Derived dynamically from EAC-CPF in xEAC.
Henry C. Raven's love for natural history combined with his talent for taxidermy led to a coveted position in 1907 at the American Museum of Natural History as an associate in the Department of Preparation. (1) After a few years of exhibition arrangement, Raven left New York in 1910 and accepted a specimen collecting position at the Colorado Museum of Natural History. (2) Only two short years later, in 1912, Raven was hired by the Smithsonian as a fresh, enthusiastic natural historian to carry on the work of William Louis Abbott and lead their expedition to the East Indies, collecting specimens for display. He spent the next ten years exploring the world in Australia, India, Peru, Greenland and beyond gathering species data and photographing natural habitats for various institutions. His contributions to mammalogy, comparative anatomy, and field photography are indispensable as we continue to understand more about the habitats and musculature evolution of animal species. Raven’s later work as Curator of Comparative Anatomy for the AMNH made it possible for him to utilize more of his skills as an expert taxidermist, dissecting and illustrating various species of whales and primates for the study of muscle structure and evolutionary patterns in development. His attention to detail both in his research notes and his scientific illustrations remain a benchmark for future study.
Outside of the scientific field, Raven is best known for his unofficial adoption of Meshie, a small infant chimpanzee he purchased while exploring the Congo in 1929. Meshie, who was popular with the local media, lived with Raven’s family for many years before being transferred to a zoo in Chicago as an adult. Upon her death, Meshie was returned to the ownership of the AMNH and now resides in the Hall of Primates. (3)
Raven died in 1944 at age 55 from an acute malarial infection most likely contracted on his very first expedition in 1912 to Borneo and Celebes. (4)
Daughter
Daughter
Son
Wife; nee- Aurousseau
Brother
Sister
Sister
Research Associate
Friend; Previous Employer; co-author
co-author
co-leader on the Cape-to-Cairo Expedition
Sponsor of expeditions
Raven took over for Abbott during his first expedition for the Smithsonian in 1912 to Borneo and Celebes
Chimpanzee Raven brought back to his home in 1931 after his Africa expedition. Meshie is now preserved and on display in the American Museum of Natural History's Hall of Primates.
Faculty Assistant to William K. Gregory
Lecturer
Student, Curator
Department of Preparation, 1944?: Curator of Comparative Anatomy