At the time of his death in 1887, the library, archaeological collections and private papers of Charles Rau became the property of the United States National Museum. The library, called the Rau Library of Archaeology, became the nucleus of the archaeological department library. The papers represented by this collection are numbers 1180, 1182- 84, 1186-1190 and 1230 of that library, together with some uncataloged personal correspondence, invitations and newspaper clippings, all of which were transferred to the National Anthropological Archives in March of 1976 by the Smithsonian Institution Libraries
There were no restrictions on the use of this collection, which is contained in two boxes.
Included in his private papers are the manuscripts of some of his publications; early personal correspondence; copies of research papers; a few research notes and some newspaper clippings. Of the approximately 60 incoming letters, only eight were written after Rau's emigration to the United States from Germany in 1848. Of possible interest to the historian are the boyhood letters from his period of apprenticeship in the iron industry of Westphalia and those from the year 1848 which contain much material on the political upheavals of that year. Charles Rau's letters to Dr. Carl Hermann Berendt (1817-1878), a German political refugee and Central American anthropologist, are concerned mainly with personal matters but contain also comments on the American political scene and much small talk of the contemporary world of anthropology. Included is some rather frank professional criticism of the other scholars and of the Smithsonian Institution hierarchy. This correspondence is in German and for the most part in German script as are the earlier letters. Two letters from Heinrich Balduin Mollhausen, a German artist whose drawings of Indians appear in the National Anthropological Archives are filed with the incoming letters.
Scope and Contents:
Charles Rau (1826-1887), described by The Dictionary of American Biography as "the foremost American archeologist," was curator for archeology of the United States national Museum from 1881 until his death. Included in his private papers are the manuscripts of some of his publications; early personal correspondence; copies of research papers; a few research notes and some newspaper clippings.
Of the approximately 60 incoming letters, only eight were written after Rau's emigration to the United States from Germany in 1848. Of possible interest to the historian are the boyhood letters from his period of apprenticeship in the iron industry of Westphalia and those from the year 1848 which contain much material on the political upheavals of that year.
Charles Rau's letters to Dr. Carl Hermann Berendt (1817-1878), a German political refugee and Central American anthropologist, are concerned mainly with personal matters but contain also comments on the American political scene and much small talk of the contemporary world of anthropology. Included is some rather frank professional criticism of the other scholars and of the Smithsonian Institution hierarchy. This correspondence is in German and for the most part in German script as are the earlier letters.
Two letters from Heinrich Balduin Mollhausen, a German artist whose drawings of Indians appear in the National Anthropological Archives are filed with the incoming letters.
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:
Arranged in 5 series: (1) Incoming letters, 1839-1856; (2) letters to Carl Hermann Berendt, 1869-1876; (3) writings, undated; (4) material collected by Rau, 1865-1887; (5) miscellany, undated
Biographical / Historical:
Charles Rau was born in Belgium and was educated in Germany. He left his studies in 1839 and became an apprentice in the iron industry in Siegen and, later a mining superintendent in Remagen. In 1848, he immigrated to the United States, settling in the St. Louis area. There, while teaching languages in order to support himself, he collected archaeological specimens and began to investigate nearby archaeological sites. Beginning in 1859, he regularly published articles on archaeology and other anthropological concerns. In 1861, he moved to New York and, while still teaching, continued archaeological work that would make him one of America's leading authorities in that field. In 1863, he became a contributor to Smithsonian publications and, in 1875, was employed to prepare the anthropological exhibit of the Smithsonian and Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. In 1881, he was appointed curator in the Department of Archaeology of the United States National Museum, a position he held until he died in 1887.
1826 -- Born Carl Rau in Verviers, Liege, Belgium to German parents
1839 -- Left his studies and home in Heidelberg to enter into an apprenticeship in the iron industry in Siegen, Germany
1844 -- Became a mine administrator (superintendent) near Remagen
1848 -- In October, emigrated to the United States; first to New Orleans and then to work as a language teacher in Bellesville, Illinois
1856-1863 -- Moved to New York where he also taught languages
1863 -- Began to write for the Smithsonian Reports
1875 -- Was asked to prepare ethnological section of the SI Centennial Exhibition
1876 -- Living in Philadelphia
1881 -- Became curator of the Department of Archaeology of the United States National Museum
1882 -- Made an honorary Ph.D. by the University of Freiberg in Baden
1887 -- July 26, died in Philadelphia
Related Materials:
The National Anthropological Archives holds MS 7065 Letter to Charles Rau, MS 7066 Letter to Charles Rau, and MS 7125 Catalogs of collections of American and European antiquities.
The Smithsonian Institution Archives holds Record Unit 7070, Charles Rau Papers.
Arranged chronologically by the first date of each group of letters, with all letters from one correspondent kept together. Where letters are undated they are retained in their original sequence. Approximately 60 letters. One note in French, all of the others in German.
Collection Citation:
Charles Rau papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Approximately forty letters, short notes and postcards written from New York and Philadelphia to Dr. Berendt in New York. Several letters from Berendt to Rau are included and are filed according to dates with the Rau letters. Where dates are missing the letters have been left in their original place in the sequence.
Arranged chronologically.
Collection Citation:
Charles Rau papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Here are found handwritten copies of a lecture given before the New York Liberal Club; a paper identified by Rau as "Brooklyn Lecture"; three short papers and the entire manuscript of the book Prehistoric Fishing in Europe and North America."
Arranged alphabetically.
Collection Citation:
Charles Rau papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
A letter from Charles Jones, later published in the SI Annual Report, describing two silver crosses found in Georgia; a paper by Atreus Wenner about Indian relics near York, Pennsylvania; a selection copied from a work by Bedford Pim; a copy, in German or an article about stone axes by Ferdinand Keller; and one about pre-Columbian settlements in America by Philip Vatcutins, also in German, and the bibliography from a book by Theo. Waitz on ethnology. Also a couple of excerpts from Squier and Davis' book on mounds and artifacts in the Mississippi Valley.
Arranged alphabetically.
Collection Citation:
Charles Rau papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
