Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History (1926)

Exist Dates

1926 - 1927

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

The Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition was a collecting expedition to Africa; its mission was to provide specimens for the African Hall at the American Museum of Natural History, originally conceived in 1910. The man behind both the exhibit hall and the expedition was Carl Ethan Akeley, an animal sculptor and taxidermist, an inventor, naturalist and photographer. The Eastman-Pomeroy expedition focused on collecting specimens for the dioramas of the African Hall, as well as accessories such as grass and bushes, and the creation of background paintings from artists William Leigh and Arthur August Jansson.

The Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition was envisioned by Carl Ethan Akeley as part of his dedication to and design of the African Hall Exhibition at the American Museum of National History. Conceived in 1910, the African Hall was created to convey a quickly vanishing image of wildlife in Africa. Akeley intended to travel to Africa to complete his six habitat groups for the African Hall, originally begun in 1921. This expedition consisted of collecting specimens for the hall dioramas, as well as accessories such as grass and bushes. Background paintings for the hall were created by artists William Leigh and Arthur August Jansson during the expedition (3). These paintings are used in the dioramas that exist in the Hall, to give an accurate portrayal of the scene/place the exhibition is showcasing. The expedition was funded by George Eastman, Daniel E. Pomeroy, and Daniel B. Wentz. It began in March 1926 and spanned through East and South Africa, largely in Kenya and the Belgium Congo. In November 1926, Akeley, who'd been ill previously on his trip, passed away. His wife, Mary Akeley, buried him in the Kivu Mountains. Mary then continued on to complete Akeley's vision, collecting the rest of the six habit groups and concluding in March 1927, a year after the commencement of the expedition. Mary was assisted by Jean-Marie Derscheid. Upon its completion the following groups were secured for the African Hall Exhibition: Klipspringer, buffalo, greater kudu, lesser kudu, water hole, plains and wild dog. The conclusion of the expedition was also known by the following names: Congo Expedition, Akeley-Derscheid Expedition (1). On April 12, 1927, King Albert awarded to Mary the royal decoration of honor to both her husband and herself, for his work in the Congo and her completion thereof, respectively.

Sources

(1) Mary L. Jobe Akeley, F.R.G.S. 1929. Carl Akeley's Africa; the account of the Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History. New York: Dodd, Mead, & Company.

Lyle Rexer and Rachel Klein. 1995. American Museum of Natural History : 125 years of expedition and discovery. New York, N.Y. : H.N. Abrams in association with the American Museum of Natural History.

(3) Akeley, Mary L. Jobe (Mary Lenore Jobe), 1878-1966. Mary Jobe Akeley papers, 1859-1940. Box 1, Folder 7.

(4) W.R. Leigh. 1938. Frontiers of enchantment; an artist's adventures in Africa. New York: Simon and Schuster.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

participantIn

Akeley, Carl Ethan, 1864- 1926
Collectively a animal sculptor and taxidermist, an inventor, naturalist and photographer, Akeley completed four African expeditions, before dying in 1926. The Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition would be his fifth and final one, as he attempted to complete his vision for the African Hall exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. It was Akeley's goal to capture the true picture of Africa through his expeditions and share it with the world.

participantIn

Akeley, Mary L. Jobe (Mary Lenore Job), 1878-1966
associated dates: 1926-1927
Mary L. Jobe Akeley married Carl Akeley in 1924. She was both an explorer and author. She continued on with Akeley’s work after his death in 1926, specifically committed to his vision of the African Hall exhibition for the American Museum of National History.

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Bill
associated dates: 1926-1927
Trusted Kikuyu worker from Kehuhia of Carl and Mary Akeley's for the expedition, that Akeley has known for 20 years. Main gun-boy but would also help with interpertering. Was there upon Akeley's passing (1).

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Billy Billy
Favorite wife of the Samburu chief, according to Mary Akeley (1). Visited with the Akeley expedition during their time in the Northern Frontier.

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Derscheid, Jean-Marie
associated dates: 1926-1927
A doctor from Brussels and president of the Belgian Cercle Zoologique Congolais, who was invited to join the expedition by Akeley in September 1926, after Akeley had been in contact with the American Embassy in Brussels. Derscheid became a key figure, along with Mary Akeley, in completing Akeley's work after his death.

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Eastman, George, 1854-1932
George Eastman was the founder of the Eastman Kodak Company. He was passionate about big game hunting and helped fund Akeley's expedition as well as traveled to various parts during its duration, partaking in the hunting aspect.

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Jansson, Arthur August, 1890-1960
Background artist on American Museum of Natural History staff and chosen for expedition (1). Noted (by Akeley) as one of the expedition's leaders. Assisted on background studies with Leigh, providing the color notes of vegtation. Also worked on studies for a background for a bird group.

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Johnson, Martin, 1884-1937
Explorer, cameraman and filmmaker who, with his wife Osa, went on five expeditions to Africa under the backing of the American Museum of Natural History and with the help of Akeley, who was instrumental in co-developing the Martin Johnson African Expedition Corporation. For the Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition, Johnson's role to help take photographs as well as motion picture images. Akeley himself had recently developed a camera, which he called The Akeley Camera, specific for geographical imagery (1).

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Johnson, Osa, 1894-1953
Filmmaker and wife of Martin Johnson. Went on all their expeditions together, including Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition.

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Leigh, William R.
New York based artist introduced to Akeley by A. A. Jannson, his former student, and brought on the expedition to help make studies for the African Hall's background paintings, including the Klipspringer, Water hole and buffalo groups (4).

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Mguru
Akeley's gorilla guide and gunbearer from his 1921 expedition, who welcomed him a few days after his arrival at Rweru camp (1).

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Molimo
Gunboy of Rockwell's.

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Percival, Philip H. (Philip Hope), 1884-
An English, renowned white hunter and safari guide, based in Kenya.

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Pomeroy, Daniel E.
Daniel E. Pomeroy was a sponser of the Eastman Kodak Company and helped fund Akeley's expedition. He contributed in helping with Akeley's koodoo gathering in October 1926, a voyage Akeley himself had been too ill to make.

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Raddatz, R. C.
A fellow taxidermist and colleague of Akeley's. Preparator employed by American Museum of Natural History, brought on expedition to aid in field collecting (1).

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Rockwell, R. H.
Preparator employed by American Museum of Natural History, brought on expedition to aid in field collecting. Escorted Pomeroy on koodoo hunt in October 1926 (1).

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Stewart, Audley
Stewart was the personal physician of George Eastman and set sail with him for the expedition in March 1926 where they would meet up with Akeley. They both stayed on the expedition, largely focused on big game hunting, until departing in September 1926.

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Wentz, Daniel B. (Daniel Bertsch), 1872-1926
Colonel Daniel B. Wentz was a friend of Akeley's and helped sponser the Eastman-Pomeroy-Akeley expedition, largely responsible for making it a reality. Unfortunately, he died prior to the expedition's launch and was unable to partake in the event.

Related Resources

creatorOf

Rock study for the Klipspringer Group [art original]
Creator: Jansson, Arthur August, 1890-1960. Extent: 1 art original : oil on canvas ; 84 x 56 cm., in frame 92 x 64 cm. Repository: AMNH Special Collections, Art cart--bottom shelf

creatorOf

African cape buffalo [art original]
Creator: Jansson, Arthur August, 1890-1960. Extent: 1 art original : oil on canvas ; 49 x 64 cm. Repository: AMNH Special Collections, Art cart--middle shelf

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[African Hall Study Group]
Creator: Jansson, Arthur August, 1890-1960. Extent: 1 painting : Oil ; 14 3/4 x 23 1/2 in. Repository: AMNH Museum, Art Survey No. 357

creatorOf

Studies for the dioramas in the American Museum of Natural History's African Hall [art original]
Creator: Jansson, Arthur August, 1890-1960. Extent: 11 art originals : oil on canvas board ; 31 x 41 cm. Repository: AMNH Special Collections, RF-94-B nos. 1-11

creatorOf

Carl and Mary in Africa [videorecording]
Creator: American Museum of Natural History. Extent: 1 videocassette (8 min.) : si., b&w ; 3/4 in. Repository: AMNH Special Collections, Film Collection no. 24

creatorOf

African Mammal Hall background study [art original]
Creator: Jansson, Arthur August, 1890-1960. Extent: 1 art original in 2 sections : oil on canvas ; each, 56 x 84 cm. Repository: AMNH Special Collections, Art cart--bottom shelf, right and left panel

creatorOf

Mary Jobe Akeley papers
associated dates: 1859-1940
Creator: Akeley, Mary L. Jobe (Mary Lenore Jobe), 1878-1966. Extent: 25 boxes (11.25 linear feet) 5 printing plates Repository: AMNH Special Collections, Mss .A342-.A344

creatorOf

Mt. Mikeno from Gorilla Group
Creator: Leigh, William Robinson, 1866-1955. Extent: 1 painting : Oil ; 33 x 96 in. Repository: AMNH Museum, Art Survey No. 655

creatorOf

Study for African Wild Dog Group, approximately 1927
Creator: Leigh, William Robinson, 1866-1955. Extent: 1 painting : Oil ; 23 1/8 x 73 in. Repository: AMNH Museum, Art Survey No. 1248

creatorOf

Study for Belgian Congo Group
associated dates: 1927-1928
Creator: Jansson, Arthur August, 1890-1960. Extent: 1 painting : Oil. Repository: AMNH Special Collections, Art Survey No. 1349

creatorOf

Simba, king of beasts [videorecording] : a saga of the African veldt, approximately 1928
Creator: American Museum of Natural History Extent: 1 videocassette (75 min.) : sd., b&w ; 3/4 in. Repository: AMNH Special Collections, Film Collection no. 276

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