National Anthropological Archives

Richard E. Stearns photographs of archeological sites and artifacts, circa 1930-1960

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.73-40
Creators:
Stearns, Richard E. (Archaeologist)
Dates:
circa 1930-1960
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
26 Color prints
22 Sketches
600 Prints
circa
silver gelatin and contact prints (including stereographic images)
325 Negatives
circa
3 Maps
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
The collection includes photographs of excavations and artifacts relating to Stearns' archeological work in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. There are also some sketches of artifacts and excavation sites, as well as notes on pictured artifacts. One photo album relates to Stearns' work in Florida, while the other contains photographs of various sites in Maryland, including Conowingo.
The collection relates to work in Sussex County in Delaware; the District of Columbia; Bay, Collier, Flagler, Franklin, St. Johnʹs, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties in Florida, Glynn County in Georgia; Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Queen Anneʹs, and St. Maryʹs counties in Maryland; Horry County in South Carolina; and Loudon and Page counties in Virginia.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Richard E. Stearns (1902-1969) was a commercial photographer and amateur archeologist of Maryland's prehistory. He was known for his photographic documentation, particularly of sites and specimens, most notably at Conowingo, a large village site on the Susquehanna River. In the 1930s, he became a curator for the Department of Archeology of the Natural History Society of Maryland, a position he held for over thirty years. In the 1940s, Stearns published Nicholas Yinger's investigations of the Hughes site, as well as his own investigations of sites in Maryland.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Custodial History note
The photographs in this collection accompanied Stearns' donations of artifacts to United States National Museum, specifically accessions 160003, 187165, 188274, 191329, 247561, and 308221. The photographs were transferred from the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropological Archives in 1973.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Preferred Citation note
Photo Lot 73-40, Richard E. Stearns photographs of archeological sites and artifacts, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
The National Museum of Natural History's Department of Anthropology holds artifacts donated by Stearns, in accessions 163264, 176236, 182055, 183968, 186144, 188274, 200211, 202602, 247561, and 308221.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional photos by Stearns can be found in the National Anthropological Archives in MS 4524.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
USNM ACC 160002
,
USNM ACC 187165
,
USNM ACC 188274
,
USNM ACC 191329
,
USNM ACC 247561
,
USNM ACC 308221
,
NAA Photo Lot 73-40

Other Finding Aids note

Other Finding Aids note
Inventory available in repository.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Horry County (S.C.) -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Virginia -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maps Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maryland -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Glynn County (Ga.) -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Florida -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Washington (D.C.) -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sussex County (Del.) -- Antiquities Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Excavations (Archaeology) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
naa@si.edu