The Richard Ceough papers include five typed and bound reports written by Ceough on his archaeological work in Chiapas, Mexico over four summer seasons from 1943-1946.
Scope and Contents:
The Richard Ceough papers include five typed and bound reports written by Ceough on his archaeological work in Chiapas, Mexico over four summer seasons from 1943-1946. There are two copies of the Summer 1944 report. All reports were wirtten as informal reports for submission to the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico. The first report "The Temple of the Tousand Steps at Agua Azul" was written in May of 1944 and includes several maps as well as photographs taken by Ceough at the Chinkultic archaeological site. The second report titled "Informal Report of the Exploration of Agua Azul and the Valley of the Lost Desires, Summer 1944" includes Ceough's day book in addition to sketches, made by Javier Mandujano, maps and photographs. The third report titled "Informal Report on the Exploration of New Virginia, Santa Elena, Agua Azul and Chincultic, Summer 1945" is the largest volume and includes Ceough's day book, sketches, maps and photographs. The photographs include landscape views as well as close up images of stelae and archaeological finds. The final report, completed after Ceough's death by Blanche Corin, is untitled but includes Ceough's day book from the summer of 1946 as well as sketches and photographs.
Arrangement:
Arranged chronologically.
Biographical / Historical:
Dr. Richard Ceough was born Albert J.C. Kretzmann in Hudson, New York in 1898. Very involved in the theatre, "Richard Ceough" was most likely taken as a stage name some time in the 1920s or 1930s. Ceough graduated from New York University in 1922 and later completed his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees there as well. In 1929 Ceough appeared in several performances on the stage and spent a year teaching at NYU. In 1930, Ceough joined the faculty of the City College of New York as Assistant Professor of public speaking. While at CCNY, Ceough founded the college's theatre workshop and was director of it until his sudden death in 1947 at the age of 48 from coronary thrombosis. He also served as editor of the Theatre Annual from its founding in 1943.
In 1940, Ceough took his first trip to the Comitan region of Mexico. In 1942, Ceough returned to the Comitan region during his summer vacation and began taking part in yearly archaeological expeditions with Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History. In May of 1944, Ceough completed his first report detailing his work in the 1943 season at the "Temple of a Thousand Steps," a Mayan pyramid overlooking Agua Azul at Chinkultic in Chiapas, Mexico. In subsequent years, Ceough presented two more informal reports on his work in Agua Azul and other areas in the Comitan region as well as publishing an article in Popular Science on Chinkultic. Ceough passed away suddenly at the City College of New York on January 9, 1947. His report from July and August of 1946 was completed and submitted posthumously to the National Institute of Anthropology and History by Blanche Corin with assistance from Javier Mandujano y Solorzano. In 1949, Corin left Ceough's material to the Hispanic Society of America in New York City which later donated these materials to the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation in February of 1966.
Separated Materials:
24 clay specimens collected by Dr. Richard Ceough in Chiapas, Mexico are in NMAI Collections with object numbers 23/6500 - 23/6522.
Provenance:
Gift of the Hispanic Society of America to the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, 1966.
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 broadbast materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Richard Ceough papers. National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
