Derived dynamically from EAC-CPF in xEAC.
The conception of the Akeley Hall of African Mammals was ambitious and innovative for its time. Carl Akeley, explorer, naturalist, taxidermist, inventor, and sculptor, led three expeditions to Africa for the American Museum of Natural History. It was his life’s mission to preserve the wild mammal life of Africa, which even in his time was fast-disappearing (4, 1984, p. 32).
After returning from Africa in 1911, Akeley dreamed of a new African Hall, which was to be the “inspiration and unifying purpose of [his] work” from then on. He wrote that the new hall would serve to “tell the story of jungle peace; a story that is sincere and faithful to the Africa beasts as I have known them" (4, 1993, p. 19). His plans were for a darkened hall, simple and spacious, with artificially illuminated diorama habitat groups. This way, the worlds in the dioramas dominated instead of the exhibition cases.
Akeley, in addition to being an explorer, naturalist, and inventor, was a skilled sculptor and taxidermist. He pioneered the mounting technique used for specimens in the hall. James L. Clark assisted Akeley in sculpture and mounting for the hall and took over after Akeley’s death in 1926. Akeley also collected many of the specimens he later mounted during his expeditions to Africa (2, 1926, p. 36-37).
From conception to completion, the process of creating the Hall of African Mammals took over thirty years. Akeley first published his plans in 1914, but exploration and collection for the hall itself was delayed during the invasion of Belgium and periodic lack of funds. (2, 1924, p. 12-13; 2, 1925, p. 20) The African Elephant group, which dominates the center of the Hall, opened to the public in 1921 (2, 1921, p. 31) and the hall officially opened to the public on May 19, 1936. It was partially completed at this time, with sketches of future habitat groups displayed in sketch models (2, 1936, p. 3; 3, 1936, Appendix). By the end of that year, fourteen groups remained to be completed. As of 1939, the third floor was under construction and an expedition to Africa was made to collect materials for more animal groups (2, 1939, p. 5). It was finally completed by 1942 (2, 1942, p. 12).
Placed above the dioramas are silvered bronze relief sculptures with related scenes by John W. Hope. Two sculptures by Malvina Hoffman once stood at the entrance to the hall and at the opposite, a large pair of elephant tusks were installed, which remain as of 2017 (2, 1935, p. 14-15; 3, 1949, p. 102; 17).
The habitat groups on the lower (second) floor are as follows:
Water Hole Group
Mountain Nyala Group
African Buffalo Group
the Lion Group
Bongo Group
Giant Eland Group
Upper Nile Group
Plains Group
Greater Koodoo Group
Giant Sable Group
Gemsbok Group
Libyan Desert Group
Okapi Group
Gorilla Group
The habitat groups on the third floor mezzanine or Akeley African Hall Gallery are as follows:
Klipspringer Group
Lesser Koodoo Group
White Rhinoceros Group
Black Rhinoceros Group
Hunting Dog Group
South African Group
Ostrich Group
Leopard and Bush Pig Group
Colobus Monkey Group
Chimpanzee Group
Mandrill Group
Impala Group
Hyena-Jackal-Vulture Group
Cheetah Group (16, p. 102-104; 17)
From the late 1960’s to the mid-1980’s on-going refurbishing and relabeling were conducted in the Hall (2, 1968/69, p. 39; 2, 1971/72, p. 36; 20, p. 2, 1975/76; 21, p. 26; 2, 1985/86, p. 55).
The third floor mezzanine of the Akeley Hall of African Mammals was referred to as the Akeley Hall of African Mammals; Small Mammal Groups, Gallery; Akeley African Hall Gallery; Gallery of Akeley African Hall.
Diorama taxidermist, (6, 2006, p. 166)
Expedition collected material for hall.
Carl Akeley conceived, designed, collected material, and created taxidermy models for the Hall of African Mammals.
Mary Akeley accompanied her husband, Carl Akeley, on expeditions that contributed to the hall and served on the trustee committee for the hall.
Expedition collected material for hall.
Curator, Mammalogy
Diorama taxidermist (2, 1937, p. 72)
Diorama background and foreground artist, (6, 2006, p. 166)
Associate Chief in the Museum's Department of Preparation and Installation, foreground artist and supervisor on dioramas (2, 1937, p. 71-72).
Financed trip to East Africa with artist Robert Kane, made gift of the Black Rhinoceros Group (2, 1937, p. 61-72).
Expedition collected material for hall.
African Lion Group, two males, three females, one young. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. G. Lister Carlisle, Jr., 1928. (2, 1931, p.4-6).
African Lion Group, two males, three females, one young. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. G. Lister Carlisle, Jr., 1928. (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Curator, Mammalogy and member of Sanford-Legendre Expedition to Abyssinia (2, 1929, p. 69).
Diorama taxidermist (6, 2006, p. 164)
Diorama taxidermist and supervisor in the Museum's Exhibition Department. The dioramas in the hall were executed under his direction (6, 2006, p. 166).
Expedition collected material for hall.
Museum President and Davison African Expedition leader. Collected elephant specimens for the hall (2, 1935, p.14).
Diorama foreground artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Sponsored the Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History (1926). Gifted the following habitat groups: Buffalo Group of Kenya Colony, two males, one female, one young, 1926., Klipspringer Group from Kenya Colony, containing Klipspringer, Reedbuck, Baboons, and Hyrax, 1926. Wild Dog and Roan Antelope Group of Tanganyika Territory, 1926. Water Hole Group of Kenya Colony, rticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, oryx, Grant's gazelle, and eland (15 specimens), 1926 (2, 1931, p.4-6)
Diorama foreground artist and taxidermist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Wild Dog Group gift of Major Max C. Fleischmann (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Diorama foreground artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Diorama foreground artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Artist for bas-reliefs above dioramas and diorama taxidermist (6, 2006, p. 166).
Diorama taxidermist (2, 1937, p. 61-72)
Diorama background artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Diorama background artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Taxidermist, Elephant Group (6, 2006, p. 166)
With Osa Johnson took photographs which served as reference for habitat groups.
With Martin Johnson took photographs which served as reference for habitat groups. Impalla Antelope Group, six specimens. Gift of Mrs. Martin Johnson, 1929. (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Diorama background artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Secured Mountain Nyala Group on Sanford-Patterson-Legendre Abyssinian Expedition with Sidney and Morris Legendre. Nyala Antelope Group Of Abyssinia, five specimens. Gift of Mrs. Gertrude Sanford Legendre, 1928 (2, 1931, p.4-6.)
Secured Mountain Nyala Group on Sanford-Patterson-Legendre Abyssinian Expedition with Morris and Gertrude Legendre.(2, 1931, p.4-6.)
Background artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Diorama foreground artist. Added chipmunk in Okapi Group (6, 2006, p. 67, 166)
Diorama taxidermist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Diorama foreground artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Donor
Diorama foreground artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Giant Eland Group, one male, one female. Gift of Mr. C. Oliver O'Donnell, 1930 (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Expedition collected material for the hall.
Trustee Committee for hall (2, 1938)
Diorama foreground artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Financier and expedition member. Collected specimens for hall. (2, 1937, p. 61-72)
Sponsored Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History (1926). Greater Koodoo Group of Tanganyika Territory, two males, one female, and young. Gift of Daniel E. Pomeroy, 1926. Plains Group of Tanganyika Territory, Grant's Zebra, Gnu, Hartebeeste, Robert's Gazelle, Thomson's Gazelle, Topi (19 specimens). Gift of Daniel E. Pomeroy, 1926 (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Diorama bird taxidermist (6, 2006, p. 166)
African Elephant Group of Kenya Colony, two males, cow, and calf. Mounted by Carl E. Akeley as the Meredith H. Pyne Memorial. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Percy R. Pyne, 1929 (2, 1931, p.4-6)
African Elephant Group of Kenya Colony, two males, cow, and calf. Mounted by Carl E. Akeley as the Meredith H. Pyne Memorial. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Percy R. Pyne, 1929 (2, 1931, p.4-6)
Retouched White Rhinoceros Group background (6, 2006, p. 166)
Diorama taxidermist and memeber of Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy Expedition(6, 2006, p. 166; 2, 1937 p. 61-72)
Diorama taxidermist and member of Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy Expedition(6, 2006, p. 166; 2, 1937 p. 61-72)
Trustee Committee for hall (2, 1938)
Diorama background arist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Expedition collected material for hall.
Diorama background artist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Diorama taxidermist (6, 2006, p. 166)
Mountain Gorilla of Kivu, two males, two females, and young. Collected and mounted by Carl E. Akeley. Gift of Messrs. Julius F. Stone and Franz T. Stone and the Misses Edna A. Stone, Theodora M. Stone and Natalia S. Stone, 1931 (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Mountain Gorilla of Kivu, two males, two females, and young. Collected and mounted by Carl E. Akeley. Gift of Messrs. Julius F. Stone and Franz T. Stone and the Misses Edna A. Stone, Theodora M. Stone and Natalia S. Stone, 1931 (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Mountain Gorilla of Kivu, two males, two females, and young. Collected and mounted by Carl E. Akeley. Gift of Messrs. Julius F. Stone and Franz T. Stone and the Misses Edna A. Stone, Theodora M. Stone and Natalia S. Stone, 1931 (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Mountain Gorilla of Kivu, two males, two females, and young. Collected and mounted by Carl E. Akeley. Gift of Messrs. Julius F. Stone and Franz T. Stone and the Misses Edna A. Stone, Theodora M. Stone and Natalia S. Stone, 1931 (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Mountain Gorilla of Kivu, two males, two females, and young. Collected and mounted by Carl E. Akeley. Gift of Messrs. Julius F. Stone and Franz T. Stone and the Misses Edna A. Stone, Theodora M. Stone and Natalia S. Stone, 1931 (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Curator, Mammalogy. Collected for groups in Hall (2, 1940, p. 19)
South African Group, Giant Sable Antelope Group from Portoguese West Africa, two males, two females, and young. Gift of Mr. Arthur S. Vernay, 1925. (2, 1931, p.4-6).
Lesser Koodoo and Gerenuk of Tanganyika Territory, six specimens. Gift of Daniel B. Wentz of Philadelphia, 1926. (2, 1931, p.4-6)