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

Anthony, H. E. (Harold Elmer), 1890-1970
birth: April 5, 1890
death: March 29, 1970
Harold Elmer Anthony (born April 5, 1890, died March 29, 1970) was a mammalogist and worked at the American Museum of Natural History for over 50 years. He specialized in mammals of the Western Hemisphere and led many expeditions to South and Central America. Anthony was the Chairman and Curator in the Department of Mammalogy and was the Dean of Scientific Staff for several years. The Museum's mammal halls were created under his leadership: Hall of North American Mammals, Akeley Hall of African Mammals and Hall of South Asiatic Mammals. He wrote "Field Book of North American Mammals" (1928) and "Mammals of Porto Rico, Living and Extinct" (1925, 1926, in two volumes).
H. E. Anthony was born in Beaverton, Oregon, April 5, 1890.
Prior to working at the AMNH, Anthony was a field collector for the U.S. Department of Argriculture, Biological Society in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. He began working for the Museum as a naturalist on the Albatross Expedition to Lower California, spring 1911. By September 1911, he was employed as Museum staff until his retirement in 1958. During this time, H.E. Anthony held several positions including Chairman, Curator of Mammals and Dean of Scientific Staff. In 1958, Anthony became curator of the Frick Laboratory, a research lab located in the Museum and maintained by the Childs Frick Foundation for the study of fossil life. He left this position in 1966. The lab was merged with the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology in 1968.
Outside the Museum, Anthony worked with wildlife and conservation organizations, including the Committee on Conservation of Land Mammals (Chairman 1931-1935), Committee on Wild Life (1932), National Association of Audubon Societies (Chairman and Director 1935)among many others. He was also interested in horticulture and served as president of the Greater New York Orchid Society, from which he received a gold medal.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
H.E. Anthony specialized in the mammals of the West Indies and South American. He was active in conservation issues, especially in the preservation of wild mammals in North America.
PUBLICATIONS (SELECTION)
• The Indigenous Land Mammals of Porto Rico, Living and Extinct, 1918
• Mammals of Porto Rico, Living and Extinct, 1925-1926
• Field Book of North American Mammals, 1928
• Horns and Antlers: Their Evolution, Occurrence and Function in the Mammalia, 1928-1929
• “The Facts About Shiva”, Natural History Magazine, December 1937
• “Christmas in Burma”, Natural History Magazine, December 1939
This is a condensed summary from a selection of sources.
1890Born in Beaverton, Oregon
1911Began work at the American Museum of Natural History
1911 SeptemberSTAFF APPOINTMENT - Assistant in Department of Mammalogy
1915EDUCATION - Columbia University, B.S.
1915 FebruarySTAFF APPOINTMENT - Assistant in Department of Mammalogy and Ornithology; Placed on Scientific Staff
1919 February 3STAFF APPOINTMENT - Appointed Associate Curator of Mammals of Western Hemisphere
1920EDUCATION - Pacific University, M.A.
1924 January 10STAFF APPOINTMENT - Placed in charge of Department of Mammals
1926 JanuarySTAFF APPOINTMENT - Curator of Mammals
1927 NovemberSTAFF APPOINTMENT - Placed in charge of African and Asiatic Mammal Halls
1934EDUCATION - Honorary degree from Pacific University, D.Sc.
1939 May 1STAFF APPOINTMENT - Advisory Associate, Department of Forestry and Conservation
1942 July 1STAFF APPOINTMENT - Chairman of Department of Mammals
1944 MarchSTAFF APPOINTMENT - Curator of Recent Mammals
1958Retired from the American Museum of Natural History