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

Butler, Frederick B.; Butler, Frederic B.; Butler, Frederick; Butler, Frederic Bates; Butler, Fred
birth: 1886 October 5
death: 1987 June 20
Frederick B. Butler, (born October 5, 1886, California--died June 20, 1987, California), cartographer and Army engineer, who was appointed assistant topographer for the 1925 field season of the Third Asiatic Expedition. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1918, Butler had a long career in the Army until his retirement ca. 1954.
Frederick Butler was born in California on October 5, 1886. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1918 and from the U.S. Army Engineer School ca. 1921 (1, 2). In 1925, First Lieutenant Butler was a cartographer with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. He had been recently married and stationed in Tianjin (Tientsin), China, when he was appointed assistant topographer for the 1925 field season of the Third Central Asiatic Expedition led by Roy Chapman Andrews. Butler worked as part of a three-member topographic team headed by Chief topographer, Major L. B. Roberts. Butler and his team left Peking (Beijing), China for Mongolia on April 11, 1925. The topographic team traveled a couple days in advance of the rest of the expedition to conduct topographical surveys of the area. The team recorded the expedition route and located on the maps places of particular scientific interest. During the trip, Butler also interacted with Mongolian natives and took note of the changing political times. The trip ended in August of 1925 and Butler returned to Tientsin. He went on to write a report on the trip for his Army superiors, a published article on his cartographic work, and gave lectures on his experiences.
After the expedition, Butler returned to West Point as an instructor in the department of tactics (3). In the 1930s, Butler worked as Assistant Director of Public Buildings and Parks in Washington D.C. while his wife worked as a White House secretary. Both Butler and his wife worked in close contact with President Herbert Hoover and the first lady (4). Butler and his wife moved back San Francisco after Hoover’s presidency, where he helped build Treasure Island, an artificial island for the 1939–1940 Golden Gate International Exposition (5). Butler served as Brigadier General during World War II and was involved in the African and Italian campaigns and the invasion of Southern France. He received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Legion of Merit. After retiring from the Army ca. 1954, Butler became manager of the San Francisco International Airport (6). He died on June 20, 1987.
October 05, 1886Born.
1918Graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
1921Graduated from United States Army Engineer School.
1924Married Philippi Harding.
1925Assistant topographer on the Third Asiatic Expedition.
1926Daughter, Patricia, born.
1929Son, William, born.
1935Daughter, Philippa "Popsy" born.
1939Engineer for Golden Gate International Exposition.
June 20, 1987Died.