Mammals - History

Curatorial History

Daniel Giraud Elliot, 1894-1906

Wilfred H. Osgood, 1909-1947

Edmund Heller

Colin C. Sanborn

D. Dwight Davis (Curator of Osteology)

Philip Hershkovitz, 1947-1997

Karl F. Koopman, 1959-1961

Joseph B. Moore, 1960-1968

Luis de la Torre, 1969-1976

John J. Pizzimenti, 1973-1976

Ronald W. Turner, 1976

Patricia W. Freeman, 1976-1980

Robert M. Timm, 1980-1986

Bruce D. Patterson, 1981-present

Lawrence R. Heaney, 1988-present

1894 - 1895

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology (except Ornithology)

O. P. Hay, Assistant Curator of Zoology (except Ornithology)

II. Scientific Expeditions

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology (except Ornithology)

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

Mr. Dodson of London

Locality: Somaliland, Africa

Collection:See next year’s report

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

Taxidermy section was established this year with Carl E. Akeley as its head.

B. New Exhibits

Two monkey groups

1895 - 1896

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology (except Ornithology)

II. Scientific Expeditions

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Dr. Millspaugh, Botany

Professor Holmes, Anthropology, FMNH

Accompanied: Mr. Allison V. Armour of Chicago on his yacht

Locality: Havana, Progreso, islands on east coast of Yucatan, Laguna de Terminos and Vera Cruz

Collection: 400 zoological specimens

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: George K. Cherrie, Assistant Curator, Department  of Ornithology

Locality: Santo Domingo, West Indies

Collection: 16 mammals

1896 - 1897

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology (except Ornithology)

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology (except Ornithology)

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: D. G. Elliot

Carl E. Akeley

Locality: Somaliland, Africa

Collection: 200 mammals

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

Musk Ox Diorama

1897 - 1898

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: D. G. Elliot

Carl E. Akeley

Locality: Olympia Mountains, Washington State

Collection: 500 mammals

III. Miscellaneous

A.Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

  1. Waller’s gazelle diorama – Akeley

2.Oryx diorama - Akeley

1898 - 1899

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions

None

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

  1. Wild Ass Group – Akeley

  2. Cheetah Group – Akeley

  3. Striped Hyena Group - Akeley

1899 - 1900

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

V. Scientific Expeditions

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Seth E. Meek

Locality: Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, Canada

Collection: mammals, fishes, reptiles, and insects

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Seth E. Meek

Locality: Ontario, Canada

Collection: mammals, fishes, reptiles, and insects

VI. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

  1. Polar Bear diorama

  2. Greater Koodoo Group - Akeley

1900 - 1901

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Taxidermist-in-Chief

II. Scientific Expeditions

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Seth E. Meek

F. E. Lutz

Locality: Central Mexico

Collection: 386 mammals (p. 40)

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller (p. 40)

Locality: California

Collection: 165 mammals

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

  1. Warthog Group

1901 - 1902

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller

Locality: Oregon, California, and Mexico

Collection: 838 mammals

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: W. E. Snyder

Locality: North Dakota

Collection: 252 mammals

III. Miscellaneous

A.  Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

  1. Virginia Deer or “Four Seasons” diorama (Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring) – Akeley

1902 - 1903

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions

A. Zoological Expedition (p. 180-181, 184)

Personnel: Edmund Heller

Locality: Sierra Nevada and Death Valley, California, Nevada

Collection: 478 mammals (p. 202)

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: N. G. Buxton

Locality: Mexico (p. 181, 201)

Collection: 168 mammals

C. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Seth E. Meek

Locality: Southern and Eastern Mexico (p. 202)

Collection: 1 ocelot

D. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller (p. 202)

Locality: California

Collection: 745 mammals

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

1903 - 1904

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions (p. 269-270)

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller and C. M. Barber

Locality: Southern Mexico

Collection: 866 mammals (p. 288)

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller

Locality: California

Collection: 736 mammals

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

1904 - 1905

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions (p. 357)

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller & C. M. Barber

Locality: Guatemala

Collection: 194 mammals (p. 384)

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Carl E. Akeley, Edmund Heller, and Vernon Shaw Kennedy

Locality: British East Africa

Collection: See next year report

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

1906

I. Scientific Staff

D. G. Elliot, Honorary and Supervisory Curator of Zoology

Charles B. Cory, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions (p. 27)

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Carl E. Akeley, Vernon Shaw Kennedy, and Edmund Heller

Locality: British East Africa (1905-07)

Collection: See report for next year

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: C. M. Barber and Edmund Heller

Locality: Guatemala

Collection: 31 mammals (p. 52)

C. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller

Locality: Cairo, Illinois

Collection: 178 mammals (p. 51)

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

Plans for new building started.

1907

I. Scientific Staff

Charles B. Cory, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II.Scientific Expeditions (p. 357)

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Carl E. Akeley, Vernon Shaw Kennedy, and Edmund Heller

Locality: British East Africa

Collection: 1,119 mammals (p. 157-158)

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller

Locality: Wisconsin and Illinois

Collection: 363 mammals (p. 156-157)

C. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller

Locality: California

Collection: 40 mammals (p. 157)

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

1908

I. Scientific Staff

Charles B. Cory, Curator of Zoology

Seth E. Meek, Assistant Curator of Zoology

Carl E. Akeley, Chief Taxidermist

II. Scientific Expeditions (p. 357)

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: John F. Ferry

Locality:Costa Rica, Panama, and Islands of Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire

Collection: Bird and mammal skins

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: N. Dearborn

Locality: Venezuela and Curacao

Collection: Bird and mammal skins

C. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Edmund Heller (p. 264)

Locality: Louisiana

Collection: 176 mammal skins

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

1. Woodchuck Group

2. Muskrat Group

1909

I. Scientific Staff

Wilfred H. Osgood, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy and Ornithology

II. Scientific Expeditions (p. 350-351, 379)

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: John F. Ferry, Department of Zoology

Locality: Northern coast of South America, Island of Tonaire, Aves, Los Roques, Orchilla, Tortuga, Blanquilla, Los Hermanos, Margarita, and Testigos

Collection: 19 mammals

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: John F. Ferry, Department of Zoology

Locality: Prince Albert and Quill Lake, Saskatchewan

Collection: 22 mammals

III.Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

1. African Elephant Group (Stanley Field Hall) Akeley?

2. Glacier Bear Diorama

3. Alaskan Wolf Group

4. Alaskan Lynx Group

1910

I. Scientific Staff

Wilfred H. Osgood, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy and Ornithology

II. Scientific Expeditions (p. 26-27)

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Wilfred H. Osgood

Locality: Northern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois

Collection: 108 mammals (p. 50)

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: H. F. Raven

Locality: Costa Rica and Venezuela

Collection: 8 mammals (p. 50)

C. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: L. L. Pray

Locality: Michigan

Collection: 28 mammals

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

1911

I. Scientific Staff

Wilfred H. Osgood, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy and Ornithology

II. Scientific Expeditions (p. 357)

A. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Wilfred H. Osgood and S. G. Jewett, Assistant

Locality: Venezuela and Colombia

Collection: 232 mammals

B. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: L. L. Pray and C. F. Brandler

Locality: White Deer Lake, near Champion, Michigan

Collection: Group of six beavers (p. 149) for exhibit

C. Zoological Expedition

Personnel: H. T. Raven

Locality: Venezuela

Collection: 5 mammals

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

None

B. New Exhibits

1. American Antelope Group

2. Small Mammal Group consisting of white-footed mouse, jumping mouse, meadow mouse, and short-tailed mouse.

1959

I. Scientific Staff

Philip Hershkovitz, M.S. Curator of Mammals

Karl Koopman, Ph.D., Assistant Curator of Mammals

Luis de la Torre, Associate, Mammals

II. Scientific Expeditions

A. Colombia Zoological Expedition

Personnel: Kjell von Sneidern

Locality: Colombia

Collection: 336 mammals (p 122)

B. U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3

Personnel: Harry Hoogstraal, Field Assoc.

Locality: Cairo, Egypt

Collection: 202 mammals (p 122)

C. Conover Peru Expedition – 1958

Personnel: Emmet R. Blake, Curator of Birds

Locality: Peru

Collection: 8 mammals (p 121)

D. Malaysia Zoological Field Trip, 1958-59

Personnel: D. Dwight Davis

Locality: Singapore and Malaya

Collection: 13 mammals (p 122)

III. Miscellaneous

A. Remarks

Additional Webpages

Be sure to visit the Osgood Files for additional information on the period (1909-1947) he was associated with Field Museum.