The George Barbour papers contain correspondence, field diaries, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, and publications documenting his work with the Geological Survey of China in the 1930's and his lifelong interest in early man in China and other issues pertaining China.
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 As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today.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.
Biographical Note:
George Barbour was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1890. He earned an M.A. from Cambridge University in 1918 and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1929. He taught geology at a number of institutions including Yenching University (1923-1932) and the University of Cincinnati (1938-1960).
Related Materials:
The Human Studies Film Archives holds a film by George B. Barbour (HSFA 1981.5.6).
The Hoover Institution Library and Archives and the University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library hold George B. Barbour papers.
Restrictions:
Access to the George Barbour papers requires an appointment.
Photographs compiled by Frederick K. Morris documenting his travels in China, 1920-1923; Mongolia, 1922-1923; and Japan and Korea, 1923 and 1925. The photographs were made or collected by Frederick and Florence Morris in Shanghai, Yokohama (after an eathquake), Tianjin, Beijing, Zhangjiakou, Kyoto, Nara, Nikko, Seul, and Kaijo, as well as various villages. They depict scenery, cities, clothing, transportation (including rickshaws, boats, and animals), fishing, peddlers, tradesmen and craftsmen, students, Pei Yang University, the tomb of Confucius, ceremonies and festivals, agriculture, and tourist sites such as the Great Wall and palaces. The collection also includes photographs of the Morris family, their friends, and personnel of the Third Asiatic Expedition. A few newspaper clippings, postcard, sketches, and souvenirs are also in the albums.
Biographical/Historical note:
Dr. Frederick Kuhn Morris (1885-1962) was a geologist and professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He first visited China as a visiting professor at Pei Yang University (Bei yang shi fan xue tang) at Tianjin from 1920-1921. Joining the American Museum of Natural History's third Central Asiatic Expedition (circa 1925) as the expedition's geologist, Morris assisted expedition leader Roy Chapman Andrews to collect natural history specimens in Northern China and Mongolia.
