Exploration and academic career Alexander H. Rice Jr.

rice on 1919–1920 amazon expedition



miramar, home widener planned first husband , completed second



the yacht specially con­struc­ted rices amazon explorations

as geographer , explorer rice specialized in rivers. on 7 expeditions, beginning in 1907, explored 500,000 square miles (1,300,000 km) of amazon basin, mapping number of unknown rivers in northwestern area of amazon basin reaching colombia , venezuela.

after 1915 marriage, socialite wife accompanied him on several expeditions south america chronicled in geographic literature , followed closely popular press. 1916 expedition subject of 1918 book colleague, william thomas councilman. during 1920 trip, reported party warded off attack savages , killed 2 cannibals ‍—‌​ scantily clad ... ferocious , of large stature . (a subsequent headline read: explorer rice denies eaten cannibals . in 1913, harvard college class of 1898 quindecennial report had noted that, interesting feature of [rice s] work in south america frequent reports effect has been eaten cannibals or has been victim of snakes said laying in wait him time. )

in 1924–1925 during 1 of important expeditions standpoint of scientific discovery, ascended orinoco river headwaters, traversed natural casiquiare canal, , descended rio branco amazon @ manaus. first expedition use aerial photography , shortwave radio mapping. established hospitals indians in brazil, researched tropical diseases, , conducted expeditions in alaska , hudson bay.

his explorations of amazon , orinoco rivers won him honors included: gold medalist, geographical society of philadelphia; gold medalist, société royale de géographie d anvers; , gold medalist, harvard travelers club. led last expedition in 1924–1925.

in 1929 rice founded harvard s institute of geographical exploration, , wife provided considerable endowment, , under rice s directorship became important center science of photogrammetry. rice s other positions included curatorship of south american section of peabody museum of archaeology , ethnology; lecturer in diseases of tropical south america @ harvard medical school; , trustee of american museum of natural history. belonged rhode island society of colonial wars, , society of cincinnati.

when institute closed in 1952, rice retired miramar, wife s family mansion in newport, rhode island, died in 1956.