National Anthropological Archives

Donald Bush Cordry photographs of Mexican masks and mask-making, 1941-1974

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.82-14
Creators:
Cordry, Donald Bush
Dates:
1941-1974
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
1 Color print
mounted
11 Gelatin silver prints
mounted
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Images of masks, mask making, and use of masks in various parts of Mexico. Also includes photograph of a painting by Donald Cordry depicting use of a mask and musical instruments.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Donald Bush Cordry (1907-1978) was an artist, photographer, and ethnographer of the arts and crafts of Indians of Mexico. In 1931, Cordry made his first trip to Mexico (Guerrero) and become fascinated by contemporary Mexican Indian art, especially mask making. In 1934, Cordry moved to New York to work as a marionette designer for puppeteer Tony Sarg and soon contacted George G. Heye to learn more about Mexican Indian art. From 1935 to 1938, Cordry collected Mexican masks and other art forms on behalf of the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. On his first 1935 collecting trip for Heye, Cordry traveled throughout the states of Michoacan and Guerrero and collected carved and painted dance masks.

Administration

Author
NAA Staff
Custodial History note
Probably donated by Donald Cordry in the 1970s. Transferred from Department of Anthropology Processing Lab, 1981.

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 82-14, Donald Bush Cordry photographs of Mexican masks and mask-making, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Location of Other Archival Materials

Location of Other Archival Materials
Photographs of the Donald Cordry Mexican mask exhibit can be found in the National Anthropological Archives in Photo Lot 80-3.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The Donald Cordry Mexican mask collection can be found in the Department of Anthropology in USNM ACC 355867.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Photographs taken by Cordry can be found in the National Anthropological Archives in Photo Lot 87-38.
Location of Other Archival Materials
Donald Cordry and his wife, Dorothy Mann Cordry, also donated clothing and musical instruments from Mexico to the Department of Anthropology in USNM ACC 361232 and USNM ACC 355866.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The National Museum of the American Indian Archives holds the Donald Bush Cordry collection of photographs and negatives, 1933-1940, as well as artifacts collected by Cordry.
Location of Other Archival Materials
The University of Texas at Austin holds the Donald Cordry Collection Relating to Mexican Masks, 1931-1978.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 82-14


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Mexicans Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mexico Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Festivals -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mask makers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Masks -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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