National Anthropological Archives

Guide to the Gus Van Beek papers, circa 1959-2008

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.2008-28
Creators:
Van Beek, Gus W. (Gus Willard), 1922-
Dates:
circa 1959-2008
Languages:
Multiple languages
.
Physical Description:
53.5 Linear feet
106 document boxes 6 record storage boxes and 4 small boxes
Repository:
This collection consists of the professional papers of Dr. Gus Van Beek, Curator of Old World Archaeology, Division of Archaeology, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution. Included is the overall body of field logs and notebooks, correspondence, administrative work, research for and about exhibits, photographs, drawings, work on a variety of Departmental committees, and work leading toward the publication of a number of manuscripts and papers. These materials cover roughly the period from 1959 when Dr. Van Beek was hired as an Associate Curator in the Department until 2008 when he actively ceased work in his office at NMNH.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of the professional papers of Dr. Gus Van Beek, Curator of Old World Archaeology, Division of Archaeology, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution. Included is the overall body of field logs and notebooks, correspondence, administrative work, research for and about exhibits, photographs, drawings, work on a variety of Departmental committees, and work leading toward the publication of a number of manuscripts and papers. These materials cover roughly the period from 1959 when Dr. Van Beek was hired as an Associate Curator in the Department until 2008 when he actively ceased work in his office at NMNH.
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 As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today.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

Arrangement
Collection is organized into 8 series: 1) Correspondence; 2) South Arabia; 3) Exhibits; 4) Publications; 5) Administrative; 6) Photographs; 7) Vertical file.

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
March 21, 1922
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
1943
Bachelor of Arts with honors from University of Tulsa 
1945
Bachelor of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago
1947-49
Louis J. and Mary E. Horowitz Christian Fellow, Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati
1951
Field research with the American Foundation for the Study of Man at Hajar Bin Humeid, Wadi Beihan, East Aden Protectorate, Arabia
1952
Archeological Fellow, American Schools of Oriental Research, Jerusalem, Jordan. Completed field research in the cities of Jericho, Qumran and Dhiban, Jordan.
1953
Doctor of Philosophy in Near Eastern Archaeology, History and Semitic Languages from the John Hopkins University
1959-1967
Associate Curator, Old World Archeology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
1961-62
Intensive archaeological reconnaissance field research in Wadi Hadhramaut and East Aden Protectorate [South Yemen]
1962-65
Worked on Hall 26: Old World Archeology permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
1964
Archaeological reconnaissance in Yemen and Axum
1965
Producing curator of the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit at National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
1966-67
Completed archaeological survey of early Phoenician sites in Tunisia
1967-[2008]
Curator, Old World Archeology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
1967
Field research to survey Tigre Province, Ethiopia and the Beq'a of Lebanon
1967
Curator of the Tunisian Mosaic Exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
1968
Archaeological survey of Wadi Negran, Saudi Arabia
1968
Guest Curator of the South Arabian Art Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
1969
Surveyed sites in Israel for possible excavation
1969
Curator of the Masada Exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
1970-78
Organized and directed major archaeological excavations at Tel Jemmeh, Israel. [Annually]
1972
Producing Curator of the Arabia Felix exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
1982
Directed excavation at Tell Jemmeh and researched terre pise, pise de terre construction in Morocco
1984
Excavation at Tel Jemmeh to increase the area of the 10th-9th centuries B.C. exposure
1987
Excavation at Tel Jemmeh
1989
Researched mud construction in Madras, Pondicherry and Kerala, Indian and in Punjab, Pakistan to determine if highland mud construction was sufficiently adapted environmentally to justify intensive study
1989
Researched mud construction (adobe) in Sante Fe, Abiquiu and Taos, New Mexico to compare construction methods and design elements with those of the Middle East
1990
Investigated layered mud construction and design in vicinity of Quetta, Baluchistan, Pakistan and directed small excavation at Tel Jemmeh
1991
Field research in vicinity of Quetta, Baluchistan, Pakistan; Gujarat State, India and across newly unified Yemen
1992
Advised the Israel Antiquities Authority on mud construction
1994
Field research in eastern architecture in Syria
1995
Participated in Adobe Workshop, sponsored by New Mexico State Monuments and J. Paul Getty Conversation organization
1997
Research on rammed earth (terre pise) construction and design in Dauphine Province, France and in the states of Hesse, Baden, and Wurtemburg, Germany
1999
Research on minimizing earthquake damage in ancient mud brick construction at Tel Rehov in the Jordan Valley, Israel

Administration

Author
Benjamin Z. Brown
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These papers were donated to the National Anthropological Archives by the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History.
Processing Information
The papers of Dr. Gus Van Beek were received partially organized. The processing archivist kept existing groupings. Original folder titles were retained, titles in brackets were provided by the archivist.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Gus Van Beek papers are open for research.
Access to the Gus van Beek papers requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation
Gus Van Beek papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.

Related Materials
See also Gus Van Beek's papers related to the Tel Jemmeh expedition.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Papers Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Notes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Contact prints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Archeological excavations Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photocopies Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dead sea scrolls Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum exhibits Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Grant Proposals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arabian Peninsula Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hajar Āl Ḥumayd Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ḥaḍramawt (Yemen : Province) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Negatives (photographic) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Press releases Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Speeches Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maʻrib (Yemen) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drafts (documents) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Archaeology Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Articles Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographic prints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Memorandums Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tunisia Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Yemen Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Resumes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reviews (documents) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Slides (photographs) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Exhibit scripts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Egypt Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Department of Anthropology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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