Handwritten China journal of Edmund Heller (1 of 5)

Abstract

The handwritten journal of Edmund Heller documents the American Museum of Natural History China Expedition, 1916-1917. Entries cover June 4, 1916 to September 17, 1916. Sometimes entries have headings if including stories, or lists of information for a specific location (i.e. birds, vegetation, rocks). Includes a hand drawn map of Bamboo Creek. Throughout notes, Heller takes considerable time to describe areas visited, flora and fauna observed, people encountered (including cultural traits of Asians), expedition activities, route traveled, food (listing vegetation and descriptions of food in markets), agriculture, communities, and accommodations. Notes describe travel from Washington, with travel times, meetings with colleagues, language, and weather. Includes notes about quantities and type of specimens collected (sometimes with descriptions of abundance or location) and prepared, and include types of mammals including tigers, mongoose, as well as birds. Localities described in detail include Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, Foochow, Swatow [Shantou], Hainan, and Yunnan, China.

Date Range

1916

Start Date

Jun 04, 1916

End Date

Sep 08, 1916

Access Information

Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu.

Topic

• Animals
• Zoology
• Birds
• Mammalogy
• Ornithology

Place

• Hong Kong
• China
• Japan
• Hawaii
• Yunnan
• Hainan
• Shantou

Form/Genre

• Fieldbook record
• Field notes
• Maps

Accession #

SIA RU007179

Collection name

Edmund Heller Papers, circa 1898-1918

Physical Description

1 field book

Physical Location

Smithsonian Institution Archives

Sublocation

Box 8 Folder 1