Hansen (1869-1952, FM1940-1952) served as artists for 

 the Department of Geology. Miss Wiebe (now Mrs. 

 Leibhardt) did a large number of backgrounds, particu- 

 larly of prehistoric life. Mr. Hansen painted various 

 backgrounds that are now on view in the Fossil Shells 

 and Plants Hall and the Dinosaur Hall. He came to the 

 Museum at 70 years of age after completing a successful 

 career as a lithographer and engraver. 



A few habitat backgrounds in the zoology area 

 were done by Leon Pray (FM 1901-1947), who was best 

 known as a taxidermist and model-maker. Pray's back- 

 grounds included those for the orangutan, proboscis 

 monkey, manatee, and leopard. A few backgrounds 

 were also done by Douglas E. Tibbitt (FM1948-1955), 

 notably Marsh Birds of the Upper Nile. Backgrounds in 

 the American Indian halls were done by Gustaf Dahl- 

 strom (FM1943-1971), Alfred Lee Rowell (FM1941- 

 1963), and Theodore Halkin (FM1961-1969). 



Marion E. Pahl (FM 1956-1969), who served the 

 Museum variously as artist (Department of Zoology), 

 illustrator (Photography), and scientific illustrator 

 (Department of Exhibition), created some engaging, 

 cartoon-like illustrations for the walls of the old "Picnic 

 Room," which was eliminated during the major build- 

 ing renovation of the 1970s. She also executed in the 

 exhibit area a larger-than-life representation of a 

 Chinese mythological figure. 



The Museum commissioned two non-staff artists, 

 Charles R. Knight (1874-1953) and Julius Moessel 

 (1871-1959), to do mural groups — Knight in paleontol- 

 ogy, Moessel in botany. The 28 Knight murals, on view 

 in the Hall of Dinosaurs, were done between 1927 and 

 1931. Fourteen of these measure 9 by 25 feet, the re- 

 mainder 9 by 11 feet — covering, in total, the astound- 

 ing area of 4,536 square feet of canvas, surely one of the 



Top left: Proboscis monkey diorama, background painted by Leon Pray. 

 Above: Pray painted a few habitat backgrounds, though he is best known 

 for his taxidermy and models; here he prepares sunfish models. Below: 

 Marion Pahl, a versatile artist skilled in whimsical cartoons as well as 

 technical drawing, w<rrks on mural of Chinese mythological figure. ;»576. 



23 



