University of Iowa 1922 Fiji-New Zealand Expedition
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Now Let's Get Cracking

Professor Nutting reviewed Wylie's documents and considered prospects for the expedition. He also discovered that President Jessup and Dean Seashore believed the expedition would be a valuable endeavor. As these elements converged, he relented. Thus, he took hold of the leadership position again. In doing so he identified the makeup of the party. It included six professional naturalists, representing three University departments: Botany (Professor Robert Wylie), geology (Professor Abram Thomas) and zoology (Nutting and Dr. Dayton Stoner). Nutting felt fortunate to have Wylie as a member. Mrs Louise Stoner joined the party having proved herself "a very efficient collector of insects" on the previous expedition, and agreed to act as commissary. Finally, a promising graduate student in geology, Waldo Glock, was added. Nutting had created a party entirely of specialists. Each member would be able to take complete responsibility for his or her particular field of work.

Left to right--R.B.Wylie,Waldo Glock, Charles C. Nutting, A.O.Thomas, Dayton Stoner, Louise Stoner

Mr. John B. Henderson was also considered for the trip, but had to decline, because of business and family commitments. His absence impacted their ability to acquire deep sea dredging equipment, which added much to the Barbados-Antigua Expedition. As a result, the Fij-New Zealand expedition marine work was confined to reefs, flats and shallow water.

Professor A.O. Thomas was in charge of transportation arrangements. To the party's delight he found that the trip could be extended to New Zealand at no additional expense. However, freight rates used up a large portion of the funds for transportation of collections and equipment which was reduced to small bottles, metal tanks for the various specimens, small cameras, and a microphotographic camera. In regard to the transportation of alcohol for preservation there were some legal restrictions due to U.S. Prohibition. Therefore special arrangements were made to have three large containers shipped in bond to Vancouver in care of the ship they would sail. Nutting said, “It was easier to deal with foreign officials than U.S. bureaucracy which could be very vexing."

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