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National Anthropological Archives
Ales Hrdlicka photograph collection relating to the Panama-California Exposition, 1912-1917
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NAA.PhotoLot.73-26B
- Creators:
-
Hrdlička, Aleš, 1869-1943
- Dates:
-
1912-1917
- Languages:
-
Undetermined.
- Physical Description:
-
595 Negatives (photographic)circaglass and nitrate
- Repository:
Scope and Contents note
Scope and Contents note
The bulk of the collection consists of photographs commissioned by Ales Hrdlicka for the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, collected 1912-1914. They include front and profile portraits of Mongols in Urga, Mongolia, as well as Apache, Teton, Hopi, Navajo, Omaha, Osage, and Pueblo people. There are some full-length portraits of Apaches and views of Southwest Native dwellings, activities, and a dance. Additionally, there are some images of United States National Museum exhibits and items from the USNM, American Museum of Natural History, and the Royal College of Surgeons in London, some of which were made by Hrdlicka in 1917.
Biographical/Historical note
Biographical/Historical note
Ales Hrdlicka (1869-1943) was born in Czechoslovakia and came to the United States at the age of thirteen. Originally trained in medicine, he developed an interest in physical anthropology while working with the New York State hospitals and researching with the Department of Anthropology in the Pathological Institute of the New York State hospitals. Hrdlicka joined the Hyde Expeditions to the American Southwest and made his own expeditions to study physical characteristics of Southwest tribes. In 1903, he was appointed head of the United States National Museum's newly formed Division of Physical Anthropology.
In 1912, Hrdlicka planned and directed seven expeditions, gathering information that helped him prepare physical anthropology exhibits for the Panama-California Exposition at San Diego, California (1915). Hrdlicka hired sculptor Frank Micka to make busts of people from around the world to display in the exposition. While in the field making casts, Micka also took front and profile photographs of subjects. Hrdlicka made his own trip to photograph the people in Urga, Mongolia, making 360 images of Mongolians and some Tibetans for use in the exposition.
Administration
Author
Sarah Ganderup
Existence and Location of Copies note
Digital surrogates are available online.
Custodial History note
The negatives in this collection were turned over to the Smithsonian's central photographic laboratory in the early to mid 20th century. They were returned to the Department of Anthropology in 1973.
Digital Content
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access note
Nitrate negatives are in cold storage and require advanced notice for viewing.
Conditions Governing Use note
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Preferred Citation note
Photo lot 73-26B, Ales Hrdlicka photograph collection relating to the Panama-California Exposition, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Location of Other Archival Materials
Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional photographs relating to the exposition, including prints of many of these negatives, are held in National Anthropological Archives Photo Lot 8, Photo Lot 9, and Photo Lot 88-25.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The National Anthropological Archives also holds the Ales Hrdlicka Papers ca. 1887-1943 and his photographs in Photo Lot 8, Photo Lot 24, Photo Lot 70, Photo Lot 78, Photo Lot 97, Photo Lot 73-26G, Photo Lot 83-41, and Photo Lot 92-46.
More Information
Local Call Number(s)
Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 73-26B
Other Finding Aids note
Other Finding Aids note
Preliminary finding aid available in repository.
Addl. KW Subj
Addl. KW Subj
Navaho
Sioux
Apache
Keywords
National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
naa@si.edu