Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Michael Rockefeller
Michael C. Rockefeller (born 1938 - died November 18, 1961?) was the youngest son of Governor Nelson Rockefeller and disappeared during an expedition to New Guinea.
Rockefeller graduated from Harvard University and went on an exhibition for their Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology which studied the Ndani tribe of western New Guinea. Rockefeller and a friend briefly left the exhibition to study the Stone Age Asmat tribe of southern New Guinea. After returning home with the Peabody expedition, Rockefeller returned to New Guinea to study the Asmat and collect Asmat art.
On November 18, 1961, Rockefeller and Dutch anthropologist René Wassing were in a 40-foot dugout canoe about three miles from shore when they were swamped. The two native guides swam for help, but when no help arrived, Rockefeller said "I think I can make it" and swam for shore. Wassing was rescued the next day, while Rockefeller was never seen again, despite a lengthy search effort. He was finally declared dead in 1964.
Most believe that Rockefeller either drowned, was attacked by a shark or crocodile, or was killed by the native cannibals. Some reports have surfaced of a white man living with the natives, but those stories are not widely believed.
Many of the Asmat artifacts Rockefeller collected are part of the Michael C. Rockefeller collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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