Transcript Slide 1

The
Red Hill Estate (1929-1941) /
Archbold Biological Station (founded 1941),
as a part of the
Historical Legacy
of the
Roebling and Archbold Families
by
Fred E. Lohrer, Archbold Biological Station, April 2005
http://www.archbold-station.org/abs/archbold/historyindex.htm
The genesis of the Archbold Biological Station, and its
longstanding (64 years, 1941-2005) success in ecological
research and education, is based on a remarkable
confluence of philanthropy by two of America’s major
business families; the Roebling and the Archbold.
The Roebling family excelled in construction and
manufacturing engineering; building enduring suspension
bridges, manufacturing plants, and even estates. The Archbold
family had a strong tendency for the support of science. Both
families donated land for parks, conservation, and science.
At the Archbold Biological Station, all three family traditions;
construction of enduring buildings, creation of parks and
preserves, and generous support of science, came together in
continuing perfection.
Family tree (abbreviated) of the Roeblings
John August Roebling
(1806 - 1869)
Washington Augustus Roebling
(1837 - 1926)
Ferdinand William Roebling
(1842 - 1917)
John August Roebling, II
(1867 - 1952)
Karl Gustavus Roebling
(1873 - 1921)
Donald Roebling
(1908 - 1959)
Robert Clowry Roebling
(1904 - 1983)
Charles Gustavus Roebling
(1849 - 1918)
Family tree (abbreviated) of the Archbolds
John Dustin Archbold
(1848 - 1916)
Anne Mills Archbold
(1873 - 1968)
John Dana Archbold
(1910 - 1993)
John Foster Archbold
(1877 - 1930)
Richard Archbold
(1907 - 1976)
Frances Archbold Hufty
(1912 - )
1831 emigrated to US, founded
farm community Saxonburg, PA
1837 RR engineer Pennsylvaina
1841 invented wire rope
1845 first suspension bridge; a
canal aqueduct at Pittsburgh
1855 first suspension bridge for
a RR at Niagra Gorge
1867 signed contract for the
John August Roebling Brooklyn Bridge
1806-1869
innovative construction engineer &
enterprising businessman
1875 Director of Standard Oil
1882 Standard Oil of NJ
founded
1896 - 1911 President
Standard Oil of NJ
1886 - 1916 Board of Trustees
Syracuse University
John Dustin Archbold
1848-1916
key executive in growth and success of
Standard Oil Company
Family Patterns
Land Donated for Parks / Conservation
The Roeblings and Archbolds donated land
For three parks (city, state, and national).
Anne Mills Archbold, 1873-1968
1922 78 acres Hillandale Estate, Wash., DC
1924 27 acres & 77 acres from C.C. Glover, Sr.
= Glover-Archbold Park, now 250 a.
John Dana Archbold, 1910-1993
1975 950-acre Middleham Estate, Dominica
donated to The Nature Conservancy,
later to Dominica for National Park addition
1930 $50,000 for 500-acre
Hooker Hammock, Sebring, FL;
died October 24, 1930
1931 – 1934 J.A.Roebling II
$300,000 for development &
maintenance of the park
1935 donated to the state as
Highlands Hammock State Park
with $50,000 for maintenance
Margaret Shippen Roebling
Family Patterns - Support of Science
The Roeblings and Archbolds donated
land and facilities for
three scientific research institutions.
The Archbolds supported five separate
scientific research programs.
The Roeblings amassed and donated
a major collection of minerals.
1926 W.A. Roebling’s
mineral collection donated to
Smithsonian Institution
by his son, J.A. Roebling II,
with $150,000 endowment
Washington Agustus Roebling
1837-1926
Robert Clowry Roebling
1904-1983
1968 500-acre Modena Plantation
Donated to State of Georgia for
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Anne Mills Archbold, 1873-1968
Botanical Exploration of Pacific Islands
1939 “Cheng Ho” vessel constructed in Hong Kong
Jan - July 1940 – 1st CH Expedition, Indonesia
Nov ‘40 - July ‘41 – 2nd CH Expedition, Fiji
John Dana Archbold, 1910-1993
Biological Survey of Dominica (BSD)
1950s – 1970s Breden-Archbold-Smithsonian BSD
60+ scientific papers described 170 new species
1989 His 90-acre Springfield Plantation became
Archbold Tropical Research Center, Clemson University
1924 - 1929 Cooperative
Quail Investigation,
Thomasville, GA
1929 -1931 (with wife May)
French-Anglo-American
Zoological Expedition to
Madagascar
John Foster Archbold
1877-1930
Richard Archbold 1907-1976
Patron of Science
1932 - 1976 AMNH Research Associate & major benefactor
1933 - 1939 3 New Guinea Expeditions
Post WW2 4 New Guinea Expeditions, 1 Australia, 1 Celebes
Dec. 30, 1969 AMNH Centennial Commemorative Medal
for distinguished service
Frances Archbold Hufty
1976-1991 President of Archbold Expeditions
1991-present Chairman of Archbold Expeditions
Founding of Archbold Biological Station in 1941
The remarkable confluence of philanthropy
JARII built the Red Hill Estate
(1929-1941) in the design of
Roebling industrial buildings
and in his grandfather’s spirit.
John A. Roebling, II
1867-1952
The Main Grounds buildings at the
Red Hill Estate, November 7, 1935
The Founding of Archbold Biological Station
Donald Roebling, son of John A. Roebling, II, and schooltime friend of Richard Archbold, facilitated the donation of his
father’s Red Hill Estate to Richard Archbold in 1941.
On July 21, 1941, John A. Roebling and his second wife,
Helen Price Roebling, deeded 1,058 acres of land to
Archbold Expeditions as an “absolute, unqualified and
unrestricted gift.”
In October 1941, Richard Archbold
became the Resident Director of the
Archbold Biological Station, supporting the
operation of the Station, managing the dayto-day operation of the facility, and living in
the Main Building until his death in 1976.
The long-term success of ecological research
stations is based on three essential ingredients; land,
physical plant, and an adequate dedicated endowment.
These ingredients came together at the Archbold
Biological Station in the proper balance that has
continued to attract talented scientists, interested in longterm ecological research, for over 64 years.
Physical plant. The extraordinary Roebling buildings at the
Red Hill Estate form the core campus of Archbold.
Land.
1941
1973
1983
1990s
2002
Total
1,058-acre Red Hill Estate
2,773a, R. Archbold purchase
239a, the Hufty Tract (Lake Annie)
1,300a, several purchases & mitigation parcels
3,648a, the Reserve (Frances Hufty)
8,841a
Endowment. At his death in 1976, Richard Archbold left his
personal fortune as a permanent endowment for the Station.
Archbold Expeditions has successfully managed the
endowment for continued support.
With Archbold family leadership, the Station continues to thrive.
The Trustees of Archbold Expeditions meet at
Archbold Biological Station, November 27, 2001.