Richard Archbold
Richard Archbold | |
---|---|
Born | April 9, 1907 |
Died | August 1, 1976 | (aged 69)
Education | philanthropist |
Richard Archbold (April 9, 1907 – August 1, 1976) was an American
Madagascar expedition
In 1928 Archbold was invited to participate in a Franco-British-American zoological expedition to Madagascar (1929–1931), led by Jean Delacour, on which he was responsible for mammal collecting. The American component of this expedition was funded by his father, John F. Archbold, with the proviso that his son be included. It was on this expedition that Archbold first met Austin L. Rand, the expedition ornithologist, who became a long-term research collaborator and lifelong friend. It was also during this expedition that he learned of the death of his father.
New Guinea expeditions
In the 1930s, inspired and encouraged by Ernst Mayr, Archbold financed (and personally led the first three of) a series of major biological expeditions to New Guinea. In these expeditions, the principal zoologist (and often co-leader) was Austin Rand, and the principal botanist Leonard Brass.
1933–34 expedition
The first Archbold expedition to New Guinea took place in south-eastern New Guinea, covering an altitude range from sea level to alpine tundra. This used conventional equipment, pack animals and human carriers. Logistical problems and limitations started Archbold thinking about the use of aircraft for future expeditions, as well as radio for communications.
1936–37 expedition
The second Archbold expedition to New Guinea took place from February 1936 to January 1937 in southern New Guinea, chiefly at and near
1938–39 expedition
The third and most ambitious Archbold expedition to New Guinea took place from April 1938 to May 1939 in
Piloted by Russell R. Rogers, the expedition used a
In August 1938, Archbold dispatched two exploration teams, each consisting of Dutch soldiers, convicts, and Dayak porters, into the Baliem Valley. One team led by Captain C.G.J. Teerink started at one end of the valley, while the other, led by Lieutenant J.E.M. Van Arcken, started at the other end with the goal of meeting in the middle of the valley. On August 10, 1938, an incident occurred near the valley's center resulting in the death of a Dani tribesman.
Pioneer flight over the Indian Ocean
Towards the conclusion of the expedition in 1939, with Archbold intending to return to the USA across the Pacific, he was contacted by Captain
The intended flight path across the Indian Ocean was from
Archbold Biological Station
With the outbreak of war in the Pacific, the series of expeditions to New Guinea came to a halt, and in 1941 Archbold established the Archbold Biological Station at Lake Placid, Florida, where he lived the rest of his life. The station was established on land donated by John A. Roebling II.[1] There were four further Archbold-financed expeditions to New Guinea after the war, but Archbold did not personally participate in them.
References
- ^ Lohrer, Fred E. "John A. Roebling, II (1867–1952), Builder of the Red Hill Estate (1929–1941), Lake Placid, Florida", Archbold Biological Station, October 2, 2006, last updated July 17, 2017. Accessed October 24, 2018.
Further reading
- Archbold, R.; & Rand, A.L. (1935). Summary of the 1933–1934 Papuan Expedition. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No.7. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 68 (8): 527–579.
- Archbold, R.; Rand, A.L.; & Brass, L.J. (1942). Summary of the 1938–1939 New Guinea Expedition. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No.41. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 79 (3): 197–288.
- Morse, R. (2000). Richard Archbold and the Archbold Biological Station. University Press of Florida: Gainesville. ISBN 0-8130-1761-0
- Rand, A.L. (1977). Obituary: Richard Archbold, 1907–1976. Auk 94: 186–187.
- Rand, Austin L. (1940). Summary of the 1936–1937 New Guinea Expedition. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No.29. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 77 (7): 341–380.