Mulford Expedition

The Mulford Biological Exploration of the Amazon Basin was a scientific expedition to the Amazon conducted in 1921. It was organized by Henry Hurd Rusby, who at age 64, was a well known explorer, a professor at Columbia University, and a staff member at the New York Botanical Garden. He hired Orland Emile White, a staff member at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, to assist with collection and handling of plant specimens. The expedition was financed by the H. K. Mulford Company, a pharmaceutical company.

Its mission was to explore the Amazon Valley from the headwaters of the Quime River in Bolivia to the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil. The expedition left La Paz, Bolivia, in July 1921. Rusby was forced to leave the expedition due to neuritis, an infected tooth, and his age; however, White and Martín Cárdenas continued to collect. The expedition lasted eight months, but never reached the Amazon.

News from 1921:

Members of the expedition left La Paz, Bolivia, about July 9, whence they proceeded by rail to Eucalyptus, the terminus of the railroad. From Eucalyptus to Pongo they traveled by auto truck over the new auto road recently completed by the Guggenheim interests in Bolivia. From Pongo, a three days' journey by mule brought them to Canamina, which will be their temporary headquarters for three or four weeks. From this point certain members of the party will make an ascent of the La Paz river for a considerable distance for the purpose of making special collections, the remainder of the party making detailed studies in the vicinity of Canamina. Collections have been made in and around Mollendo, Arica, Arequipa, Tiavaya and La Paz. A large quantity of these materials, shipped just before the party left La Paz, has been received in Philadelphia.

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