Whitney South Sea Expedition facts for kids
The Whitney South Sea Expedition was a big adventure that lasted from 1920 to 1941. Its main goal was to collect bird samples for the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City. Dr. Leonard C. Sanford started the idea, and a kind person named Harry Payne Whitney, who bred horses, paid for the whole trip.
The expedition explored many islands in the South Pacific. They came back with over 40,000 bird specimens! They also collected many plant samples, interesting items from different cultures, and lots of photographs.
Exploring the Pacific Islands
The expedition used a 75-ton ship called the France. Many different scientists and collectors joined the journey over more than a dozen years. They visited thousands of islands across Oceania, Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia. They collected many samples from Bougainville Island, for example.
The American Museum of Natural History managed the expedition. It helped bring in money for research about the plants and animals of the Pacific islands.
Who Led the Expedition?
The Whitney South Sea Expedition had several leaders over its long history:
- Rollo H. Beck led from 1920 to 1928.
- Hannibal Hamlin took over from 1928 to 1930.
- William F. Coultas was the leader from 1930 to 1935.
- Lindsay Macmillan led from 1935 to 1940.
- G. Reid Henry was the final leader in 1941.
Ernst Mayr's Role
A famous scientist named Ernst Mayr joined the expedition when Hannibal Hamlin became the leader. This was during a trip to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in 1929–1930.
In 1933, the AMNH hired Mayr to organize a large collection of birds called the Rothschild collection. He also continued to study all the amazing things that the Whitney expeditions brought back to the museum. Mayr worked as the bird curator at the AMNH until 1953.
See also
In Spanish: Expedición Whitney al Mar del Sur para niños
