P007811 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Event created 2025-08-05 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-02-10 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007811b.htm event American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land AACR2 Arnhem Land Expedition February 1948 November 1948 Anthropology Natural history Expedition The American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land was the last of the big expeditions in Australia, the emphasis being the natural environment and Indigenous people rather than geographical exploration. Charles Mountford, an experienced traveller in outback regions of Australia in pursuit of his ethnographic and photographic interests, was the leader of the Expedition. He earned considerable recognition overseas for his films and lectures, particularly on Aboriginal art, paving the way to the Expedition. Sponsors included the Smithsonian Institution of Washington (four of its staff participated in the Expedition) and the National geographic magazine. In part, the Expedition was designed to underline the diplomatic connections between Australia and the United States. The Expedition spent several months in each of three locations: Groote Eylandt (February - July), Yirrkala (July - September) and Oenpelli (September - November). Considerable assistance was provided by the local Indigenous people. Participants in included scientists (mammalogist, ichthyologist, botanist), nutritionists, and anthropologists. In their diaries, some of the scientists were less than complimentary of Mountford's management and organisation. The Expedition was notable for the range of sound recordings and photographic records made, and for the 4-volume series of scientific reports (1956-1964). Natural history specimens collected included: >13,500 plants, 30,000 fish, 850 birds and 460 mammals. Over 3,000 archaeological and cultural artefacts (paintings, baskets, fish nets, weapons, string figures and ceremonial objects) were also collected, including skulls and bones stolen from rock shelters and graves. Most of these collections went to the Smithsonian and the Australian Museum. In 2008 and 2010 the human remains held by the Smithsonian were repatriated to their communities of origin.

Members of the Expedition included:
Peter Bassett-Smith: camera operator, cine-photographer
Brian Billington (Institute of Anatomy, Canberra): medical officer and leader of the Nutrition Unit
John Bray: cook and (from July 1948) transport officer
Keith Cordon: transport officer (until July 1948)
Herbert Deignan (Smithsonian Institution): ornithologist
Bill Harney: Expedition guide (from July 1948)
Kelvin Hodges (Institute of Anatomy, Canberra): biochemist, Nutrition Unit
Reg Hollow: cook (from July 1948)
David Johnson (Smithsonian Institution): mammalogist
Margaret McArthur (Institute of Anatomy, Canberra): biochemist and nutritionist, Nutrition Unit
Frederick McCarthy (Australian Museum): anthropologist
Robert Miller (Smithsonian Institution): ichthyologist
Bessie 'Mrs Monty' Mountford: honorary secretary
Charles 'Monty' Mountford: leader, ethnologist and filmmaker
Frank Setzler (Head Curator of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution): deputy leader, anthropologist
Raymond Specht (Waite Agricultural Research Institute): botanist
Howell Walker (National geographic, Washington, D.C.): writer and photographer

Indigenous people who assisted the Expedition included:
Jimmy Bungaroo;
Larry Marawanna;
Mawalan (Mauwalun, Moalun) Marika;
Jimmy Kalarriya Namannyilk;
Nangapiana (artist).

Repositories which now hold collections from the Expedition include:
Art Gallery of New South Wales;
Art Gallery of South Australia;
Art Gallery of Western Australia;
Australian Museum;
National Gallery of Victoria;
National Museum of Australia;
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution;
Queensland Art Gallery;
South Australian Museum;
State Herbarium of South Australia;
State Library of South Australia;
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

 Johnson, David Horn (1912 - 1996)

Mammalogist

 Walker, Harrison Dodge Howell (Howell) (1910 - 2003)

Writer and photographer

 Miller, Robert Rush (1916 - 2003)

Ichthyologist

 Deignan, Herbert Girton (1906 - 1968)

Ornithologist

 Hodges, Kelvin

Biochemist in the Nutrition Unit

 Billington, Brian Price (1923 - 2004)

Medical officer and leader of the Nutrition Unit

 Mitchell, Francis John (1929 - 1970)

Published on the reptiles and amphibia collected on the Expedition

 Bray, John

Cook and Transport officer; insect collector

 Australian Museum (1827 - )

The Museum holds collections from the Expedition

 Setzler, Frank Maryl (1902 - 1975)

Deputy leader and anthropologist

 Mountford, Charles Pearcy (1890 - 1976)

Leader, ethnologist and filmmaker

 McCarthy, Frederick David (1905 - 1997)

Anthropologist

 McArthur, Annie Margaret (Margaret) (1919 - 2002)

Biochemist and nutritionist

 Specht, Raymond Louis (1924 - 2021)

Botanist

 'American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Chaperoned into Arnhem Land: Margaret McArthur and the politics of nutrition and fieldwork in 1948 Harris, Amanda Chaperoned into Arnhem Land: Margaret McArthur and the politics of nutrition and fieldwork in 1948 2014 Lilith: a feminist history journal 20 62-75 Edited Book: Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 2: anthropology and nutrition Mountford, Charles P. Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 2: anthropology and nutrition Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1960 Journal Article: American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land (1948): its long-range impact Specht, R. L. American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land (1948): its long-range impact 2012 Open ecology journal 5 53-83 Book Section: The story of the Expedition Mountford, Charles P. The story of the Expedition Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1956 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land 1: art. myth and symbolism C. P. Mountford xxi-xxx Journal Article: Cruise to Stone Age Arnhem Land Walker, H. Cruise to Stone Age Arnhem Land 1949 National geographic magazine 96 3 417-30 Edited Book: Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 4: zoology Specht, R. L. Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 4: zoology Parkville, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1964 Book: Collecting Cultures: Myth, Politics, and Collaboration in the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition May, Sally K. Collecting Cultures: Myth, Politics, and Collaboration in the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition Lanham, MD AltaMira Press 2010 Edited Book: Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology Specht, R. L. and Mountford, C. P. Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology Carlton, Vic Melbourne University Press 1958 Journal Article: Food, feeding and consumption (of the cook, the wife and the nutritionist): the politics of gender and class in a 1948 Australian expedition Harris, Amanda Food, feeding and consumption (of the cook, the wife and the nutritionist): the politics of gender and class in a 1948 Australian expedition 2013 History and anthropology 24 3 363-79 Journal Article: F. D. McCarthy's string figures from Yirrkala: a museum perspective Florek, S. F. D. McCarthy's string figures from Yirrkala: a museum perspective 1993 Records of the Australian Museum, supplement 17 117-24 Book Section: 'You write it down and bring it back, that's what we want" - Revisiting the 1948 removal of human remains from Gunbalanya (Oenpelli), Australia May, S., Gumurdul, D., Manakgu, J., Maralngurra, G., & Nawirridj, W. 'You write it down and bring it back, that's what we want" - Revisiting the 1948 removal of human remains from Gunbalanya (Oenpelli), Australia London: New York Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group 2005 Indigenous archaeologies : decolonising theory and practice Clair Smith and H. Martin Wobst 110-30 Journal Article: Boats on bark: an analysis of Groote Eylandt bark paintings featuring Macassan praus from the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition May, Sally K, Jennifer McKinnon and Jason Raupp Boats on bark: an analysis of Groote Eylandt bark paintings featuring Macassan praus from the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition 2009 International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 38 2 369-85 Thesis: The last frontier? Acquiring the American-Australian Scientific Expedition ethnographic collection 1948 May, Sally K. The last frontier? Acquiring the American-Australian Scientific Expedition ethnographic collection 1948 Flinders University of South Australia 2000 Journal Article: Nutrition and health (1948) of Aborigines in settlements in Arnhem Land, northern Australia McArthur, M., Billington, B. P. and Hodges, K. J. Nutrition and health (1948) of Aborigines in settlements in Arnhem Land, northern Australia 2000 Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition 9 3 164-213 Journal Article: Exploring stone age Arnhem Land Mountford, C. P, with photographs by Howell Walker Exploring stone age Arnhem Land 1949 National geographic magazine 96 745-82 Book: Clever men: how worlds collided on the scientific expedition to Arnhem Land of 1948 Thomas, Martin Clever men: how worlds collided on the scientific expedition to Arnhem Land of 1948 Crows Nest, N.S.W. Allen & Unwin 2025 Edited Book: Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land 1: art. myth and symbolism Mountford, Charles P. Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land 1: art. myth and symbolism Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press 1956 Journal Article: Obituary: Brian Price Billington 24 February 1923 - 6 August 2003 Specht, R. L. Obituary: Brian Price Billington 24 February 1923 - 6 August 2003 2004 Australian Aboriginal studies 2 133 Edited Book: Personal experiences on the coast of adventure: Arnhem Land reunion, Sydney, 27 - 28th June 1998 Specht, R. L. & Specht, A. Personal experiences on the coast of adventure: Arnhem Land reunion, Sydney, 27 - 28th June 1998 [Coffs Harbour, N.S.W.] Southern Cross University 1998 Journal Article: A short history of the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition Thomas, Martin A short history of the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition 2010 Aboriginal history 34 143-69 Book Section: The food quest and the time factor in Aboriginal economic life McCarthy, Frederick D. and McArthur, Margaret The food quest and the time factor in Aboriginal economic life Carlton, Vic, Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, vol. 2: anthropology and nutrition C. P. Mountford 145-94 Book Section: Carved and painted figures Mountford, Charles P. Carved and painted figures Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1956 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land 1: art. myth and symbolism C. P. Mountford 415-75 Book Section: The art of Yirrkalla Mountford, Charles P. The art of Yirrkalla Carlton, Vic Melbourne University Press 1956 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land 1: art. myth and symbolism C. P. Mountford 267-411 Book Section: The art of Oenpelli Mountford, Charles P. The art of Oenpelli Carlton, Vic Melbourne University Press 1956 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land 1: art. myth and symbolism C. P. Mountford 109-264 Book Section: The art of Groote Eyland Mountford, Charles P. The art of Groote Eyland Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1956 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land 1: art. myth and symbolism C. P. Mountford 19-106 Journal Article: Preliminary account of the reptilia and amphibia collected by the National Geographic Society-Commonwealth Government-Smithsonian Institution Expedition to Arnhem land (April - November 1948) Mitchell, F. J. Preliminary account of the reptilia and amphibia collected by the National Geographic Society-Commonwealth Government-Smithsonian Institution Expedition to Arnhem land (April - November 1948) 1955 Records of the South Australian Museum 11 373-409 Book Section: The string figures of Yirrkalla McCarthy, Frederick D. The string figures of Yirrkalla Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, vol. 2: anthropology and nutrition C. P. Mountford 415-511 Book Section: The history of botanical exploration in the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Reserve Specht, R. L. The history of botanical exploration in the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Reserve Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1958 Records of the American Australian Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology R. L. Specht and C. P. Mountford 1-8 Book Section: Report of the Nutrition Unit McArthur, Margaret Report of the Nutrition Unit Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, vol. 2: anthropology and nutrition C. P. Mountford 1-13 Book Section: Food consumption and dietary levels of the group of Aborigines living on naturally occurring foods in Mountford, C. P. ed McArthur, Margaret Food consumption and dietary levels of the group of Aborigines living on naturally occurring foods in Mountford, C. P. ed Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, vol. 2: anthropology and nutrition C. P. Mountford 90-135 Book Section: Food consumption and dietary levels of the Aborigines living at the settlements McArthur, Margaret Food consumption and dietary levels of the Aborigines living at the settlements Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 2: anthropology and nutrition C. P. Mountford 14-26 Book Section: Astronomy Mountford, Charles P. Astronomy Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1956 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land 1: art. myth and symbolism C. P. Mountford 479-508 Book Section: Some freshwater algae from Arnhem land Scott, Arthur M. and Prescott, Gerald Some freshwater algae from Arnhem land Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1958 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology R. L. Specht and C. P. Mountford 9-136 Book Section: The cave paintings of Groote Eylandt and Chasm Island McCarthy, Frederick D. The cave paintings of Groote Eylandt and Chasm Island Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 2: anthropology and nutrition C. P. Mountford 297414 Book Section: Fishes of Arnhem Land Taylor, William R. Fishes of Arnhem Land Parkville, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1964 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 4: zoology R. L. Specht 45-307 Journal Article: A unique archeological specimen from Australia Setzler, F. M. and McCarthy, F. D. A unique archeological specimen from Australia 1950 Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 40 1-5 Journal Article: The Mountford volume on Arnhem Land art, myth and symbolism: a critical review Berndt, Ronald M. The Mountford volume on Arnhem Land art, myth and symbolism: a critical review 1958 Mankind 5 6 249-61 Journal Article: Smoke and mirrors in Arnhem Land: what expeditions tell us about the materiality of crosscultural encounters Thomas, Martin Smoke and mirrors in Arnhem Land: what expeditions tell us about the materiality of crosscultural encounters 2019 History and anthropology 30 1-22 Book Section: Ecology and the Arnhem Land Expedition: Raymond Specht, a botanist in the field McCarthy, Lynne Ecology and the Arnhem Land Expedition: Raymond Specht, a botanist in the field Canberra ANU Press 2011 Exploring the legacy of the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition Thomas, Martin and Neale, Margot 157-69 Book Section: Making a sea change: rock art, archaeology and the enduring legacy of Frederick McCarthy's research on Groote Eylandt Clarke, Anne, and Frederick, Ursula Making a sea change: rock art, archaeology and the enduring legacy of Frederick McCarthy's research on Groote Eylandt Canberra ANU Press 2011 Exploring the legacy of the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition Thomas, Martin and Neale, Margot 135-55 Book Section: From Kunnanj, Fish Creek, to Mumeka, Mann River: hunter-gatherer tradition and transformation in Western Arnhem Land, 1948 - 2009 Altman, Jon From Kunnanj, Fish Creek, to Mumeka, Mann River: hunter-gatherer tradition and transformation in Western Arnhem Land, 1948 - 2009 Camberra ANU Press 2011 Exploring the legacy of the 1948 Arnhem Land Expedition Thomas, Martin and Neale, Margot 113-34 Book Section: Mammals of the Arnhem Land expedition Johnson, David H. Mammals of the Arnhem Land expedition Parkville, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1964 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 4: zoology R. L. Specht 427-515 Book Section: Geographical relationships of the flora of Arnhem Land Specht, Ray L. Geographical relationships of the flora of Arnhem Land Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1958 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology R. L. Specht and C. P. Mountford 415-78 Book Section: Reptiles and amphibians of Arnhem Land Mitchell, Francis J. Reptiles and amphibians of Arnhem Land Parkville, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1964 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 4: zoology R. L. Specht 309-43 Book Section: The archaeology of Arnhem Land McCarthy, F. and Setzler, F. The archaeology of Arnhem Land Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, volume 2 Mountford, C. P. 215-95 Book Section: Molluscs of Arnhem Land Cotton, Bernard C. Molluscs of Arnhem Land Parkville, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1964 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 4: zoology R. L. Specht 9-43 Book Section: History of zoological collections in Arnhem Land Specht, Marion M. History of zoological collections in Arnhem Land Parkville, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1964 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 4: zoology R. L. Specht 1-7 Book Section: Marine agae from Arnhem Land Womersley, H. Bryan S Marine agae from Arnhem Land Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1958 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology R. L. Specht and C. P. Mountford 139-61 Book Section: An introduction to the ethno-botany of Arnhem Land Specht, Ray L. An introduction to the ethno-botany of Arnhem Land Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1958 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology R. L. Specht and C. P. Mountford 479-504 Book Section: Climate, geology, soils and plant ecology of the northern portion of Arnhem Land Specht, Ray L. Climate, geology, soils and plant ecology of the northern portion of Arnhem Land Carlton, Vic Melbourne University Press 1958 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology R. L. Specht and C. P. Mountford 333-414 Book Section: Gymnospermae and Angiospermae collected on the Arnhem Land Expedition Specht, Ray L. Gymnospermae and Angiospermae collected on the Arnhem Land Expedition Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1958 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 3: botany and plant ecology R. L. Specht and C. P. Mountford 185-317 Book Section: Biochemical assessments of nutritional status Hodges, Kelvin J. Biochemical assessments of nutritional status Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, vol. 2: anthropology and nutrition C. P. Mountford 72-89 Book Section: The health and nutrition status of the Aborigines Billington, Brian P. The health and nutrition status of the Aborigines Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1960 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, vol. 2: anthropology and nutrition C. P. Mountford 27-59 Book Section: Birds of the Arnhem Land Expedition Deignan, Herbert G. Birds of the Arnhem Land Expedition Parkville, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1964 Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 4: zoology R. L. Specht 345-425