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Mission Zoologique franco-anglo-américaine à Madagascar (1929-1931)

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1929 - 1931

Summary

Abstract:

The Mission zoologique franco-anglo-américaine à Madagascar was a collaborative research expedition between institutions from France, England and the United States (1929-1931). Its mission was to collect and study birds and mammals from the African island country Madagascar. The expedition was considered a successful collaboration, demonstrating the cooperation between representatives from multiple institutions. (1)

Biographical Note

The expedition was conceived and planned around 1928 by Jean Delacour, Dr. Leonard Sanford and Percy Lowe as a collaborative endeavor to further scientific research and to equally benefit three natural history collections: the Museum national d’histoire naturelle, the British Museum of Natural History and the American Museum of Natural History. Funding was provided for the British and American institutions respectively by Arthur Vernay and J. F. Archbold (1). Delacour, a French ornithologist, was asked to lead the expedition. The expedition team included W. P. Lowe, Raymond Decary, Philip Dumont, J. C. Greenway, J. C. White, C. S. Webb, Richard Archbold and Austin Rand. This expedition would prove to be a pivotal experience for both Rand and Archbold. . Originally C. G. Harrold was hired as ornithologist but died before the expedition began (2). Rand was contacted only weeks prior to its commencement and stepped in. He was the only member to remain in the field for the course, two years (1929-1931). His research became the basis for his doctoral thesis. Archbold was originally brought on as photographer, but asked to collect mammals too. The expedition inspired him to continue with scientific exploration and collecting work; he would go on to lead three more expeditions to New Guinea, fund many others and open a biological research station. (3) Delacour left in August of 1929, along with Lowe and Greenway, due to a previous planned venture. Raymond Decary shortly thereafter joined the expedition replacing Delacour as its leader. (2) In all, over 12,000 specimens of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians were collected and distributed to the collections of the three institutions. (2)

SOURCES (1) American Museum of Natural History, [Summary by Jean Delacour] in "American expeditions and notes," Natural History 32 (1932): 102

(2) Austin Loomer Rand, "The Distribution and Habits of Madagascar Birds, Summary of the Field Notes of the Mission Zoologique Franco-Anglo-Americaine a Madagascar," Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 72, Article 5 (1936): 143-499.

(3) Roger A. Morse, Richard Archbold and the Archbold Biological Station (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2000)

Places

  • Madagascar (Associated Country) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: The Expedition mission was to explore and collect from the island of Madagascar.
  • London (Other) -- Date: 1928 - 1931
    • Note: The expedition was a joint effort of institutions from France, England and the United States. Representatives from the Museum Nationale d'histoire naturelle in Paris, the British Museum of Natural History in London and the American Museum of Natural History in New York participated.
  • New York (Other) -- Date: 1928 - 1931
    • Note: The expedition was a joint effort of institutions from France, England and the United States. Representatives from the Museum Nationale d'histoire naturelle in Paris, the British Museum of Natural History in London and the American Museum of Natural History in New York participated.
  • Paris (Other) -- Date: 1928 - 1931
    • Note: The expedition was a joint effort of institutions from France, England and the United States. Representatives from the Museum nationale d'histoire naturelle in Paris, the British Museum of Natural History in London and the American Museum of Natural History in New York participated.
  • Mahajanga (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Majunga; expedition site
  • Nosy Bé (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Nossi Be; expedition site
  • Toamasina (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Tamatave; expedition site
  • Antananarivo (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Tananarive; expedition site
  • Manjakatompo (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Mountain of Ankaratra; expedition site
  • Alaotra, Lac (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Tsiroanomandidy (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Tsiandro (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Vondrozo (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Ivohibe (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Ankerana (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Toliara (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Tulear; expedition site
  • Manombo (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • South Africa (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Maroantsetra (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Bevato (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Manombia (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Antalaha (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Doany (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Ambre, Montagne d' (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Joffreville (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Ambilobe (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Bezona (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site
  • Marotony (Other) -- Date: 1929 - 1931
    • Note: Expedition site

Topics

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Field and Expedition Equipment

 Collection
Identifier: Mem 305
Scope and Contents Since 1887, the American Museum of Natural History has been conducting field expeditions in every continent. This is one of the main resources for the Museum’s scientific research and collection development activities throughout all its disciplines. This grouping holds the equipment that were used during expeditions from around 1877 to 1996. Most of these expeditions required direct interaction with the natural habitat of the subject of study, which usually involves being out in the...
Dates: Usage: circa 1877-1990s

Madagascar Expedition collection

 Collection
Identifier: Archives Orn140
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, map, copy of report by Jean Delacour, Archbold's field notes, Rand list of birds of Madagascar, report on mammals, supply lists

Dates: 1928-1932

The Archbold Collections at the American Museum of Natural History, 1928-1980.

 Collection
Identifier: Archive Mammalogy Archbold
Scope and Contents The Archbold Collections at the American Museum of Natural History is comprised of material that documents the expeditionary fieldwork of Richard Archbold and the Archbold Expeditions. It is housed within the AMNH Department of Mammalogy Archive, and encompasses a variety of formats, including photographs, slides, film, scrapbooks, correspondence, financial records, and field documentation such as catalogs, specimen lists, field notes and journals. These describe both the day-to-day...
Dates: 1928 - 1980; Majority of material found within 1930 - 1964