Carl Akeley's Fighting African Elephants

TL;DR

Carl Akeley's expedition to Africa with his wife Delia resulted in the creation of "The Fighting African Elephants" exhibit, reflecting their troubled marriage.

Transcript

Welcome to Carl Akeley: Part Two, where we're going to be talking about the Fighting Elephants. If you want to learn more about the Four Seasons, click there! In 1905 Marshall Field, the Field Museum's namesake and first major benefactor, funded a trip for Carl and his new wife, Delia, to go to Africa. After seeing Carl's work with P.T. Barnum's el... Read More

Key Insights

• 👻 Marshall Field's funding allowed Carl and Delia Akeley to embark on an expedition to Africa to acquire elephants.
• ❓ The preservation techniques developed by Carl Akeley revolutionized taxidermy.
• 🧑‍🚒 The "Fighting African Elephants" exhibit at The Field Museum reflects the troubled marriage between Carl and Delia.
• 🙈 Delia's infatuation with a monkey and its consequences added to the strain on their relationship.
• 💦 Carl Akeley's work and influence are still recognized through the Carl Akeley Award at the World Taxidermy Championships.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Delia contribute to the acquisition of the elephants?

Delia took down the bull elephant, as Carl had already taken down two elephants in self-defense.

Q: How did Carl preserve the elephant hides?

Carl used a vegetable tan method that preserved the hides without allowing them to rot, making them pliable for mounting.

Q: How were the replicas of the elephants created?

Metal rods and the elephants' own bones were used to create frames, which were then covered with the sculpted hides in numbered sections.

Q: What led to the decline of Carl and Delia's marriage?

Delia became obsessed with a monkey named J.T. Jr., which eventually led to her fleeing to Europe and filing for divorce after a monkey bite incident.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Marshall Field funded a trip for Carl and Delia Akeley to Africa to bring back two African Elephants for display.

• Delia took down the bull elephant in self-defense, while Carl prepared the hides for mounting with a new preservation method.

• The elephants were meticulously sculpted and displayed as "The Fighting African Elephants," reflecting the couple's troubled relationship.