1922 - 1929
Faunthorpe was a big game hunter, aide-de-camp to King George, and resident commissioner at Lucknow, India. In 1918 he had visited the Museum and in 1921 he proposed to Museum President Osborn his idea of a hunting expedition into South Asia to amass a representative specimen collection for the Department of Mammals. Vernay was a wealthy British antiques dealer, hunter, and friend of Faunthorpe, who offered to not only join the expedition but to finance it as well. By 1922, planning was underway. The Museum would pay for the return of all material and provide a taxidermist and photographer. Thus John Jonas, a Museum taxidermist from Montana would join the expedition as well as George M. Dyott, who acted as photographer and cinematographer. Lists of mammals desired for the Museum collections were drawn up by both Faunthorpe and Herbert Lang of the Museum’s Mammalogy department to guide the expedition. (1)
In December of 1922, Jonas joined Faunthorpe in the Kheri District and the Expedition began. On January 1, 1930, Vernay met them in Lucknow and the group headed toward Nepal. Although both Faunthorpe and Vernay were big-game hunters they opposed needless slaughter and aimed to kill only those specimens deemed necessary for exhibition and research. (2) Indeed, there was a keen awareness of endangered species on the part of the Museum as well as the expedition team. This drove their motivation to capture specimens nearing extinction. (3) In 1923 they hunted in and secured material in the Kheri district, the Bhopal state, Nepal and Mysore. They were granted permissions by the local governing bodies to hunt in many restricted areas and in many instances were provided with assistance in the way of transportation, guidance, and crew. Of note is Panchan, who acted as an expedition skinner. Vernay claimed that Panchan “probably has skinned more different species of Indian animals that any other man” (4) In all they were able to secure examples of species such as the tsine, guar, Indian elephant, the one-horned rhinoceros and the sambar.
As one of the leaders and an Indian resident with many contacts, Faunthorpe took on much of the administrative and planning work. Besides financing the expedition, Vernay appears to have been virtually inexhaustible and ambitious. By the close of the first season in June of 1923, Faunthorpe wrote to President Osborn to request that the name of the Expedition be changed from the 'Faunthorpe Indian Expedition of 1923' to the 'Faunthorpe-Vernay Indian Expedition of 1923' to reflect his contributions. The names of the expedition would prove to be somewhat fluid. Vernay requested the copyright on photos and films be put under the 'Vernay-Faunthorpe Expedition to India and Burma.' (5) Throughout Museum records and publications variations on the names and name order are seen, but the name appears to have shifted around 1927 to the 'Vernay-Faunthorpe Expeditions,' or the 'Vernay Expeditions.' The actual physical collection, presented as gift to the Museum from both men would be termed the 'Vernay-Faunthorpe Collection', and the Hall would be called the 'Vernay-Faunthorpe Hall of South Asiatic Mammals.'
Although the first season ended in June on 1923, the work continued through 1929 for a total of six expeditions completed by both men together and individually. In early 1924, Vernay continued into Burma and Siam to fill in gaps in the collection, particularly of the Sumatran rhinoceros. In 1926 Faunthorpe acquired more specimens, including the wild boar group. In late 1927 and 1928 the group fruitlessly attempted to secure the rare rhinoceros sondaicus. In 1927 Department of Preparation staff members Albert E. Butler and Clarence C. Rosenkranz were sent to accompany the expedition by collecting accessory material and background art to be used for the habitat groups in the Asiatic Hall. This was important for the creation of accurate exhibits at the Museum. In 1928, after prolonged effort by Faunthorpe, permission was granted to hunt the Asian Lion in the Gir Forest, considered one of the only remaining locations where the species was found, and in February of 1929 these specimens were acquired, bringing the expedition to a close.
Between 1928 and 1930 preparatory work for the Hall was completed. Assistant Director James L. Clark guided the arrangement and execution of the animal groups and the architectural setting, with Butler directing the execution of accessories. Harold E. Anthony, Curator in the Department of Mammals, provided scientific direction. Taxidermists including Louis Jonas (brother of John), Rockwell, and Hope joined Clark in the preparation of the animals, and the background paintings were done by artists such as Rosenkranz, and Jaques. On November 17, 1930 the Vernay-Faunthorpe Hall of South Asiatic Mammals officially opened. Faunthorpe had died the year before so was unable to see the culmination of his original proposal.
These expeditions were important to the development of the Museum and its collection, providing an estimate of over 1275 specimens, including 976 bird skins, and 299 mammals. Numerous films and photographs were also added to the Museum collection. It was hoped that this would be an example of the camaraderie that may exist between peoples of different nations. Both Vernay and Faunthorpe were made honorary members of the American Museum of Natural History, and Vernay would go on to organize and fund many other expeditions for the Museum.
(Expedition Site) The expedition explored Burma, India and Nepal in search of Asian mammals
for the American Museum of Natural History.
(Expedition Site) The expedition explored Burma, India and Nepal in search of Asian mammals
for the American Museum of Natural History.
(Expedition Site) The expedition explored Burma, India and Nepal in search of Asian mammals
for the American Museum of Natural History.
(Expedition Site) Expedition site for the collection of material.
The American Museum is located in New York. The expedition was done in
order to collect specimens for that institution.
(Expedition Site) Col. Faunthorpe was based in Lucknow and the expedition originated
there.
(Expedition Site) Many specimens were collected in the Bhopal state, including the sambur
stag.
(Expedition Site) Area in western Nepal where they were able to secure the one-horned
Indian rhinoceros specimens.
(Expedition Site) Expedition site where elephants were collected.
(Expedition Site) Area explored for elephants.
(Expedition Site) Sloth bears, tigers and leopards were obtained in Oudh, as well as
providing a location for much film footage.
(Expedition Site) The Expedition began in the Kheri district, with Faunthorpe and Jonas
hunting there in December of 1922.
(Expedition Site) The Rani of Khairāgarh an 'old friend' of Faunthorpe provided hunting in
her region.
(Expedition Site) They searched for rhinoceroses and tigers in the Gandak River and Valley.
The Maharaja Sir Chandra Shamshere Jung assisted and directed them to
this region.
(Expedition Site) Area where the tsine were hunted.
(Expedition Site) Traveled through area when hunting Sumatran rhinoceroses in 1924, a baby
rhinoceros that was captured alive was sent to the Rangoon Zoo but died
and was added to the collection with its mother.
(Expedition Site) The expedition also later explored Siam in search of specimens.
(Expedition Site) Mountain area chosen for hunting Sumatran rhinoceros in 1924 after Sir
Harcourt Butler provided permission.
(Expedition Site) Location in Burma where one expedition headquarters was maintained.
Permission was granted to hunt the Asian lion in the Gir Forest, possibly
the only location it was believed to still exist.
(Expedition Site) Camp site when hunting lions in Gir Forest.
(Expedition Site) The Gir Forest, where the Asian lion was hunted was located in the State
of Junagadh.
Content negotiation supports the following types: text/html,
application/xml, application/tei+xml,
application/vnd.google-earth.kml+xml,
application/rdf+xml, application/json,
text/turtle
American Museum of Natural History
Gottesman Research Library
200 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024-5192
Privacy Policy | Copyright Information | Non-Discrimination Notice
Powered by xEAC.