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Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Dry Goods

Creator:
Warshaw, Isadore, 1900-1969  Search this
Extent:
37.8 Cubic feet (consisting of 76 boxes (including 12 off-site), 12 folders, 16 oversize folders, 7 flat boxes (6 full, 1 partial), plus digital images of some collection material. )
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Ephemera
Business ephemera
Date:
1768-1973
Summary:
A New York bookseller, Warshaw assembled this collection over nearly fifty years. The Warshaw Collection of Business Americana: Dry Goods forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Subseries 1.1: Subject Categories. The Subject Categories subseries is divided into 470 subject categories based on those created by Mr. Warshaw. These subject categories include topical subjects, types or forms of material, people, organizations, historical events, and other categories. An overview to the entire Warshaw collection is available here: Warshaw Collection of Business Americana
Scope and Contents:
This material consists primarily of scattered correspondence on letterhead stationery, bills/receipts, printed advertisements, trade catalogs, handbills, pamphlets, advertising cards , photographs, cloth samples , leaflets, books, prospectus, order forms, chromolithographs, magazine advertisements, seals, postcards, business cards, children's books, greeting cards, almanacs, calendars, cardboard standups, fans, paper bag samples and import/export documents from businesses referred to loosely as department or variety stores. A number of these stores are still in business and tend to have a substantial amount of material . Such companies include I. Magnin, R. H. Macy, Woodward & Lothrop, F. H. Woolworth's, Sears, Roebuck & Company , Montgomery Wards, Wanamaker, etc. There are a few references to businesses who imported English, French, German, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian, Sudanese, Persian and Moorish articles.

Generally the stores included among these materials sold a variety of products consisting of clothing and clothing accessories, home furnishings, home construction kits, novelties, stationery , groceries and a number of other products sold in contemporary department and variety stores. There are also companies that specialized in a particular product or type of product. Researchers interested in these businesses should also consult the same subject category if it is included on the listing of vertical document boxes. It is also possible that if the company produced oversize catalogs these would be listed with the Warshaw Collection oversize materials. For example, there are a number of Montgomery Wards, Butler Brothers, Bellas Hess and Company and Sears, Roebuck and Company catalogs found among the oversize materials.

There are a number of images that appear on these materials. Most of these images tend to be illustrations of the exterior or interior departments of the stores . Product illustrations also appear throughout the catalogues, printed advertisements and price lists. Ethnic images particularly in French advertisements also appear regularly. Dry goods stores relied heavily on advertisements directed toward children especially during the Christmas/holiday season. Books for children illustrating characters from favorite stories or Christmas scenes are common among the larger stores namely Woodward & Lothrop.

Materials in boxes one through thirty-nine are organized by name of company. Publications that discuss the history of a particular company are included with the company related materials. Catalogues , calendars , almanacs and price lists are generally listed under the company name in the finding aid with dates . This is due to the fact that these materials are often requested by researchers in this manner. This does not imply that these are the only materials for that particular company in the folders .

Box thirty-nine is also partially arranged by type including patents, stocks , general images, associations and miscellaneous items. A few related publications such as a chain store bibliography and a book on the history of chain stores are also included.

Boxes forty and forty-one contain periodicals created by W. A. Spelman in New York. Published as a trade journal devoted to the interests of the retail merchants, it was primarily meant to aid the subscriber in meeting the increasing competition in the dry goods trade. It was also meant to guide merchants in the purchase of goods. Referred to as The Fancy Goods Graphic or Spelman's Fancy Goods Graphic, these publications date from 1881-1890 .

Import and export documents are found in boxes forty-one, through forty-three.

The processing of additional materials in 2017 integrated a significant volume of material, most notably the Jermain Business and Family papers and to a lesser extent, the Trimble Family Business records. Both offer insight to the operations of 19th Century family businesses. Also added was significant manuscript on the history of Montgomery Ward is also available.

Catalogues, especially thinner circular type editions have not been consolidated and may be found throughout the material in this collection. However there are several groupings listed in the Catalogue series, especially for regular issue bulky catalogues published by Montgomery Ward and Sears Roebuck and Company. See note regarding some items that have been microfilmed or transferred off-site.
Arrangement:
Dry Goods is arranged in two subseries.

Business Records and Marketing Material

General, including Accounting Books and Ledgers

Companies and Proprietors

Companies and Proprietors, Oversize Material

Trade Literature and Other

Export/Import Records

Jermain Business and Family Papers; plus associated Albany Records

Montgomery Ward History Manuscripts

Trimble Family Business Records

General, Marketing Material

Catalogues

General and Mail Order

Montgomery Ward

Sears, Roebuck and Company

Assorted [Off-Site, including Montgomery Ward and Sears, Roebuck and Company]
Materials in the Archives Center:
Archives Center Collection of Business Americana (AC0404)
Forms Part Of:
Forms part of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana.

Missing Title

Series 1: Business Ephemera

Series 2: Other Collection Divisions

Series 3: Isadore Warshaw Personal Papers

Series 4: Photographic Reference Material
Provenance:
Dry Goods is a portion of the Business Ephemera Series of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Accession AC0060 purchased from Isadore Warshaw in 1967. Warshaw continued to accumulate similar material until his death, which was donated in 1971 by his widow, Augusta. For a period after acquisition, related materials from other sources (of mixed provenance) were added to the collection so there may be content produced or published after Warshaw's death in 1969. This practice has since ceased.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogs are stored off-site and are restricted due to fragile condition. Researchers should consult microfilm in NMAH library for 1880-1983 editions, drawer 692. Some additional items may be restricted due to fragile condition. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Dry-goods  Search this
Genre/Form:
Ephemera
Business ephemera
Citation:
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Dry Goods, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0060.S01.01.Dry
See more items in:
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Dry Goods
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep81e1746bc-55a5-45b1-b0f3-04621bd43e6c
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0060-s01-01-dry
Online Media:

Brings good horses

Artist:
Red Star, Wendy 1981-  Search this
Author:
Johnson, Annika K  Search this
Host institution:
Sargent's Daughters (Gallery)  Search this
Subject:
Red Star, Wendy 1981-  Search this
Physical description:
147 pages chiefly color illustrations 19 x 24 cm
Type:
Exhibitions
Expositions
Exhibition catalogs
Place:
United States
North America
Etats-Unis
Amerique du Nord
Date:
2021
21st century
21e siecle
Topic:
Horses in art  Search this
Crow art  Search this
Indian prints  Search this
Indigenous art  Search this
Chevaux dans l'art  Search this
Art crow  Search this
Estampe indienne d'Amerique  Search this
Art autochtone  Search this
Call number:
N6537.R3294 A4 2021
N6537.R323 A4 2021
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1159243

Stories the Lenape told their grandchildren

Editor:
Townsend, Camilla 1965-  Search this
Michael, Nicky Kay  Search this
Physical description:
x, 255 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates illustrations, maps 23 cm
Type:
Texts
Biography
Textes
Biographies
Place:
Oklahoma
Date:
2023
Topic:
Delaware Indians--Folklore  Search this
Indians of North America--Folklore  Search this
Delaware language  Search this
Social life and customs  Search this
Delaware (Langue)  Search this
Peuples autochtones--Mœurs et coutumes  Search this
Delaware Indians  Search this
Delaware Indians--Social life and customs  Search this
Indians of North America--Social life and customs  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1163497

Psalms and hymns for the Cree Indians

Author:
Horden, John 1828-1893  Search this
Physical description:
xix, 137 pages 19 cm
Type:
Texts
Textes
Date:
1966
1887
Topic:
Hymns, Cree  Search this
Cree language  Search this
Cri (Langue)  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1163504

Courage, fortitude and uranium in New Mexico

Book designer:
Armitage, Merle 1893-1975  Search this
Writer of foreword:
Chavez, Dennis 1888-1962  Search this
Author:
Larry Dingman Western Fiction Collection (Library of Congress) DLC  Search this
Publisher:
Duell, Sloan & Pearce  Search this
Physical description:
viii, 160 pages, 20 unnumbered pages of plates illustrations, portraits 23 cm
Type:
Books
Dust jackets (Binding)
Place:
New Mexico
Nouveau-Mexique
New York (State)
New York
Date:
1959
20th century
Topic:
Uranium mines and mining  Search this
Uranium--Mines et extraction  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1164275

Himalayan art in one hundred eight objects

Editor:
Debreczeny, Karl  Search this
Pakhoutova, Elena  Search this
Author:
Rubin Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Physical description:
503 pages illustrations (some color), color maps 31 x 24 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Himalaya Mountains Region
Himālaya
Date:
2023
Topic:
Art  Search this
Material culture  Search this
Culture matérielle  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1164492

Material histories of early globalisms

Author:
Flood, Finbarr Barry  Search this
Fricke, Beate  Search this
Physical description:
vii, 293 pages illustrations (chiefly color), color maps 28 cm
Type:
Sources
Case studies
Études de cas
Place:
Africa
Date:
2023
12th century
13th century
12e siècle
13e siècle
Topic:
Civilization, Medieval  Search this
Material culture  Search this
Culture and globalization  Search this
History--Methodology  Search this
Civilization, Medieval--Sources  Search this
Civilisation médiévale--Sources  Search this
Culture matérielle  Search this
Culture et mondialisation  Search this
Histoire--Méthodologie  Search this
Civilisation médiévale  Search this
ART--History--Medieval  Search this
HISTORY--East  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1165325

The Church and society in Latin America selected papers from the conference at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 29-30, 1982 [edited by Jeffrey A. Cole]

Author:
Cole, Jeffrey A  Search this
Tulane University Center for Latin American Studies  Search this
Subject:
Catholic Church  Search this
Catholic Church  Search this
Physical description:
v, 379 pages illustrations 22 cm
Type:
Books
Congresses
Congrès
Church history
Conference papers and proceedings
Place:
Latin America
Hispanoamérica
Amérique latine
Date:
1984
Topic:
Church history  Search this
Historia eclesiástica  Search this
Congresos  Search this
Histoire religieuse  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1165972

Land Collection

Author:
Nicholson, H. B (Henry B.)  Search this
Cordy-Collins, Alana  Search this
Land, Lewis K  Search this
California Academy of Sciences  Search this
Subject:
Land, Lewis K Art collections  Search this
Land, Lewis K Collections d'art  Search this
Physical description:
272 pages : illusrations (some color) ; 28 cm
Type:
Exhibitions
Date:
1979
C1979
Topic:
Indian art  Search this
Art précolombien--Expositions  Search this
Call number:
E59.A7 P65X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_122154

Native peoples arts and lifeways

Title:
Native peoples magazine
Native peoples arts & lifeways
Author:
Heard Museum of Anthropology and Primitive Art  Search this
Heard Museum  Search this
Native American Communication Career Development Inc  Search this
Physical description:
v. : ill. ; 28 cm
Type:
Periodicals
Place:
Southwest, New
Date:
1987
2016
C1987-
Call number:
E75.A1 N275
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_404784

Life and legends of the Sioux

Author:
Eastman, Mary H (Mary Henderson) 1818-1887  Search this
Coen, Rena Neumann  Search this
Eastman, Seth 1808-1875  Search this
Physical description:
xxxi, 197 p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm
Type:
Folklore
Date:
1995
C1995
Call number:
E99.D1 E19 1995Y
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_479010

Athabaskan Indian life along the Yukon River

Author:
Fejes, Claire  Search this
Physical description:
xii, 204 p. : ill. ; 24 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1981
C1981
Topic:
Social conditions  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_495723

Alaska Natives Commission final report

Author:
Alaska Natives Commission  Search this
Irwin, Mike  Search this
Joint Federal-State Commission on Policies and Programs Affecting Alaska Natives  Search this
Physical description:
v. : ill. ; 28 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Alaska
Date:
1994
1994-
Topic:
Social conditions  Search this
Government relations  Search this
Call number:
E78.A3 A45 1994
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_570617

Native American sacred lands forum

Author:
Native American Sacred Lands Forum (2001 : Boulder and Denver, Colo.)  Search this
Sherman, Marlon  Search this
Physical description:
xx, 84 p. ; 29 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
United States
Date:
2001
Topic:
Sacred space--Government policy  Search this
Religion  Search this
Land tenure  Search this
Freedom of religion  Search this
Call number:
KF8210.R37 N38 2001
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_738128

Legends & lore of the American Indians

Author:
Hardin, Terri  Search this
Physical description:
xviii, 525 p. ; 25 cm
Type:
Folklore
Place:
United States
Date:
1993
Topic:
Indian mythology  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_771058

Book of Chumash oral narratives

Author:
Blackburn, Thomas C  Search this
Physical description:
xxii, 359 pages : illustrations. ; 24 cm
Type:
Folklore
Place:
California
Date:
1975
C1975
Topic:
Legends  Search this
Religion  Search this
Folklore--Methodology  Search this
Call number:
E99.C815 D42X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_85080

L'inde et le monde indianis'e au Mus'ee national des Arts Asiatiques - Guimet Gilles B'eguin, conservateur en chef

Author:
Béguin, Gilles  Search this
Musée Guimet (Paris, France)  Search this
Subject:
Musée Guimet (Paris, France)  Search this
Musée Guimet (Paris, France) Collections d'art  Search this
Physical description:
171 pages illustrations (some color), maps 26 cm
Type:
Catalogs
Catalogues
Ausstellung
History
Place:
France
Paris
Asia
Indien
Date:
1992
Topic:
Art, Asian  Search this
Art, Asian--Indic influences  Search this
Art, Indic  Search this
Art, Indic--History  Search this
Art  Search this
Art asiatique  Search this
Art de l'Inde  Search this
Art de l'Inde--Histoire  Search this
Ausstellung  Search this
Kunst  Search this
Paris (1992)  Search this
Civilization  Search this
Indic influences  Search this
Call number:
DS12. I63
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_880766

The Soul of Tengri Fashion Show: Celebrating and Reviving Kazakh Couture

Creator:
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this
Type:
Blog posts
Smithsonian staff publications
Blog posts
Published Date:
Tue, 26 Dec 2023 22:41:00 GMT
Topic:
Cultural property  Search this
See more posts:
Festival Blog
Data Source:
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:posts_f4c61bee9c052f3ccf6442e50fe6a59a

Edward F. Weed photograph collection

Collector:
Weed, Edward F.  Search this
Photographer:
N. Brown & Son  Search this
Extent:
51 Photographs
Culture:
Diné (Navajo)  Search this
Eastern Band of Cherokee  Search this
Peoria  Search this
Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl)  Search this
Tlingit  Search this
Shoshone  Search this
Coast Salish  Search this
Pikuni (Piegan) [Blackfeet Nation, Browning, Montana]  Search this
Mojave (Mohave)  Search this
Oklahoma Cherokee  Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
circa 1866-1868
Summary:
This collection contains 51 photographs collected by Edward Weed that depict various American Indian communities.
Scope and Contents:
P07342-P07370, N36353, N36354

This collection of 51 photographs (49 photographs and 2 copy negatives) that were collected by Edward Weed from his artist father-in-law Vincent Colyer. The collection is an assortment of photographs shot by different photographers and depicting Native communities including Coast Salish; Diné (Navajo); Eastern Band of Cherokee; Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl); Mojave (Mohave); Oklahoma Cherokee; Peoria; Pikuni (Piegan) [Blackfeet Nation, Browning, Montana]; Shoshone; Tlingit; and Ute.

Photographs in this collection were shot by N. Brown and Son Co.; M.A. Kennedy Co.; Charles Gentile and Co.; Moulton A. Kleckner; Henry Lorenzen; H. P. Osborne; Savage and Ottinger Co.; Noah Shakespeare; and Valentin Wolfenstein.

The photographs in this collection require additional research. It is believed that many may be mis-identified and/or mis-attributed.
Arrangement:
The photographs are arranged in folders according to image number.
Biographical / Historical:
Little is known about Edward F. Weed. It is believed that his father-in-law may have been American artist Vincent Colyer (1824-1888). In addition to painting, Colyer had traveled to the American Southwest between 1868-1871 to report on reservation conditions for Friends of the Indians, a Quaker organization. In 1869, he also surveyed conditions for the newly created Board of Indian Commissioners. It is believed that Coyler collected the photographs in this collection during one of these trips to the Southwest or soon afterward.
Provenance:
The photographs in this collection were donated by Edward F. Weed in 1925 and 1927. They were collected by his possible father-in-law and artist Vincent Colyer from photographer Nicholas Brown.
Restrictions:
Access to NMAI Archives 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:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiphotos@si.edu. For personal or classroom use, users are invited to download, print, photocopy, and distribute the images that are available online without prior written permission, provided that the files are not modified in any way, the Smithsonian Institution copyright notice (where applicable) is included, and the source of the image is identified as the National Museum of the American Indian. For more information please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use and NMAI Archive Center's Digital Image request website.
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Edward F. Weed photograph collection, image #, NMAI.AC.182; National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NMAI.AC.182
See more items in:
Edward F. Weed photograph collection
Archival Repository:
National Museum of the American Indian
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sv48393b5e8-1beb-4ae0-ab61-8916a230fde3
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmai-ac-182

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

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