Gilbert Edward Archey
Encyclopedia
Sir Gilbert Edward Archey, C.B.E. (b. 9 August 1890 in York
, England
; d. 20 October 1974) was a zoologist, ethnologist, World War I
officer, and museum director from New Zealand
. He wrote one of the major works on moa
s, based on his own field work and collection. During his life he published numerous articles and described many new species of animals.
and D.Sc.
From 1914 to 1923 he was Assistant Curator of the Canterbury Museum, then he was appointed to the Auckland Institute and Museum in 1924. In the First World War he served in the New Zealand Field Artillery, rising to a captaincy. After serving in World War I he worked at the Canterbury Museum where he studied and published papers on numerous New Zealand fauna. He then became director of the Auckland Institute and Museum
where he was personally responsible for getting funding from the . In the Second World War he was attached to the British Military Administration
in Malaya
with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
, being president from 1941 to 1942. He was a member of the Maori Purposes Fund Board, the Waitangi National Trust Board, and the Auckland branch of the Royal Society, and the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. He retired from the Auckland Museum early in 1964. He was awarded an O.B.E. in 1919 and knighted in 1963. His publications, apart from contributions to learned journals, include The Moa, a Study of the Dinornithiformes (1941), South Sea Folk (1937 and 1949); Sculpture and Design, an Outline of Maori Art (1955); and Whaowhia: Maori art and its artists (1977).
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; d. 20 October 1974) was a zoologist, ethnologist, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
officer, and museum director from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He wrote one of the major works on moa
Moa
The moa were eleven species of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand. The two largest species, Dinornis robustus and Dinornis novaezelandiae, reached about in height with neck outstretched, and weighed about ....
s, based on his own field work and collection. During his life he published numerous articles and described many new species of animals.
Education and military posts
Coming to New Zealand in 1892 with his parents Thomas Archey and Sarah Triffitt, he graduated from Canterbury University College, Christchurch, with the degrees of M.A.Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and D.Sc.
From 1914 to 1923 he was Assistant Curator of the Canterbury Museum, then he was appointed to the Auckland Institute and Museum in 1924. In the First World War he served in the New Zealand Field Artillery, rising to a captaincy. After serving in World War I he worked at the Canterbury Museum where he studied and published papers on numerous New Zealand fauna. He then became director of the Auckland Institute and Museum
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history , natural history, as well as military history.The museum is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist...
where he was personally responsible for getting funding from the . In the Second World War he was attached to the British Military Administration
British Military Administration
The British Military Administration was the interim administrator of British Malaya between the end of World War II and the establishment of the Malayan Union in 1946. Specifically, the entity lasted from September 1945 to April 1946...
in Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Postwar career
He was on the New Zealand University Grants Committee, 1948–51, 1954–60, and on the Council of the Royal Society of New ZealandRoyal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...
, being president from 1941 to 1942. He was a member of the Maori Purposes Fund Board, the Waitangi National Trust Board, and the Auckland branch of the Royal Society, and the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. He retired from the Auckland Museum early in 1964. He was awarded an O.B.E. in 1919 and knighted in 1963. His publications, apart from contributions to learned journals, include The Moa, a Study of the Dinornithiformes (1941), South Sea Folk (1937 and 1949); Sculpture and Design, an Outline of Maori Art (1955); and Whaowhia: Maori art and its artists (1977).