William Henry Holmes collection of photographs of stone implements, early 20th century

Scope and Contents note

Photographs of stone implements collected by William Henry Holmes, probably in association with his "Handbook of Aboriginal American Antiquities" for the Bureau of American Ethnology.

Biographical/Historical note

William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) was an artist, geologist, and archeologist who spent most of his career with the United States Geological Survey of the Territories, United States Geological Survey, Bureau of American Ethnology, and Department of Anthropology of the Smithsonian. From 1894-1897, he was the head of anthropology at the Field Columbian Museum (Field Museum of Natural History) and on the staff of the University of Chicago. From 1889 to 1894, shortly after his appointment to the Bureau of American Ethnology, William Henry Holmes conducted excavations of the quartzite and steatite quarries in the Rock Creek Valley. He later served as head curator for the US National Museum Department of Anthropology from 1897-1902 and head of the BAE from 1902-1909. During preparations for his "Handbook of Aboriginal American Antiquities," published in the 60th Bureau of American Ethnology bulletin, Holmes took charge of the archeological collections of the United States National Museum; images of which illustrate his text.

Location of Other Archival Materials

Correspondence by Holmes can be found throughout the National Anthropological Archives in MS 7206, the records of the Bureau of American Ethnology, and the records of the Department of Anthropology.

Location of Other Archival Materials

Manuscripts and notes by Holmes can be found throughout the National Anthropological Archives in MS 4698, MS 2125, MS 7112, and MS 7570.

Location of Other Archival Materials

The Smithsonian Institution Archives holds the William Henry Holmes Papers, 1870-1931 (SIA RU007084).