b ra te s .
E a r ly  in  1891 P ro fe s s o r  A . G . S m ith  a n d  F r a n k  
R u sse l], a  g r a d u a te  s tu d e n t ,  p la n n e d  a  tr ip  to  th e  
n o r th e rn  s h o re s  o f L a k e  W in n ip e g ,  M a n ito b a , to  
co lle c t b ird s . A f te r  th e  tr ip  w a s  a r r a n g e d ,  P r o f e s ­
so r  N u t t in g  d e c id e d  to  g o  a lo n g  a n d  ta k e  c h a rg e . 
W h i le  o n  th is  tr ip . F r a n k  R u sse ll m e t a n  o rn i th ­
o lo g is t  w h o  h a d  liv ed  in th e  n o r th  c o u n try  fo r 
y e a rs , a n d  fro m  th is  m a n ’s d e s c r ip tio n  o f th e  field 
a s  a  c o lle c tin g  g ro u n d , R u sse ll b e cam e  v e ry  e n ­
th u s ia s tic  a b o u t  m a k in g  a  tr ip  to  th e  F a r  N o r th .  
P ro fe s s o r  N u t t in g  p la c e d  th e  p la n s  b e fo re  th e  
B o a rd  o f  R e g e n ts  o f th e  U n iv e rs i ty . T h e  B o a rd  
a p p ro v e d  s e n d in g  R u sse ll on  th e  e x p e d itio n , b u t no  
m o n e y  w a s  a p p ro p r ia te d .  P re s id e n t  C h a r le s  A .
38
*
E X P E D IT IO N S  A N D  G IF TS 39
S c h a e ffe r  k in d ly  a d v a n c e d  th e  m o n e y  fro m  h is  o w n  
p o c k e t. In  a ll, F r a n k  R u sse ll s p e n t  th re e  y e a r s  
( 1 8 9 2 -1 8 9 4  ) on  th is  tr ip . H e  b ro u g h t  b a c k  sp e c i­
m en s  o f  m u sk -o x , c a rib o u , m o o se , a  g r iz z ly  b e a r  
n e w  to  sc ien ce , a n d  m a n y  b ird s  a n d  sm all m am m als . 
In  a d d it io n , h e  c o lle c te d  a  n u m b e r  o f e th n o lo g ic a l 
sp e c im e n s  in c lu d in g  som e fine c a rv e d  iv o ry .
O th e r  e x p e d it io n s  a t t r a c te d  m u ch  a tte n tio n . In  
1893 P ro fe s s o r s  N u t t in g ,  H o u s e r , a n d  W ic k h a m  
o rg a n iz e d  a  p a r ty  o f tw e n ty -o n e  m em b ers , in c lu d ­
in g  m a n y  se n io r  s tu d e n ts  o f zo o lo g y , fo r  a  tr ip  to  
th e  B a h a m a  a n d  D r y  T o r tu g a s  is la n d s . A  c a r lo a d  
o f m a te r ia l w a s  c o lle c te d , c o n s is tin g  a lm o s t e n ­
t ire ly  o f m a rin e  in v e r te b ra te s . S o m e 1 ,300  m a rin e  
h y d ro id s , P ro fe s s o r  N u t t in g ’s sp e c ia lty , w e re  a lso  
b ro u g h t  b a c k . T h e  B a rb a d o s -A n tig u a  E x p e d itio n , 
s e n t o u t u n d e r  N u t t in g ’s d ire c tio n  in 1918, fo u n d  
m o re  m a te r ia l to  fill o u t th e  m a rin e  g ro u p ; w h ile  a n ­
o th e r  v e ry  la rg e  co llec tio n  w a s  o b ta in e d  in 1922, 
w h e n  P ro fe s s o rs  N u tt in g ,  S to n e r , W y lie ,  a n d  
T h o m a s  v is ite d  N e w  Z e a la n d  a n d  th e  F iji I s la n d s .
T h r o u g h  th e  fin an c ia l h e lp  o f  M r . E . M . B ro w n  
o f D e s  M o in e s , th re e  su c c e ss fu l e x p e d itio n s  w e re  
se n t o u t in 1920 a n d  1924 u n d e r  th e  d ire c tio n  o f 
th e  a u th o r . T h e  firs t e x p e d itio n , in Ju n e  a n d  Ju ly  
o f 1920, v is ite d  th e  H a w a iia n  I s la n d s  fo r  th e  e x ­
p re s s  p u rp o s e  o f co llec tin g  fishes fo r  th e  U n iv e r ­
s ity  M u se u m  a n d  fo r  M r . B ro w n ’s p r iv a te  m u seu m  
a t  D e s  M o in e s . O v e r  tw o  h u n d re d  sp ec im en s  o f 
h ig h ly  c o lo re d  fishes w e re  c o lle c te d  a n d  p re se rv e d
40 T H E  P A L IM P S E S T
in  a  n e w  p re s e rv in g  flu id  in v e n te d  b y  th e  a u th o r . 
T h e  r e s u l ts  o f th is  tr ip  m a y  b e  se e n  in  th e  fish  e x ­
h ib it a t  th e  M u s e u m . In  S e p te m b e r  o f th a t  sam e  
y e a r  M r .  B ro w n  f in a n c e d  a n  e x p e d it io n  to  th e  C a s ­
c a d e  M o u n ta in s  in  W a s h in g to n  fo r  th e  p u rp o s e  of 
c o lle c tin g  m o u n ta in  g o a ts . W i t h  th e  a s s is ta n c e  o f 
R o b e r t  B ro w n , R u sse ll H e n d e e ,  C . J. A lb re c h t, 
a n d  B. E . M a n v il le , a  fine  s e r ie s  o f  g o a ts  w a s  
c o lle c te d . B ird s  a n d  sm a ll m a m m a ls  w e re  a lso  
b ro u g h t  b a c k . In  th e  s p r in g  o f  1924 M r . B ro w n  
s p o n s o re d  a  th ird  e x p e d it io n , th is  tim e to  M a z a t -  
la n  a n d  G u a y m a s , M e x ic o , to  c o lle c t th e  fish  w h ic h  
co m e  u p  fro m  th e  s o u th  a s  f a r  a s  th e  G u lf  o f C a li ­
fo rn ia . H u n d r e d s  o f  fine  sp e c im e n s  w e re  ta k e n , 
a lso  so m e  se a  b ird s .
In  1926  M r . T .  A . W a n e r u s  s u g g e s te d  to  th e  
a u th o r  th a t  h e  co m e o u t to  h is W y o m in g  ra n c h  a n d  
c o lle c t so m e  a n te lo p e  fo r  th e  M u su e m . M r . C . H . 
F is h b u rn  f in a n c e d  th is  tr ip . T h e  fine a n im a ls  
w h ic h  a d o rn  th e  a n te lo p e  g ro u p  in th e  M u se u m  
w e re  s e c u re d  o n  th is  e x p e d itio n .
G if t s
O v e r  th e  y e a r s  th e  M u s e u m  h a s  re c e iv e d  so  
m a n y  g if ts  th a t  n o  a t te m p t  w ill b e  m a d e  to  d e sc r ib e  
th em  a ll, s in c e  th e y  h a v e  a ll b e e n  re c o rd e d  in th e  
M u s e u m  c a ta lo g . T h e r e  a r e  som e, h o w e v e r, th a t  
h a v e  p la y e d  a n  im p o r ta n t  p a r t  in  b u ild in g  u p  th e  
c o lle c tio n s , a n d  a lso  a r e  e sp e c ia lly  in te re s tin g  to  
Io w a n s .
E X P E D IT IO N S  A N D  G IF T S 41
W ith o u t  d o u b t  o n e  o f th e  f in e s t g if ts  e v e r  r e ­
ce iv ed  b y  th e  M u s e u m  is th e  w o n d e r fu l  co llec tio n  
o f m o u n te d  b ird s  a n d  m am m als  fro m  a ll o v e r  th e  
w o r ld , c o lle c te d  a n d  p re s e n te d  b y  th e  la te  D r . 
W m . T .  H o r n a d a y  in 1886 . O u ts ta n d in g  in  th is  
co llec tio n  a re  th e  m a rsu p ia l m am m als  fro m  A u s ­
tra lia , in c lu d in g  a  n u m b e r  o f  k a n g a ro o s , p h ila n -  
g e rs , e c h id n a , p la tip u s , a n d  ev en  a  n u m b e r  o f k o a la  
b e a rs , w h ic h  a re  a lm o s t e x tin c t. O n e  o f th e  c o n d i­
tio n s  u n d e r  w h ic h  th is  co llec tio n  w a s  p re s e n te d  
w a s  th a t  it sh o u ld  b e  k e p t  in  a  s e p a ra te  room  
k n o w n  a s  th e  H o r n a d a y  R oom . W h e n  th e  M u ­
seum  w a s  m o v ed  to  th e  n e w  b u ild in g  in 1908, D r . 
H o r n a d a y  g a v e  h is p e rm iss io n  to  h a v e  th e  m a te r ia l 
p u t in to  th e  g e n e ra l co llec tio n . D u r in g  th e  e a r ly  
d a y s  th e se  sp ec im en s  fo rm e d  th e  b a c k b o n e  o f th e  
M u se u m .
A m o n g  so m e o f th e  la rg e r  g if ts  p re s e n te d  in 
1887 w a s  th e  D . H . T a lb o t  co llec tio n  o f b ird  sk in s , 
n u m b e rin g  se v e ra l th o u s a n d  sp ec im en s . P e rh a p s  
th e  m o st v a lu a b le  in  th is  lo t w a s  a  se rie s  o f C a ro ­
lina  p a ra k e e ts  a n d  a  n u m b e r  o f w h o o p in g  c ra n e s . 
In  1931 T .  W .  D e w in g  o f N e w  Y o rk  C ity  g a v e  
th e  w r i te r  h is co llec tio n  o f N o r th  A m e ric a n  b i r d s ’ 
e g g s , n u m b e rin g  o v e r  o n e  th o u s a n d  se ts . T h is  co l­
lec tio n  w a s  p re s e n te d  to  th e  M u se u m . In  1925 a  
se t o f A la s k a n  se a  b ird s  w a s  g iv en  to  th e  M u se u m  
b y  tw o  fo rm e r s tu d e n ts ,  A lf re d  M . B a iley  a n d  
R u sse ll W .  H e n d e e . T h is  m a te r ia l w a s  u se d  in 
m ak in g  th e  B e rin g  S e a  ex h ib it.
42 T H E  P A L IM P S E S T
T h r o u g h  th e  e ffo r ts  o f  th e  la te  P re s id e n t  G e o rg e  
T .  B a k e r  o f th e  B o a rd  o f E d u c a t io n ,  th e  b ird  co l­
le c tio n  o f th e  R ev . C . M . Jo n e s  o f  B o s to n , M a s s a ­
c h u s e tts ,  w a s  p re s e n te d  to  th e  M u s e u m  in 1928. 
P r e s id e n t  J e s s u p  s e n t  th e  a u th o r  to  B o s to n  to  in ­
te rv ie w  th e  m e m b e rs  o f th e  Jo n e s  fam ily , a n d  a f te r  
so m e  m o n th s  o f  d e la y , th e  co lle c tio n  w a s  fin a lly  
s e n t  to  th e  M u s e u m . In  it w a s  a  v e ry  e x te n s iv e  a n d  
c o m p le te  s e r ie s  o f N e w  E n g la n d  b ird s , a lso  a  se t 
o f fie ld  n o te s  w h ic h  w e re  p r in te d  a n d  p la c e d  in th e  
M u s e u m  lib ra ry .
O n e  o f th e  u n iq u e  a n d  in te re s t in g  g if ts  to  th e  
M u s e u m  w a s  a  s e t  o f  c lo th in g  a n d  h u n tin g  a n d  
fish in g  e q u ip m e n t o f  th e  B lo n d  E sk im o s . T h is  m a ­
te r ia l w a s  c o lle c te d  a n d  p re s e n te d  b y  V ilh ja lm u r  
S te fa n s s o n , th e  A rc tic  e x p lo re r , a n  a lu m n u s  o f th e  
U n iv e rs i ty .
In  th e  lo w e r  c o r r id o r  o f  th e  M u se u m  th e re  is o n e  
c a s e  filled  w ith  J a v a n e s e  B a tik , c a rv in g s , b e a d -  
w o rk , a n d  s ilv e r  fro m  Ja v a . T h is  b e a u tifu l co llec ­
tio n  w a s  p re s e n te d  b y  M rs .  S a ra h  H u f ta le n .
In  1904, a t  th e  tim e o f th e  W o r l d ’s F a ir  a t  S t. 
L ou is , a  co m m issio n  w a s  s e n t  to  th e  P h ilip p in e s  to  
g e t m a te r ia l fo r  a n  e x h ib it a t  th e  F a ir . A f te r  th e  
F a ir  w a s  o v e r, th is  m a te r ia l , c o n s is tin g  o f n a tiv e  
c lo th in g , b a s k e ts ,  b e a d w o rk , c a rv in g s , a n d  m o d e ls  
o f h u ts , b o a ts , f is h - tra p s , a s  w e ll a s  n a tiv e  sp e a rs , 
b o w s , a n d  a r ro w s , w a s  g iv en  to  th e  M u se u m .
W h i le  th e  M u s e u m  is rich  in its  co lle c tio n s  o f 
b ird  sk in s , n u m b e rin g  m a n y  th o u s a n d s , it a lso  h as
E X P E D IT IO N S  A N D  G IF T S 43
q u ite  a  n u m b e r  o f e x tin c t  a n d  n e a r ly  e x t in c t  b ird s , 
a  se rie s  o f w h ic h  m a k e s  a  sp e c ia l e x h ib it in  o n e  o f 
th e  c o r r id o r  c a se s . In  th is  c a se  th e re  is a  re p lic a  o f 
a  d o d o , m a d e  b y  th e  a u th o r  fro m  b o n e s , d a ta ,  
c a s ts , a n d  d ra w in g s  o b ta in e d  fro m  th e  A m e ric a n  
M u se u m  in N e w  Y o rk , th e  C h ic a g o  M u se u m , a n d  
ev en  fro m  A b e rd e e n , S c o tla n d , w h e re  th e  o n ly  
o u te r  p a r ts  o f th e  d o d o  w e re  e v e r  s a v e d . T h e r e  is 
a lso  a  re p lic a  o f  th e  L a b ra d o r  d u c k , th e  G r e a t  A u k , 
a n d  m o u n te d  sp e c im e n s  o f th e  h e a th -h e n , w h o o p ­
ing  c ra n e , E sk im o  c u rle w , iv o ry -b ille d  w o o d ­
p eck e r, L a y s a n  te a l, h o n e y -e a te r , m ille r b ird , a n d  
C a ro lin a  p a ra k e e t .
T h e  g re a t  n a tu ra l is t ,  D r . W m . T .  H o rn a d a y ,  
w a s  so  m u ch  im p re sse d  th a t  he  w ro te  th e  fo llo w ­
ing  le g e n d  e sp e c ia lly  fo r th is  e x h ib it:
D u r in g  th e  p a s t  10 0  y e a r s ,  m a n y  v a lu a b l e  s p e c ie s  o f  
b i r d s  a n d  m a m m a ls  h a v e  b e e n  e x t e r m i n a t e d ,  a n d  m a n y  
m o re  h a v e  b e e n  n e a r l y  e x t i n g u i s h e d .  . . . T h e  m o s t  im ­
p o r t a n t  N o r t h  A m e r ic a n  b i r d s  t h a t  h a v e  b e e n  e x t e r m i n a t e d  
e i th e r  w h o l ly  o r  n e a r l y  s o , a r e  r e p r e s e n t e d  in  th i s  c o l le c ­
t io n . . . .  I t  is  h ig h  t im e  t h a t  a l l  lo v e r s  o f  w i ld  l i f e  s h o u ld  
s e r io u s ly  c o n s id e r  t h e  p r o g r e s s iv e  e x t in c t io n  o f  v a lu a b l e  
s p e c ie s ,  a n d  th e  g o o d  c i t iz e n  s  d u t y  to  h e lp  p r e s e r v e  th e m .


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Museum Expeditions and Gifts

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