The Harvard African Expedition Book 1: June 23, 1926
Creator
Loring WhitmanDate
6/23/26Transcription
Harvard African Expedition.
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1. Dr. Bequaert, Chief of baggage and transportation.
Assistant Chief: Dr. Linder.
2. Dr. Shattuck, Chief of commissary, cooking and drinking water.
Assistant Chief: Mr. Coolidge.
3. Dr. Allen, Chief of camp.
Assistant Chief: Mr. Whitman.
4. Mr. Coolidge, Chief of gun and ammunition.
5. Dr. Theiler, Chief of microscopes, laboratory and animals.
6. Mr. Whitman, Chief of photographic equipment and supplies.
Professional Duties
1. Dr. Shattuck: Medical and clinical research.
2. Dr. Theiler: Laboratory.
3. Mr. Whitman: Photography.
4. Dr. Allen and Mr. Coolidge: Vertebrate Zoology.
5. Dr. Bequaert: Entomology and Invertebrate Zoology.
6. Dr. Linder: Botany and Plant Pathology.
Richard P. Strong
The Harvard African Expedition
by
Loring Whitman
Book 1.
Dr. Richard Pearson Strong
In command
Dr. George Cheever Shattuck
Dr. Glover Allen
Zoologist
Dr. Joseph Bequaert
Entomologist
Dr. Max Theiler
Dr. David Linder
Botanist
Mr. Harold J. Coolidge
Assistant Zoologist
Mr. Loring Whitman
Photographer
Wednesday Thursday June 23rd 1926
Well, we are together again - for the first time since we left America and the second time since first we heard of this expedition – eight of us brought together to a common purpose. And we seem to have come from all corners of the earth to finally meet at Southampton with all our bulky paraphernalia, ready to start. Some of us have come from Brussels, some from Paris, and some from the country sides of England and the latest arrivals from America. We have come by train, by water, by foot an even by air, as if some magic call had been sent out bidding our presence. And here we are - slowly steaming away from England into the unknown future.
With the customary hustle and confusion we at last got away from London. Tips were profusely scattered among the many attendants who had guarded our welfare during our stay in England. Last minute purchases or messages were over and we were free to concentrate on our many trunks and the unknown future. But these were soon piled on top of a big bus, counted several times to make sure that all were there, and we drove off for Waterloo Station.
The trip to Southampton was beautiful and cheerful but uneventful. We rattled along between green hedges and looked out over fields of yellow mustard or luxuriant pastures where little cattle or sleek horses were feeding. We talked of events to come – of dark skinned people – of dense tropical forests with their hot damp fragrance – of sleeping sickness and even of cooks and other prosaic details.
But we have reached Southampton and we must again count our luggage.
It was rather with a sense of relief that we pushed off from the dock with all our mountainous supplies filling the entire stern of the little boat which was to take us out to the Wadai. For a long time we stood spellbound looking over the crates, boxes, trunks and other sundry articles which lay there scattered and piled into a heterogeneous mass. Exciting at least even if a bit discouraging – Oh, well it will seem small once we really start to use it. We came along side the Wadai – you could see the men muttering over the amount of baggage which must be stored before we could get under way. Then machinery started to rattle and the terrifying job of hoisting our precious supplies across the water began. Boxes guns and trunks were piled at random into huge nets to veritably fuse into a pulp as they were lifted clear and swung across into the hold. An occasional box perched perilously on top of the load would slide to one side bringing our hearts into our mouths. Yet eventually all was transferred without damage so far as we could see and we were ready to weigh anchor.
Yes we are off – eight of us – slowly drifting, for we are on a converted freighter, toward the south and Africa.
At supper we presented Dr. Strong with a “Harvard African Expedition” flag and an American flag with the following message.
We all signed our names at the end. Then a health to the absent ones, a pledge to the expedition, and we started our first meal. In the evening we watched the cliffs of England – dark purple against a golden-orange sunset – slowly fade away into the realm of the past.