National Anthropological Archives

Guide to MS 4408 Jesse Walter Fewkes papers, 1873-1927

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.MS4408
Creators:
Fewkes, Jesse Walter, 1850-1930
Dates:
1873-1927
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
13 Boxes
Repository:
This collection consists principally of Fewkes's archeological and ethnological field notebooks, 1890-1927. It also includes correspondence, 1873-1927; lectures, circa 1907-1926; and unpublished manuscripts by Fewkes and others, circa 1893-1923.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists principally of Fewkes's archeological and ethnological field notebooks, 1890-1927; and includes correspondence, 1873-1927; lectures, circa 1907-1926; and unpublished manuscripts by Fewkes and others, circa 1893-1923.
In the accompanying inventory, the catalog numbers under which each volume or part was originally catalogued is shown in brackets.
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 As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today.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
  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1873-1927
  • Series 2: Field Diaries, Notebooks, and Maps, 1873-1927
  • Series 3: Lectures and Articles, mostly unpublished, circa 1907-1926, undated
  • Series 4: Manuscripts by Other Authors, collected by Fewkes, circa 1893-1923

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Jesse Walter Fewkes (1850‐1930) was a naturalist, anthropologist, and archeologist who served as chief of the Bureau of American Ethnology (B.A.E.) from 1918 to 1928. Fewkes received a Ph.D. in marine zoology from Harvard in 1877 and was curator of lower invertebrates at the Museum of Comparative Zoology until 1887. He became deeply interested in the culture and history of the Pueblo Indians while on a collecting trip in the western United States. In 1891, Fewkes became director of the Hemenway Southwestern Archeological Expedition and editor of the Journal of American Archeology and Ethnology. In 1895 he began working for the B.A.E., during which he conducted archaeological excavations in the Southwest, the West Indies, and Florida. During the summers of 1908-1909, 1915-1916, and 1918-1922, Fewkes worked almost exclusively on excavations and repair of ruins in Mesa Verde National Park. He was appointed chief of the B.A.E. in 1918 and played an important role in the creation of Hovenweep National Monument in Colorado and Wupatki National Monument in Arizona. He retired in 1928, after which he continued research for the B.A.E. under the title of Associate Anthropologist.

Administration

Author
Margaret C. Blaker and NAA Staff
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The original accession of Fewkes's papers was selected by Matthew W. Stirling at Fewkes's home after Fewkes's death in 1930. This accession consisted largely of archeological and ethnological field notebooks, correspondence, lectures, and unpublished manuscripts. These materials were originally cataloged in unrelated lots. NAA archivist Margaret C. Blaker brought these materials together in 1956 and cataloged them under MS 4408.
In March 1976, the Smithsonian Libraries transferred to the NAA papers largely concerning Fewkes's other scientific work. These were accessioned under the number NAA ACC 76-133. Another group of materials consisting of three volumes recording trip to the American West were transferred from the Smithsonian Institution Archives in December 1979.
Another acquisition to the Fewkes papers, consisting of a volume of photographs, a volume of correspondence, and another volume concerning Betatakin, were acquired from aņ unknown source. These materials appeared in James R. Glenn's office in the Department of Anthropology in April 1986. A notebook of graphite drawings of Taino culture was donated by Jordan Belfort of Old Brookville, New York via Alvin Abrams.
Processing Information
Items 88-102 were previously listed at the end of the container list. In compiling the digital finding aid, they have been listed under the requisite series. Item 92 is now listed under Series 1: Correspondence. Items 90-91 and 93-102 are now listed under Series 2: Field Diaries, Notebooks, and Maps. Items 88-89 are now listed under Series 4: Manuscripts by Other Authors.
Original collection inventory created by Margaret C. Blaker. Inventory last updated by Adam Minakowski, December 2013.
Digital finding aid compiled and encoded by Katherine Madison, April 2017.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Jesse Walter Fewkes papers are open for research.
Access to the Jesse Walter Fewkes papers requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
Contact repository for terms of use.
Preferred Citation
Manuscript 4408 Jesse Walter Fewkes papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Related Materials
Additional records created by and about Fewkes are contained in the records of the Bureau of American Ethnology.
Fewkes correspondence held in the National Anthropological Archives is contained in the George L. Beam papers (MS 4517), the Henry Bascom Collins, Jr. papers, the Anthropological Society of Washington records (MS 4821), the Herbert William Krieger papers, the J.C. Pilling papers, the Walter Hough Papers (in the records of the Department of Anthropology), and the records of the Bureau of American Ethnology.
Fewkes photographs held in National Anthropological Archives are contained in in Photo Lot 1, Photo Lot 30, Photo Lot 86 (his negatives), Photo Lot 73-43B, and Photo Lot 4321.
Fewkes drawings held in the National Anthropological Archives are contained in MS 3427 Drawings of specimens, Heshota Uthla.
The Smithsonian Institution Archives also holds a field notebook by Fewkes, Record Unit 7350.
The Department of Anthropology collections holds several accessions of artifacts collected by Fewkes, including USNM ACC 048761 (relating to Casa Grande excavations) and USNM ACC 050765 (relating to Mesa Verde excavations).
Collection supplement files relating to the life and published work of J. Walter Fewkes are on file in the NAA Reading Room.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Language and languages -- Documentation Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Archaeology Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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