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

Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History (1926); Eastman-Pomeroy Expedition Africa (1926-1927); Eastman-Pomeroy-Akeley Expedition Africa (1926-1927); Akeley-Eastman-Pomeroy African Hall Expedition (1926-1927); Eastman-Pomeroy-Akeley East African Expedition (1926-1927)
birth: 1926
death: 1927
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.
1925 SpringEastman contacts Akeley wanting to go on a hunting trip. Akeley agrees as long as Eastman helps finance the African Hall. Eastman agrees and the plan is set for the following May (1).
1926 Marchapproximately 1926 March. Expedition begins with Akeley and Mary leaving New York., New York .
1926 March 10Eastman and Stewart leave for New York to meet up with Pomeroy. They set sail a few days later., New York .
1926 April 28Akeley and his wife are met by Eastman, Stewart and Pomeroy on the Uganda railway in Mombosa. , Mombosa.
1926 June 7Eastman and Stewart leave Nairobi and head to Guasho Nyro (Kenya). , Nairobi .
1926 Septemberapproximately 1926 September. Akeley is ill, leaves for Nairobi for treatment, Nairobi .
1926 September 1Press bulletin of the expedition sent out by the American Museum of Natural History, New York .
1926 September 26Eastman and Stewart leave the expedition to return to New York, Nairobi .
1926 October 4Sherwood of AMNH writes to President Osborn of the museum, indicating Akeley's recent cable that he is continuing with expedition and not returning home after illness
1926 October 7Sherwood receives memorandum relaying the groups collected by Akeley and those which are still underway
1926 October 8Pomeroy leaves with Rockwell for Koodoo hunt., Nairobi .
1926 October 14Expedition starts off for the Kivu Volcanos of Parc National Albert, miscellaneous/former Kivu, Région du.
1926 November 14Akeley dies from illness after being sick for days with a fever whilst at the Rwevu camp site in the Kivu district. He is buried in the Belgian Congo, on the slopes of Mount Mikerno, near the main location of his Gorilla Expedition in 1921-1922 , miscellaneous/former Kivu, Région du.
1926 November 30Pomeroy finishes koodoo hunt in Eastern Tanganyika, near Dodomo. He completed seven groups, securing lesser and greater koodoo. , Tanzania.
1926 December 20Cable from Mary Akeley indicates collecting in Kivu is now complete and would be traveling to Kabale, Uganda and then to Kenya to finish collecting items there for the African Hall., miscellaneous/former Kivu, Région du.
1927 January 12Mary Akeley arrives at Edama Ravine on the 12th and then proceeds with expedition to Lake Hannington (now Lake Bogoria) to study and collect accessories for greater koodoo group which would then complete the field work for the six habitat groups her husband invisioned , Bogoria, Lake .
1927 Aprilapproximately 1927 April. King Albert bestows royal decoration honor to Akeley for his work in Congo as well as Mary's completion of his expedition. , Bruxelles.