American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

Faunthorpe-Vernay Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History (1922-1923); Faunthorpe Indian Expedition of 1923; Faunthorpe-Vernay Indian Expedition of 1923; Vernay-Faunthorpe Expedition; Vernay Expeditions; Indian Branch (1st) of Third Asiatic Expedition
birth: 1922
death: 1929
The mission of the Faunthorpe-Vernay Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History was to amass a collection of mammals and other animals that represented the South Asian region. The work was begun with the 1923 expedition and continued through 1929. The main participants were Col. John Champion Faunthorpe and Arthur Stannard Vernay, two British men who were previously unassociated with the Museum. Funding was provided by Vernay and the Jesup Fund through the Department of Mammals. The Expedition took place primarily in India, Burma, and Nepal, and added an invaluable collection to the Museum’s holdings. The Vernay-Faunthorpe Hall of South Asiatic Mammals, consisting of material exclusively collected on these expeditions, opened on November 17, 1930.
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.
1919Faunthorpe visits the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and develops the idea of an Expedition to create a collection of Asian Mammals. He approaches President Osborne with the concept. Vernay becomes involved and agrees to help finance the trip.
1920 NovemberThe South Asiatic Hall opens at the American Museum of Natural History.
1922The Expedition is planned to begin at the end of 1922, with funding from Vernay and Faunthorpe, as well as monies from the Jesup fund. The museum will send John Jonas as taxidermist and George M. Dyott as photographer and cinematographer.
1922 DecemberJohn Jonas travels to Lucknow to meet Faunthorpe, hunting in Kheri region.
1923 JanuaryVernay travels from London to Lucknow to meet Expedition, they travel to northern Nepal.
1923 FebruaryGroup travels to the Bhopal state, then tiger hunt in east Nepal.
1923 MarchBagaha and the Gandak Valley, then the Billigirirangan Hills.
1923 AprilFaunthorpe travels north to Oudh, where Vernay joins on April 19 after continuing to hunt bison.
1923 JuneFirst season of collecting ends.
1926Faunthorpe reveals specimens of wild boar secured and plans to acquire leopard, wild dog and antelope in 1926 and early 1927.
1927Expedition Site
1927 NovemberVernay sailed to Bombay to meet Faunthorpe, traveled to Burma to try to secure the Rhinoceros sondaicus. Butler and Rosenkranz joined expedition to collect background material and accessories for the exhibit dioramas.
1928 April 23Display of a series of groups which will be the basis of the Hall.