National Anthropological Archives

Photographs of Mexico and Latin America, circa 1895-1907

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.87-20
Creators:
Holmes, William Henry, 1846-1933
Dates:
circa 1895-1907
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
150 Prints
circa
silver gelatin and albumen
1 Print
halftone
Repository:

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Photographs documenting Mexican people in built and natural environments, as well as industries, markets, and agriculture. The photographs were originally contained in envelopes labeled by William Henry Holmes, who may have collected them during his travels to Mexico. The collection also includes some photographs made in Cuba, Guatemala, and Chile, as well as Holmes's notes on Argentina. The bulk of the photographs were made by William Henry Jackson; additional photographs were made by Charles Edward Doty, E. J. Kildare, Sumner W. Matteson, C. B. Waite, and Corral and Parker studios.

Biographical/Historical note

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. During this time, he carried out investigations of ancient ruins in the Yucatan and other areas of Mesoamerica as a member of an expedition of Allison V. Armour. Holmes served as head curator for the US National Museum Department of Anthropology from 1897-1902 and head of the BAE from 1902-1909.
William Henry Jackson was a photographer for the US Geological and Geographical Surveys (1870-1878) before he opened a studio in Denver, Colorado, and began making official photographs for various railroad companies. In 1883, he made his first trip to Mexico under the sponsorship of the Mexican Central Railway. On one of his subsequent trips, he was accompanied by William Henry Holmes, who may have collected Jackson's photographs because of this trip.

Administration

Author
Sarah Ganderup
Existence and Location of Copies note
Digital surrogates are available.
Custodial History note
The photographs were found in the National Anthropological Archives in three envelopes labeled by William Henry Holmes.

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 87-20, Photographs of Mexico and Latin America, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Location of Other Archival Materials

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).
Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional photographs by Jackson can be found in the National Anthropological Archives in Photo Lot 24, Photo Lot 37, Photo Lot 40, Photo Lot 60, Photo Lot 93, Photo Lot 143, Photo Lot 87-2P, Photo Lot 90-1, Photo Lot 92-3, the records of the Department of Anthropology, and the BAE historical negatives.

More Information

Local Call Number(s)

Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 87-20

Other Finding Aids note

Other Finding Aids note
Inventory available in repository.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Agriculture Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Markets Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuba Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mexico Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cities and towns Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Guatemala Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chile Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mexicans Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jackson, William Henry, 1843-1942 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Parker Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Matteson, Sumner W., 1867-1920 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Waite, C. B. (Charles Betts), 1861-1927 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Doty, Charles Edward, 1862-1921 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kildare, Edward James Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
Business Number: Phone: 301.238.1300
Fax Number: Fax: 301.238.2883
naa@si.edu