On the Trail ot
By Ann Bausum'79 n 1926, G.P. Putnam's Sons published On of his writings-kept his legacy alive. Even at his the Trail ofAncient Man by explorer Roy alma mater, Mr. Andrews seemed largely forgot Chapman Andrews'06. Mr. Andrews, a sci ten. entist for the American Museum of Natural I didn't "meet" Mr. Andrews until1988, when History in New York, was at the peak of I was back at Beloit as public affairs director and his professional career. His popular appeal editor of the alumni magazine. By then the Ihad never been greater, too. Both the general pub "Indiana Jones" movies were under way, and lic and the scientific community followed his word was circulating that Mr. Andrews' adventur research expectantly, wondering if he really would ous life had served as the model for the title char uncover fossils from the earliest humans-as sug acter. The feature I wrote about him then, "Meet gested in the title of his book-during his ongoing Beloit's IndianaJones" (Summer 1988), remains expeditions in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. one of my favorite assignments from the two Alas, Mr. Andrews never found ancient man. dozen issues I edited. (Africa, not Asia, would eventually yield the earli Perhaps that's why Mr. Andrews came to mind est human fossils.) But it didn't matter. What during the 1990s as the possible subject of a chil Andrews and his team of scientists did find over dren's biography. In between responsibilities as a the course of five expeditions to Central Asia stay-at-home mom, I put myself on the trail of proved even better: the first nests of dinosaur eggs; Roy Chapman Andrews. I wrote drafts of a book, new species of dinosaurs (including Oviraptors, combed the photo archives of the American Velociraptors, and Protoceratops andrewsi-named in Museum of Natural History, and struck up a long honor of the expedition leader); the first evidence distance acquaintance with Mr. Andrews' surviv of mammal life during the age of clinosaurs; and ing son, George, an octogenarian in Texas. That fossils of bizarre Ice Age mammals (like a work led to the publication last spring of Dragon mastodon with a five-foot-long, shovel-shaped jaw). Bones and Dinosaur Eggs-A Photobiography of Mr. Andrews made these discoveries using a Explorer Roy Chapman Andrews. unique scheme of transportation. From the first Along the way I discovered that others were on expedition in 1922, his scientific staff used cars to the trail, too. Beloit College museums mounted a cross the Gobi. The explorers ·then conducted field retrospective about him in the early '90s. Today, work while a camel caravan plodded after them Beloit's Roy Chapman Andrews Society is reviv carrying fresh supplies, including gasoline, motor ing his memory (see box), and other institutions oil, and spare car parts. One quote gives readers an (like the American Museum of Natural History, idea of his llfestyle as an explorer: "In the [first] 15 which has sponsored new ground-breaking years [of field work] I can remember just 10 times research in the Gobi) and authors are recalling when I had really narrow escapes from death. Two him, too. See Dinosaurs at the Ends of the were from drowning in typhoons, one was when Earth- The Story of the Central Asiatic Expeditions our boat was charged by a wounded whale; once by Brian Floca, a Dorling Kindersley picture book. my wife and I were nearly eaten by wild dogs, once Or watch for Dragon Hunter-Roy Chapman we were in great danger from fanatical lama Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions, a priests; two were close calls when I fell over cliffs, full-length biography by Charles Gallenkamp, due (Far left) Roy Chapman once I was nearly caught by a huge python, and out in May from Viking Press. Mr. Andrews is no Andrews'06 captured young twice I might have been killed by bandits." Not longer his own best promoter; thanks to these eagles by climbing out to their until 1930 did the twin obstacles of Asian political efforts, others have taken up the call too. We're nest on an eroded bluff in the instability and the Great Depression force Mr. "on tl1e trail" once more. Gobi during 1928 fieldwork. Andrews to abandon field work (Above) Andrews and Alonzo In 1934, Andrews became director of the Ann Bausum'79 edited Beloit Magazine from Pond' 18 review artifacts American Museum of Natural History. Hisser 1981 to 1990. Last spring, the children's books unearthed during the 1928 vice-through 1941-capped a career that had division of the National Geographic Society Central Asiatic expedition, begun there shortly after graduating from Beloit published her first book, Dragon Bones and sponsored by the American College, when he talked his way into a job by Dinosaur Eggs-A Photobio Museum of Natural History. agreeing to do anything, "even clean the floors." graphy of Explorer Roy Portions of the gathered mate Mr. Andrews wrote extensively during his retire Chapman Andrews. rial are now part of the Logan ment, both for adults and for children, and he Her second book for children, Museum's extensive collec remained a popular figure until his death, at age Our Country's Presidents, was tions.(Left) This image of Roy 76, in 1960. released in February. She lives Chapman Andrews in his tent Then obscurity began to set in, perhaps because and writes on a retired farm has been made into a postcard Mr. Andrews was no longer around to keep his outside Beloit with her sold by the American Museum story in print. Only a devoted few-particularly husband, Dan Boutelle'80, of Natural History. scientists who had grown up under the influence and their two sons.
Spring 2001 Beloit College Magazine 9