Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Search Results

Collections Search Center
12,674 documents - page 1 of 500Result pages are truncated to 500.

James B. Watson papers

Creator:
Watson, Virginia  Search this
Watson, James B. (James Bennett), 1918-2009  Search this
Extent:
52.5 Linear feet (123 boxes)
47 Sound recordings
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound recordings
Correspondence
Books
Programs
Field notes
Maps
Punched cards
Journals (periodicals)
Grant proposals
Photographs
Articles
Lecture notes
Place:
Papua New Guinea
Brazil
Mato Grosso (Brazil : State)
Papua New Guinea -- Social life and customs
Date:
1904-1998
bulk 1933-1987
Summary:
This collection contains the professional papers of cultural anthropologist James B. Watson, and documents his fieldwork in Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and Del Norte, Co., as well as his teaching career at the University of Washington. Included are field notes, lecture notes, correspondence, maps, photographs, books, articles, journals, grant proposals, surveys, data punch cards, conference materials, and sound recordings.
Scope and Contents:
This collection is comprised of the professional papers of James B. Watson, the bulk of which relate to his research and academic work on the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The series are Research, Writings, Correspondence, Professional Activities, University Files, Biographical Files, Maps, Photographs, and Sound Recordings.

The Research series contains Watson's research on Hopi food classification systems in Arizona, Cayua acculturation in Brazil, social stratification between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking residents of Del Norte, Co., numerous research projects in Papua New Guinea, and gift exchange theories.

The Arizona, Hopi Food Classification Systems subseries consists of his research among the Hopi in Arizona, primarily on their food classication systems. Included are field notes and reports.

The Mato Grosso, Brazil and Cayua Acculturation subseries consists of research materials conducted while Watson was working as an assistant professor in Sao Paulo. Included are field notes, bibliographies, a journal, and a language notebook primarily regarding his research on culture change among the Cayua.

The Del Norte, Colorado Surveys subseries contains material related to research conducted in the summers of 1949 and 1950 as part of a study on social stratification between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking residents of Del Norte. Included are datasets from several community surveys on education, occupations, business, and cultural attitudes, along with research notes and background materials.

The Papua New Guinea subseries consists of research materials on the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Included are field notes, language materials, bibliographies, grant documents and research proposals, genealogy data, long reports and patrol reports, data punch cards, and TAT (thematic apperception test) protocols. There is material from several research projects including the Committee on New Guinea Studies (CONGS), the Kainantu Blood Group Study, and the New Guinea Religions Project. Watson's wife, Virginia Drew Watson, also has research material in this series. Language documentation include lexicons and notes about Agarabi, Auyana, Awa, Tairora, Gadsup, and Tok Pisin.

The subsubseries Micro-evolution Studies Project (MES) consists of related Papua New Guinea research as part of this multi-year project. Material included is correspondence, financial documents, memorandums and planning documents, grant proposals, language files, and work papers.

The Gift Exchange Theories subseries consists of Watson's research on gift exchange theories, primarily as they relate to small autonomous peoples. The material consists of research notes, paper ideas, bibliographies, and grant applications.

The Other Research subseries consists of papers and research that are not easily catagorized. Included are subject files on perception, notes and critiques of Marshal Sahlins's Stone Age Economics, and a research project by Watson studying innovation in high school social studies curriculum.

The Writings series primarily consists of journal articles produced over the duration of his career. Included are research notes, drafts, and some correspondence. A print copy is included where possible. There is significant material related to his book Tairora Culture, including chapter drafts, outlines, and reader comments. The writings by others are primarily annotated copies of articles, rare and small print-run items, or manuscripts by others sent to Watson for comment.

The Correspondence series contains professional and personal correspondence with Watson's colleagues and contemporaries in the field, including J. David Cole, Terence Hays, Paula Brown-Glick, Richard Lieban, Howard P. McKaughan, Harold Nelson, Kerry Pataki-Schweizer, Kenneth E. Read, Sterling Robbins, and Roy Wagner. Topics include his academic career, student dissertations, research grants and fellowships, and research related to Papua New Guinea, and in particular the Micro-evolution Studies project.

The Professional Activities series primarily consists of conference notes, papers, presentations, and symposium documents. Included are materials for the American Anthropological Association, the Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania, the Pacific Sciences Conference, as well as symposiums held at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Some of the files are related to specific symposiums Watson attended or helped to organize, the bulk of which are related to Papua New Guinea. Also included are Watson's lecture notes, and materials related to the United Nations West Irian Development Plan

The University Files series contains material related to Watson's academic career. The bulk of the files are course materials from the classes he taught at the Univesity of Washington, which include lecture notes, syllabi, exams, and student papers. Other materials includes student dissertation files and some of Watson's course work from the University of Chicago.

The Biographical Files series includes numerous editions of his curriculum vitae and bibliographies.

The Maps series contains maps used in Watson's research, which includes Brazil; Del Norte, Co.; and Papua New Guinea. The bulk are maps of Papua New Guinea, and include published maps, annotated maps, hand-drawn maps, patrol reports, and linguistic maps.

The Photographs series contains photographs of Watson's fieldwork and professional career. The bulk of his fieldwork photographs are from Del Norte, Co. and Papua New Guinea. The Del Norte photographs include aerial images along with photographs of residents, houses, and cultural activities. The photographs from Papua New Guinea include images of a taro garden, a woman before and at her marriage ceremony, and images of tools found at an excavation site near the Wahgi Valley.

The sound recordings contain seven identified recordings made in the Papua New Guinea Eastern Highlands, Kainantu District during James and Virginia Watson's first trip, 1954-1955. Also included are 31 recordings of lectures and classes by James Watson and others, two recordings of popular music, and six reels recorded at the Pacific Science Congress in Tokyo in 1966. The remaining 23 uncataloged recordings are unidentified or partially identified.

Please see individual series descriptions in the finding aid for additional information.
Arrangement note:
This collection is arranged in 9 series:

Series1: Research, 1933-1993

Series 2: Writings, 1904-1995

Series 3: Correspondence, 1933-1994

Series 4: Professional Activities, 1944-1998

Series 5: University Files, 1939-1991

Series 6: Biographical Files, 1941-1991

Series 7: Maps, circa 1920s-1970

Series 8: Photographs, circa 1942-1977

Series 9: Sound Recordings, 1954-1984
Biographical/Historical note:
James B. Watson (1918-2009) was a cultural anthropologist and university professor. He is primarily known for his ethnographic studies of the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, with a concentration on acculturation. He taught at the University of Washington, was the prinicipal investigator for the Micro-evolution Studies project (MES), and the author of numerous journal articles and books.

Watson was born in Chicago, Ill., and raised in Bangor, Maine. He studied anthropology at the University of Chicago, earning his B.A. in 1941; his M.A. in 1945; and his Ph.D. in 1948. Fred Eggan acted as his advisor while he was pursuing his doctorate. He began his teaching career as an assistant professor at the Escala Livre de Sociologia e Politica, Sao Paulo (1944-1945); Beloit College (1945-1946); University of Oklahoma (1946-1947); and as an associate professor at Washington University in St. Louis (1947-1955). He then became a full professor of anthropology at the University of Washington (1955-1987), where he spent the majority of his career.

His ethnographic research began with his fieldwork among the Hopi in Arizona in 1942. He researched Hopi food classification systems, which would become the subject of his master's thesis. Watson would next study the effects of acculturation among the Cayua people in Mato Grosso, Brazil in 1943-1945. This research would become the basis of his dissertation, later to be published as Cayua Culture Change: A Study in Acculturation and Methodology. His wife, anthropologist Virginia Drew Watson, accompanied him and conducted her own research. While at Washington University, he directed fieldwork in the summers of 1949 and 1950 in Del Norte, Co., conducting several community surveys on education, occupations, business, and cultural attitudes. These surveys were part of a larger study on social stratification between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking residents of Del Norte.

Watson is most noted for his work in the Papua New Guinea Highlands, where he was one of the first generation of Highland ethnographers. Along with Virginia Drew Watson, he studied the Kainantu peoples of the Eastern Highlands including the Tairora, the Gadsup, the Auyana, and the Awa. He was involved in several research projects, including the Committee on New Guinea Studies (CONGS), The Kainantu Blood Group Study, and the New Guinea Religions Project.

He was also the principal investigator for the Micro-evolution Studies project (1959-1968) where he directed a team of researchers examining the interconnections of the Kainantu peoples from the perspectives of ethnography, linguistics, archaeology, and physical anthropology. Other MES researchers include Kenneth E. Read, Robert A. Littlewood, Howard McKaughan, Kerry J. Pataki-Schweizer, and Sterling Robbins. This research on Papua New Guinea is best described in his book Tairora Culture: Contingency and Pragmatism (1983).

He was professionally active, attending and organizing sessions at annual meetings for the American Anthropological Association (AAA) and the Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania (ASAO). He also organized symposiums at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Additionally, he served as a consultant to the United Nations on their West Irian Development Plan in 1967. Watson retired from teaching in 1987, but continued to publish and remain involved in AAA and ASAO. He died in 2009.

Sources Consulted: 1999 Westermark, George. ASAO Honorary Fellow: James B. Watson. Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania Newsletter 104: 21

Chronology

1918 -- Born on August 10 in Chicago, Illinois

1941 -- B.A. in anthropology, University of Chicago Lecturer, University of Chicago

1941-1942 -- Fieldwork: Hopi

1943 -- Married Virgina Drew Fieldwork: Mato Grosso, Brazil

1943-1945 -- Fieldwork: Brazil

1944-1945 -- Assistant Professor, Escala Livre de Sociologia e Politica, Sao Paulo, Brazil

1945 -- M.A. in anthropology, University of Chicago

1945-1946 -- Assistant Professor, Beloit College

1946-1947 -- Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma

1947-1955 -- Associate Professor, Washington University in St. Louis

1948 -- Ph.D. in anthropology, University of Chicago

1949-1950 -- Director, Washington University summer field project

1949-1950 -- Fieldwork: Del Norte, Colorado

1953-1955 -- Fieldwork: Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea

1955-1987 -- Professor of Anthropology, University of Washington

1959 -- Fieldwork: Papua New Guinea and Netherlands New Guinea

1959-1968 -- Principal Investigator, New Guinea Micro-evolution Studies Project

1963-1964 -- Fieldwork: Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea

1966-1967 -- Senior Specialist, Institute of Advanced Projects, East-West Center

1967 -- Consultant for United Nations Development Programme, West Irian

1967 -- Fieldwork: West Irian (Indonesia)

1987 -- Retired from teaching at University of Washington

2009 -- Died on November 12
Related Materials:
The National Anthropological Archives also holds the papers of Virginia D. Watson.

Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD holds the Micro-evolution Project Papers, MSS 436.
Provenance:
These papers were donated to the National Anthropological Archives by James Watson's daughter, Anne Watson, in 2003.
Restrictions:
Some research proposals not authored by Watson are restricted until 2083.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Topic:
Language and languages -- Documentation  Search this
Ethnology -- Brazil  Search this
Ethnology -- Papua New Guinea  Search this
Genre/Form:
Sound recordings
Correspondence
Books
Programs
Field notes
Maps
Punched cards
Journals (periodicals)
Grant Proposals
Photographs
Articles
Lecture notes
Citation:
James B. Watson papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NAA.2003-15
See more items in:
James B. Watson papers
Archival Repository:
National Anthropological Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nw38438ad62-76b4-45df-a007-4c924a4af960
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-naa-2003-15

Male Figure, Part Of Group Of 6 Figures

Donor Name:
Tetsuka Shimamura & Company  Search this
Height - Object:
29 cm
Culture:
Japanese  Search this
Object Type:
Mannequin
Place:
Japan, Asia
Accession Date:
1893
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
027832
USNM Number:
E168800-2
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3a3898982-3881-4a4c-a833-e222fcdf0ad9
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_12169580

An introduction to the study of man by J. Z. Young

Author:
Young, J. Z (John Zachary)) 1907-1997  Search this
Physical description:
xxvi, 719 p illustrations, maps 25 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1971
Topic:
Biology  Search this
Ethnology  Search this
Evolution  Search this
Genetics  Search this
Growth  Search this
Physical anthropology  Search this
Psychology  Search this
Anthropology, Physical  Search this
Anthropologie physique  Search this
Biologie  Search this
Croissance  Search this
Ethnologie  Search this
Évolution  Search this
Génétique  Search this
Psychologie  Search this
Antropologia  Search this
biology  Search this
Evolucao (Teoria)  Search this
genetics  Search this
growth  Search this
Human beings--Evolution  Search this
Human beings--Origin  Search this
Mensch  Search this
physical anthropology  Search this
psychology  Search this
Somatologia Humana  Search this
Call number:
GN60 .Y65X
GN60.Y65X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_11328

Male Figure In Armor, Part Of Group Of 6 Figures

Donor Name:
Tetsuka Shimamura & Company  Search this
Height - Object:
33 cm
Culture:
Japanese  Search this
Object Type:
Mannequin
Place:
Japan, Asia
Accession Date:
1893
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
027832
USNM Number:
E168800-3
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/30418c472-1a47-44b8-b3d7-99bff22541de
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_12343698

The relation of nature to man in aboriginal America by Clark Wissler .

Author:
Wissler, Clark 1870-1947  Search this
Author:
Wagner Free Institute of Science Richard B. Westbrook Free Lectureship Foundation  Search this
Physical description:
xx, 248 pages illustrations (including maps) diagrams 23 cm
Type:
Books
History
Place:
North America
Amérique du Nord
Date:
1926
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Human geography  Search this
Physical anthropology  Search this
Anthropology, Cultural  Search this
Anthropology, Physical  Search this
Indians, North American--history  Search this
Anthropologie physique  Search this
Ethnologie  Search this
ethnology  Search this
Géographie humaine  Search this
Indians of North America  Search this
Indiens d'Amérique  Search this
Iwi taketake  Search this
physical anthropology  Search this
social anthropology  Search this
Call number:
E77 .W816
E77.W816
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_10046

Apes, giants and man by Franz Weidenreich

Author:
Weidenreich, Franz 1873-1948  Search this
Physical description:
vii, 122 pages illustrations (including maps) diagrams 24 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1946
Topic:
Evolution  Search this
Evolution (Biology)  Search this
Human beings--Origin  Search this
Physical anthropology  Search this
Anthropology, Physical  Search this
Biological Evolution  Search this
Anthropologie physique  Search this
Êtres humains--Origines  Search this
Évolution (Biologie)  Search this
Évolution  Search this
Hommes--Origine  Search this
42.21 evolution  Search this
Affen  Search this
evolution  Search this
Human beings--Evolution  Search this
physical anthropology  Search this
Evolutie  Search this
Mensen  Search this
Call number:
QH368 .W42
GN29 .W417
QH368.W42
GN29.W417
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_10161

The morphology and evolution of the apes and man by Charles F. Sonntag ... with a foreword by Prof. G. Elliot Smith

Author:
Sonntag, Charles Frederick Maxwell  Search this
Physical description:
364 pages illustrations 22 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1924
Topic:
Anatomy, Comparative  Search this
Apes  Search this
Evolution  Search this
Monkeys  Search this
Primates--anatomy & histology  Search this
Anatomie comparée  Search this
Évolution  Search this
Singes  Search this
42.85 physical anthropology  Search this
Call number:
QL737.P9 S69
QL737.P9S69
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_9883

Genetics and the races of man an introduction to modern physical anthropology

Author:
Boyd, William C (William Clouser) 1903-  Search this
Physical description:
xvii, 453 pages illustrations, maps 21 cm
Type:
Books
Maps
Date:
1950
Topic:
Genetics  Search this
Heredity, Human  Search this
Race  Search this
Racial Groups  Search this
Génétique  Search this
Hérédité humaine  Search this
42.85 physical anthropology  Search this
genetics  Search this
Genetik  Search this
Rasse  Search this
Rassentheorie  Search this
Call number:
QH431 .B78
QH431.B78
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_9888

Head For Female Mannequin

Donor Name:
Tetsuka Shimamura & Company  Search this
Height - Object:
40.5 cm
Culture:
Japanese  Search this
Object Type:
Mannequin
Place:
Japan, Asia
Accession Date:
1893
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
027832
USNM Number:
E168799-14
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/356fb7dd4-36ff-4a7d-85fd-ddc55574f8f7
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_13335806

GPS-identified, low-level nocturnal activity of vervets (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) and olive baboons (Papio anubis) in Laikipia, Kenya

Author:
Isbell, Lynne A.  Search this
Bidner, Laura R.  Search this
Crofoot, Margaret C.  Search this
Matsumoto-Oda, Akiko  Search this
Farine, Damien R.  Search this
Object Type:
Smithsonian staff publication
Year:
2017
Citation:
Isbell, Lynne A., Bidner, Laura R., Crofoot, Margaret C., Matsumoto-Oda, Akiko, and Farine, Damien R. 2017. "GPS-identified, low-level nocturnal activity of vervets (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) and olive baboons (Papio anubis) in Laikipia, Kenya." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 164, (1) 203–211. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23259.
Identifier:
143247
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23259
ISSN:
0002-9483
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:slasro_143247

Morphological and Taxonomic Affinities of the Olduvai ulna (OH 36)

Author:
Aiello, L. C.  Search this
Wood, Bernard A.  Search this
Key, C.  Search this
Lewis, M.  Search this
Object Type:
Smithsonian staff publication
Year:
1999
Citation:
Aiello, L. C., Wood, Bernard A., Key, C., and Lewis, M. 1999. "Morphological and Taxonomic Affinities of the Olduvai ulna (OH 36)." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 109, (1) 89–110.
Identifier:
101676
ISSN:
0002-9483
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:slasro_101676

Viewpoints: Diet and dietary adaptations in early hominins: The hard food perspective

Author:
Strait, David S.  Search this
Constantino, Paul  Search this
Lucas, Peter W.  Search this
Richmond, Brian G.  Search this
Spencer, Mark A.  Search this
Dechow, Paul C.  Search this
Ross, Callum F.  Search this
Grosse, Ian R.  Search this
Wright, Barth W.  Search this
Wood, Bernard A.  Search this
Weber, Gerhard W.  Search this
Wang, Qian  Search this
Byron, Craig  Search this
Slice, Dennis E.  Search this
Chalk, Janine  Search this
Smith, Amanda L.  Search this
Smith, Leslie C.  Search this
Wood, Sarah  Search this
Berthaume, Michael  Search this
Benazzi, Stefano  Search this
Dzialo, Christine  Search this
Tamvada, Kelli  Search this
Ledogar, Justin A.  Search this
Object Type:
Smithsonian staff publication
Year:
2013
Citation:
Strait, David S., Constantino, Paul, Lucas, Peter W., Richmond, Brian G., Spencer, Mark A., Dechow, Paul C., Ross, Callum F., Grosse, Ian R., Wright, Barth W., Wood, Bernard A., Weber, Gerhard W., Wang, Qian, Byron, Craig, Slice, Dennis E., Chalk, Janine, Smith, Amanda L., Smith, Leslie C., Wood, Sarah, Berthaume, Michael, Benazzi, Stefano, Dzialo, Christine, Tamvada, Kelli, and Ledogar, Justin A. 2013. "Viewpoints: Diet and dietary adaptations in early hominins: The hard food perspective." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 151, (3) 339–355. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22285.
Identifier:
116270
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22285
ISSN:
0002-9483
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:slasro_116270

Obituary: Francis Clark Howell (1925-2007)

Author:
Wood, Bernard A.  Search this
Object Type:
Smithsonian staff publication
Year:
2008
Citation:
Wood, Bernard A. 2008. "Obituary: Francis Clark Howell (1925-2007)." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 136, (2) 125–127. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.20825.
Identifier:
59907
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.20825
ISSN:
0002-9483
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:slasro_59907

Craniodental variation in Paranthropus boisei: A developmental and functional perspective

Author:
Wood, Bernard A.  Search this
Lieberman, D. E.  Search this
Object Type:
Smithsonian staff publication
Year:
2001
Citation:
Wood, Bernard A. and Lieberman, D. E. 2001. "Craniodental variation in Paranthropus boisei: A developmental and functional perspective." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 116, (1) 13–25.
Identifier:
76059
ISSN:
0002-9483
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:slasro_76059

Physical Anthropology

Artist:
Jennings, Jesse David, 1909-1997  Search this
Performer:
Jennings, Jesse David, 1909-1997  Search this
Collection Creator:
Asch, Moses  Search this
Distler, Marian, 1919-1964  Search this
Folkways Records  Search this
Extent:
1 Phonograph record (analog, 33 1/3 rpm, 12 in.)
Type:
Archival materials
Phonograph records
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-LP-3437

Lectern.101
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Lectern
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Topic:
Instructional  Search this
Anthropology  Search this
Collection Citation:
Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
CFCH.ASCH, Item FW-ASCH-LP-3437
See more items in:
Moses and Frances Asch Collection
Moses and Frances Asch Collection / Series 9: Audio Recordings / LP
Archival Repository:
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk53910d2dc-5b22-4f04-afda-44ad4caffd00
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-cfch-asch-ref17736

Department of Anthropology records

Creator:
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Department of Anthropology  Search this
Smithsonian Institution. Department of Anthropology  Search this
Smithsonian Institution. United States National Museum. Department of Anthropology  Search this
Extent:
330.25 Linear feet (519 boxes)
Note:
Some materials are held off-site; this will be indicated at the series or sub-series level. Advanced notice must be given to view these portions of the collection.
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1840-circa 2015
Summary:
The Department of Anthropology records contain administrative and research materials produced by the department and its members from the time of the Smithsonian Institution's foundation until today.
Scope and Contents:
The Department of Anthropology records contain correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, memoranda, invoices, meeting minutes, fiscal records, annual reports, grant applications, personnel records, receipts, and forms. The topics covered in the materials include collections, exhibits, staff, conservation, acquisitions, loans, storage and office space, administration, operations, research, budgets, security, office procedures, and funding. The materials were created by members of the Section of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution, the Division of Anthropology of the United States National Museum, the Office of Anthropology of the National Museum of Natural History, and the Department of Anthropology of the National Museum of Natural History and range in date from before the founding of the Smithsonian Institution to today. The Department of Anthropology records also contain some materials related to the Bureau of American Ethnology, such as documents from the River Basin Surveys.

Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged in 28 series: (1) Correspondence, 1902-1908, 1961-1992; (2) Alpha-Subject File, 1828-1963; (3) Alpha-Subject File, 1961-1975; (4) Smithsonian Office of Anthropology Subject Files, 1967-1968; (5) River Basin Survey Files, 1965-1969; (6) Research Statements, Proposals, and Awards, 1961-1977 (bulk 1966-1973); (7) Publication File, 1960-1975; (8) Memoranda and Lists Concerning Condemnations, 1910-1965; (9) Notebook on Special Exhibits, 1951-1952 (10) Section on Animal Industry; (11) Administrative Records, 1891-1974; (12) Administrative Records, 1965-1994 (bulk 1975-1988); (13) Fiscal Records, 1904-1986; (14) Annual Reports, 1920-1983; (15) Chairman's Office Files, 1987-1993; (16) Division of Archaeology, 1828-1965; (17) Division of Ethnology, 1840s, 1860-1972, 1997; (18) Division of Physical Anthropology; (19) Division of Cultural Anthropology, 1920-1968; (20) Records of the Anthropological Laboratory/Anthropology Conservation and Restoration Laboratory, 1939-1973; (21) Collections Management, 1965-1985; (22) Photographs of Specimens and Other Subjects (Processing Laboratory Photographs), 1880s-1950s; (23) Exhibit Labels, Specimen Labels, Catalog Cards, and Miscellaneous Documents, circa 1870-1950; (24) Antiquities Act Permits, 1904-1986; (25) Ancient Technology Program, circa 1966-1981; (26) Urgent Anthropology; (27) Records of the Handbook of North American Indians; (28) Personnel; (29) Repatriation Office, 1991-1994
Administrative History.:
The Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846. Although there was no department of anthropology until the creation of the Section of Ethnology in 1879, anthropological materials were part of the Smithsonian's collection from its foundation. The Section of Ethnology was created to care for the rapidly growing collection. In 1881, the United States National Museum was established. Soon thereafter, in 1883, it was broken up into divisions, including the Division of Anthropology. In 1904, Physical Anthropology was added to the Division.

The Bureau of American Ethnology (BAE) was created in 1879 as a research unit of the Smithsonian, separating research from collections care. However, during the 1950s, research became a higher priority for the Department of Anthropology and, in 1965, the BAE was merged with the Department of Anthropology to create the Office of Anthropology, and the BAE's archives became the National Anthropological Archives (NAA).

In 1967, the United States National Museum was broken up into three separate museums: the Musuem of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History), the National Museum of American Art, and the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). The Office of Anthropology was included in NMNH and was renamed the Department of Anthropology in 1968.

New divisions were added to the Department, including the Human Studies Film Archives (HSFA) in 1981, the Research Institute on Immigration and Ethnic Studies (RIIES) in 1982, and the Repatriation Office in 1993. In 1983, the Smithsonian opened the Museum Support Center (MSC) in Suitland, Maryland, as offsite housing for collections with specialized storage facilities and conservation labs.

The Department of Anthropology is currently the largest department within NMNH. It has three curatorial divisions (Ethnology, Archaeology, and Biological Anthropology) and its staff includes curators, research assistants, program staff, collections specialists, archivists, repatriation tribal liaisons, and administrative specialists. It has a number of outreach and research arms, including the Repatriation Office, Recovering Voices, Human Origins, and the Arctic Studies Center.

The Museum is home to one of the world's largest anthropology collections, with over three million specimens in archaeology, ethnology, and human skeletal biology. The NAA is the Smithsonian's oldest archival repository, with materials that reflect over 150 years of anthropological collecting and fieldwork. The HSFA is the only North American archive devoted exclusively to the collection and preservation of anthropological film and video.

Sources Consulted

National Museum of Natural History. "Department of Anthropology: About" Accessed April 13, 2020. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/anthropology/about

National Museum of Natural History. "History of Anthropology at the Smithsonian." Accessed April 13, 2020. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/media/file/history-anthropology-si.pdf

National Museum of Natural History. "History of the Smithsonian Combined Catalog." Accessed April 13, 2020 https://sirismm.si.edu/siris/sihistory.htm

Chronology

1846 -- The Smithsonian Institution is founded

1879 -- George Catlin bequeaths his collection to the Smithsonian The Section of Ethnology is established to oversee ethnological and archaeological collections The Bureau of Ethnology is established by Congress as a research unit of the Smithsonian

1881 -- The U.S. National Museum (USNM) is established as a separate entity within the Smithsonian Institution

1883 -- The staff and collections of the USNM are reorganized into divisions, including a Division of Anthropology

1897 -- The United States National Museum is reorganized into three departments: Anthropology headed by W. H. Holmes; Biology with F. W. True as head; and Geology with G. P. Merrill in charge The Bureau of Ethnology is renamed the Bureau of American Ethnology (BAE) to emphasize the geographic limit of its interests

1903 -- The Division of Physical Anthropology established

1904 -- The Division of Physical Anthropology is incorporated into the Division of Anthropology

1910 -- The USNM moves into the new Natural History Building

1965 -- The Smithsonian Office of Anthropology is created on February 1 The BAE is eliminated and merged with the Office of Anthropology

1968 -- The Smithsonian Office of Anthropology (SOA) of the National Museum of Natural History is retitled the Department of Anthropology on October 29

1973 -- The Research Institute on Immigration and Ethnic Studies (RIIES) is established at the National Museum of Natural History's (NMNH) Center for the Study of Man (CSM) to study the waves of immigration to the United States and its overseas outposts that began in the 1960's

1975 -- The National Anthropological Film Center is established

1981 -- The National Anthropological Film Center is incorporated into the Department of Anthropology

1982 -- The RIIES, part of the CSM at the NMNH, is transferred to the Department of Anthropology

1991 -- NMNH establishes a Repatriation Office

1993 -- The Repatriation Office is incorporated into the Department of Anthropology

Head Curators and Department Chairs

1897-1902 -- William Henry Holmes

1902-1903 -- Otis T. Mason (acting)

1904-1908 -- Otis T. Mason

1908-1909 -- Walter Hough (acting)

1910-1920 -- William Henry Holmes

1920-1923 -- Walter Hough (acting)

1923-1935 -- Walter Hough

1935-1960 -- Frank M. Setzler

1960-1962 -- T. Dale Stewart

1963-1965 -- Waldo R. Wedel

1965-1967 -- Richard Woodbury

1967-1970 -- Saul H. Riesenberg

1970-1975 -- Clifford Evans

1975-1980 -- William W. Fitzhugh

1980-1985 -- Douglas H. Ubelaker

1985-1988 -- Adrienne L. Kaeppler

1988-1992 -- Donald J. Ortner

1992-1999 -- Dennis Stanford

1999-2002 -- Carolyn L. Rose

2002-2005 -- William W. Fitzhugh

2005-2010 -- J. Daniel Rogers

2010-2014 -- Mary Jo Arnoldi

2014-2018 -- Torbin Rick

2018-2022 -- Igor Krupnik

2022-2023 -- Laurie Burgess

2022- -- Richard Potts
Related Materials:
The NAA holds collections of former head curators and department chairs, including the papers of Otis Tufton Mason, Walter Hough, T. Dale Stewart, Waldo Rudolph and Mildred Mott Wedel, Saul H. Riesenberg, Clifford Evans, and Donald J. Ortner; the photographs of Frank Maryl Setzler; and the Richard B. Woodbury collection of drawings of human and animal figures.

Other related collections at the NAA include the papers of Gordon D. Gibson, Eugene I. Knez, and Betty J. Meggers and Clifford Evans; and the records of the Bureau of American Ethnology, the Center for the Study of Man, and the River Basin Surveys.
Provenance:
This collection was transferred to the National Anthropological Archives (NAA) by the National Museum of Natural History's Department of Anthropology in multiple accessions.
Restrictions:
Some materials are restricted.

Access to the Department of Anthropology records requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Topic:
Anthropology  Search this
Ethnology  Search this
Archaeology  Search this
Citation:
Department of Anthropology Records, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NAA.XXXX.0311
See more items in:
Department of Anthropology records
Archival Repository:
National Anthropological Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nw3da0f5297-c324-47c1-96dd-171f6edd11b6
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-naa-xxxx-0311

Human burials at the Kisese II rockshelter, Tanzania

Author:
Tryon, Christian A.  Search this
Sawchuk, Elizabeth A.  Search this
Ndiema, Emmanuel  Search this
Lewis, Jason E.  Search this
Ranhorn, Kathryn L.  Search this
Kwekason, Amandus  Search this
Laird, Myra F.  Search this
Mabulla, Audax Z. P.  Search this
Object Type:
Smithsonian staff publication
Year:
2021
Citation:
Tryon, Christian A., Sawchuk, Elizabeth A., Ndiema, Emmanuel, Lewis, Jason E., Ranhorn, Kathryn L., Kwekason, Amandus, Laird, Myra F., and Mabulla, Audax Z. P. 2021. "Human burials at the Kisese II rockshelter, Tanzania." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24253.
Identifier:
158613
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24253
ISSN:
0002-9483
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:slasro_158613

Repatriation and erasing the past

Author:
Lippert, Dorothy T.  Search this
Sholts, Sabrina B.  Search this
Object Type:
Smithsonian staff publication
Year:
2021
Citation:
Lippert, Dorothy T. and Sholts, Sabrina B. 2021. "Repatriation and erasing the past." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24400.
Identifier:
160764
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24400
ISSN:
0002-9483
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:slasro_160764

Aboriginal man and environment in Australia Editors: D. J. Mulvaney and J. Golson

Author:
Golson, Jack  Search this
Mulvaney, Derek John  Search this
Physical description:
xxi, 389 pages illustrations, maps 26 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Australia
Arnhem Land (NT)
Cape York Peninsula (Qld SC54, SD54, SD55)
Goulburn Valley (N Vic SJ55-01)
Kenniff Cave (Carnarvon Range SW Qld SG55-07)
Kimberley area (WA SD51, SD52, SE51, SE52)
Koonalda Cave (Far West SA Nullarbor SH52-15)
Kow Swamp (N Vic SI55-13)
Laura / Quinkan area (Qld SE Cape York SD55-13)
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
River Murray (SW NSW, N Vic, SE SA SI54, SI55)
Tasmania (Tas)
Victoria (Vic)
Weipa / Napranum (Qld Gulf, NW Cape York SD54-03)
Weipa / Napranum (Qld NW Cape York SD54-03)
Date:
1971
Topic:
Aboriginal Australians  Search this
Human beings--Effect of environment on  Search this
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples  Search this
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander  Search this
Australiens (Aborigènes)  Search this
Êtres humains--Influence de l'environnement  Search this
Aboriginal Australians--Antiquities  Search this
Animals  Search this
Arrernte / Aranda people (C8) (NT SG53-02)  Search this
Art - Rock art - Engraving  Search this
Art - Rock engraving  Search this
Demography - Palaeodemography  Search this
Environment - Climate and weather - Climate change  Search this
Food - Preparation - Cooking - Plants  Search this
Gathering - Plants  Search this
Human biology - Genetics  Search this
Human biology - Physical anthropology - Human evolution  Search this
Iwi taketake  Search this
Language - Linguistics  Search this
Pintupi language (C10) (NT SF52-11)  Search this
Pintupi people (C10) (NT SF52-11)  Search this
Plants  Search this
Prehistoric peoples  Search this
Sites - Middens  Search this
Technology - Tools  Search this
Antiquities  Search this
Call number:
GN665 .A15
GN665.A15
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_8151

Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation records

Creator:
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation  Search this
Director:
Heye, George G. (George Gustav), 1874-1957  Search this
Dockstader, Frederick J.  Search this
Names:
Ford-Bartlett East Greenland Expedition 1930  Search this
Harriman Alaska Expedition (1899)  Search this
Hendricks-Hodge Expedition (1917-1923).  Search this
Huntington Free Library  Search this
Hyde Exploring Expedition (1902-1903)  Search this
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation  Search this
Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research  Search this
Collector:
Barrett, S. A. (Samuel Alfred), 1879-1965  Search this
Churchill, Clara G.  Search this
Churchill, Frank C. (Frank Carroll), 1850-1912  Search this
Davis, Edward H., b. 1862  Search this
Emmons, George Thornton  Search this
Gridley, Marion E. (Marion Eleanor), 1906-1974  Search this
Harrington, M. R. (Mark Raymond), 1882-1971  Search this
Harvey, Byron  Search this
Harvey, Fred  Search this
Hodge, Frederick Webb, 1864-1956  Search this
Johnson, Frederick, 1904-1994  Search this
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956  Search this
Lothrop, S. K. (Samuel Kirkland), 1892-1965  Search this
Pepper, George H. (George Hubbard), 1873-1924  Search this
Skinner, Alanson, 1886-1925  Search this
Speck, Frank G. (Frank Gouldsmith), 1881-1950  Search this
Stiles, William F., 1912-1980  Search this
Verrill, A. Hyatt (Alpheus Hyatt), 1871-1954  Search this
Waterman, T. T. (Thomas Talbot), 1885-1936  Search this
Wildschut, William  Search this
Former owner:
Burnett, Edwin K.  Search this
Force, Roland W.  Search this
Extent:
400 Linear feet
Culture:
Indians of North America  Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Administrative records
Photographs
Annual reports
Field notes
Correspondence
Ledgers (account books)
Minutes
Date:
1890-1998
Summary:
These records document the governance and programmatic activities of the Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation (MAI) from its inception in 1904 until its sublimation by the Smithsonian Institution in 1990. The types of materials present in this collection include personal and institutional correspondence, individual subject files, minutes and annual reports, financial ledgers, legal records, expedition field notes, research notes, catalog and object lists, publications, clippings, flyers, maps, photographs, negatives and audio-visual materials. These materials span a varied range of subjects relating to the activities of the museum which are more fully described on the series level.
Scope and Contents:
These records document the governance and programmatic activities of the Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation (MAI) from its inception in 1904 until its sublimation by the Smithsonian Institution in 1990. The types of materials present in this collection include personal and institutional correspondence, individual subject files, minutes and annual reports, financial ledgers, legal records, expedition field notes, research notes, catalog and object lists, publications, clippings, flyers, maps, photographs, negatives and audio-visual materials. These materials span a varied range of subjects relating to the activities of the museum which are more fully described on the series level.
Arrangement:
The MAI, Heye Foundation records have been arranged into 21 series and 50 subseries: Series 1: Directors, 1908-1990 (1.1: George Gustav Heye, 1863-1962, 1.2: Edwin K. Burnett, 1943-1960, 1.3: Frederick Dockstader, 1950-1976, 1.4: Alexander F. Draper, 1972-1977, 1.5:Roland W. Force, 1963-1990, 1.6: George Eager, Assistant Director, 1977-1990) Series 2: Board of Trustees, 1916-1990 (2.1: Board of Trustee Minutes, 1916-1990, 2.2: Individual Board Correspondence, 1943-1990, 2.3: Subject Files, 1917-1990) Series 3: Administrative, 1916-1989 (3.1: Subject Files, 1904-1991, 3.2: Personnel, 1956-1991, 3.3: Legal, 1900-1989, 3.4: Task Force, 1976-1986, 3.5: George Abrams, 1980-1991) Series 4: Financial, 1916-1990 (4.1: Ledgers, 1900-1962, 4.2: Correspondence, 1905-1985, 4.3: Subject Files, 1916-1990) Series 5: Expeditions, 1896-1973Series 6: Collectors, 1872-1981Series 7: Registration, 1856-1993Series 8: Collections Management, 1937-1988Series 9: Curatorial, 1963-1990 (9.1: Curatorial Council, 1973-1990, 9.2: Gary Galante, 1979-1991, 9.3: Mary Jane Lenz, 1974-1994, 9.4: James G. E. Smith, 1963-1990, 9.5: U. Vincent Wilcox, 1968-1984, 9.6: Anna C. Roosevelt, 1973-1988) Series 10: Exhibits, 1923-1991 (10.1: MAI Exhibits, 1923-1990, 10.2: Non-MAI Exhibits, 1937-1991) Series 11: Public Programs, 1935-1990Series 12: Publications, 1904-1994 (12.1: Annual Reports, 1917-1989, 12.2: Publications by MAI, 1904-1990, 12.3: Publications by Other Sources, 1881-1990, 12.4: Administration, 1920-1988, 12.5: Archival Set of Official Publications, 1907-1976) Series 13: Public Affairs, 1938-1991Series 14: Development, 1927-1991 (14.1: Administration, 1979-1990, 14.2: Donors, 1978-1990, 14.3: Fundraising, 1973-1990, 14.4: Grants, 1970-1990, 14.5: Subject Files, 1976-1990) Series 15: Other Departments, 1914-1990 (15.1: Archives, 1914-1990, 15.2: Conservation, 1972-1989, 15.3: Education, 1921-1990, 15.4: Indian Information Center, 1977-1989, 15.5: Museum Shop, 1947-1989, 15.6: Photography, 1918-1990, 15.7: Physical Anthropology, 1919-1956) Series 16: Huntington Free Library, 1926-1991Series 17: Museum Relocation, 1969-1992 (17.1: Subject Files, 1979-1990, 17.2: American Museum of Natural History, 1980-1987, 17.3: Dallas, Texas, 1984-1987, 17.4: Smithsonian Institution, 1979-1990, 17.5: U.S. Custom House, 1977-1990, 17.6: Other Locations, 1974-1987) Series 18: MediaSeries 19: PhotographsSeries 20: Miscellaneous, 1837-1990Series 21: Oversize, 1873-1972 (21.1: Maps, 1873-1975, 21.2: Miscellaneous, 1884-1982)
History of the Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation:
The Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation was established by wealthy collector George Gustav Heye in 1908. Heye began collecting American Indian artifacts as early as 1897 and his collection rapidly increased over the next several years. Based in New York, Heye bought collections and documentary photographs, sponsored expeditions, and traveled and collected items himself. In addition, once MAI was established he sponsored numerous expeditions across the Western Hemisphere, including North American, Canada, South America and Central America.

From 1908 to 1917 Heye housed his artifacts on temporary loan at the University of Pennsylvania's University Museum, Pennsylvania, in lofts on East 33rd Street in New York City, and at other depositories. In 1917, the collections moved from his apartment to their permanent museum location at Audubon Terrace, at 155th Street and Broadway in New York City. The museum, containing ethnographic and archaeological collections from North, Central and South America, opened to the public in 1922. Less than ten years later, Heye completed a storage facility in the Pelham Bay area of the Bronx, known as the Research Branch. Heye served as Chairman of the Board and Museum Director until his death in 1957. After growing concern about the financial and other management of the collections came to a head, the museum became part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1989 and in 1994 opened exhibit space in the U.S. Customs House at Bowling Green near New York City's Battery Park. The Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, Maryland later opened in 1999 and the main Washington, DC museum opened in 2004.

Please visit the following links for more information about the history of the museum; History of the Collection, Collections Overview, and Significance of the Collection. Moreover, for information about how the museum currently cares for and exhibits the collection, please see the Conservation department and recent entries regarding Exhibitions and Conservation on the NMAI Blog. In addition, see portions of the NMAI Archive Center's collections highlighted in the SIRIS Blog.
Related Materials:
In 2004, the Huntington Fee Library, once part of the MAI/Heye Foundation, was transferred to the Cornell University Library Rare Book and Manuscript Collection. While this collection mainly contained books, it also contained a significant amount of archival materials. The Huntington Free Library's Native American Collection contains outstanding materials documenting the history, culture, languages, and arts of the native tribes of both North and South America, as well as contemporary politics and human rights issues are also important components of the collection. Further information about the collection and links to finding aids can be found here: rmc.library.cornell.edu/collections/HFL_old.html.
Restrictions:
Access to NMAI Archive Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).
Rights:
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish or broadcast materials from the collection must be requested from the National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Topic:
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Peru  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Tennessee  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- New York (State)  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Panama  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- New Jersey  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- New Mexico  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Missouri  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Nevada  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- California  Search this
Indians of South America  Search this
Indians of Central America  Search this
Pre-Columbian objects  Search this
Museum exhibits  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Texas  Search this
Museums -- Collection management  Search this
Archaeological expeditions  Search this
Ethnological expeditions  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology)  Search this
Museums -- Acquisitions  Search this
Museums -- Curatorship  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Cuba  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Ecuador  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Arkansas  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Canada  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Guatemala  Search this
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Haiti  Search this
Genre/Form:
Administrative records
Photographs
Annual reports
Field notes
Correspondence
Ledgers (account books)
Minutes
Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation Records, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NMAI.AC.001
See more items in:
Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation records
Archival Repository:
National Museum of the American Indian
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sv412df8cf1-44c0-41fd-9101-eefb477e5aef
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmai-ac-001
Online Media:

Modify Your Search







or


Narrow By