An analysis of the network of assistants in Louis Agassiz’s expedition to Brazil (1865 – 1866)

Abstract

A nineteenth-century scientific expedition usually relied upon a diversified network of assistants. Although the participation of these individuals was usually suppressed in scientific publications, there were recurring mentions to their contributions in the travel books and diaries maintained by naturalists. In this article, we analyze the network of assistants involved in the Thayer Expedition that visited Brazil between 1865 and 1866, led by Louis Agassiz, and observe how many members of the local populations contributed to the realization and the scientific results achieved by the Thayer Expedition.