Roy Chapman Andrews
Great Grandfather
Roy Chapman Andrews, a prominent figure in early 20th-century exploration and natural history, directed the American Museum of Natural History. His expeditions, particularly those through politically turbulent China and into the Gobi Desert and Mongolia, yielded significant discoveries. Notably, his team brought the first known fossilized dinosaur eggs to the museum, and his writings about these adventures captivated the public.
Born in Beloit, Wisconsin, on January 26, 1884, Andrews developed a keen interest in the natural world from a young age. He honed his skills in marksmanship and taxidermy, the latter of which helped fund his education at Beloit College. After graduation, his determination to work at the American Museum of Natural History led him to accept an entry-level position in the taxidermy department, even after being told there were no openings. While working, he pursued higher education, earning a Master of Arts degree in mammalogy from Columbia University. He became a member of The Explorers Club in 1908.
Andrews' earlier ventures included explorations of diverse terrains, such as Saint Paul’s Island in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska. During the summer of 1913, Andrews, a trained zoologist, spent several weeks there studying fur seals and documenting their behavior through photography and film.
In "Under a Lucky Star," he recounted spending hours concealed, capturing intimate moments of seal life on film. His biographer, Charles Gallenkamp, noted that these efforts resulted in "some of the most detailed seal footage ever recorded."
"Avoid actively seeking out hardship," Roy Chapman Andrews advised in "On the Trail of Ancient Man." "Then...you will be prepared to endure it and maintain a positive attitude." Andrews exemplified this philosophy when he accidentally shot himself during the 1928 Gobi field season while attempting to draw his revolver.
He documented this incident in "The New Conquest of Central Asia," describing how a .38-caliber bullet, intended for a wounded antelope, instead passed through his left leg. He expressed relief that the bullet had not damaged his knee, preventing a permanent injury.
With McKenzie Young assisting, the camp doctor performed surgery on the wound. Andrews recalled feeling euphoric due to the morphine administered, though the arrival of a sandstorm and the waning effects of the drug later dampened his spirits. Nonetheless, the wound healed without complications.
His career took him around the globe. He participated in a scientific voyage aboard the USS Albatross to the East Indies, where he studied marine mammals and collected reptiles. Later, he joined an Arctic expedition aboard the schooner Adventuress, aiming to secure a bowhead whale specimen. While the whale eluded them, the expedition resulted in valuable seal footage.
Andrews and his wife, Yvette Borup, whom he married in 1914, embarked on the Asiatic Zoological Expedition, traversing western and southern Yunnan and other Chinese provinces. Their experiences were documented in the book "Camps and Trails in China."
In 1920, Andrews initiated expeditions to Mongolia, utilizing a fleet of Dodge vehicles. His team discovered the fossil of Paraceratherium, a massive prehistoric rhinoceros. The fossil species Andrewsarchus was named in his honour.
A proponent of the Out of Asia theory, Andrews led the Central Asiatic Expeditions between 1922 and 1928, searching for early human remains. Although these expeditions did not yield human fossils, they resulted in the discovery of numerous dinosaur bones, fossil mammals, and the first known dinosaur egg nests. In 1923, his team found the first dinosaur eggs, later identified as belonging to Oviraptor. Walter W. Granger also discovered a crucial Cretaceous mammal skull. Later expeditions encountered challenges, including the seizure of finds by Chinese authorities. Andrews' final trip in 1930 resulted in the discovery of mastodon fossils. James B. Shackelford documented these expeditions on film.
Upon returning to the United States, Andrews divorced Yvette and later married Wilhelmina Christmas. He was made an Honorary Scout by the Boy Scouts of America and was elected to the American Philosophical Society. He served as President of The Explorers Club and later as director of the American Museum of Natural History.
Retiring in 1942, Andrews moved to North Colebrook, Connecticut, and later to Carmel Valley, California. He passed away on March 11, 1960.
Although debated, Andrews, whose life was marked by adventurous pursuits and close encounters with danger, is widely regarded as a model for the "Indiana Jones" character.
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