National Anthropological Archives

Donald Bush Cordry photographs of Indigenous peoples of Mexico, 1937-1972

Summary
Collection ID:
NAA.PhotoLot.87-38
Creators:
Cordry, Donald Bush
Dates:
1937-1972
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
8 Color transparencies
93 Mounted photographs
silver gelatin
Repository:
Scope and Contents note
Scope and Contents note
Enlargements of photographs made by Donald Bush Cordry during his time in Mexico. These were mounted for a 1970s Bellas Artes-sponsored traveling exhibit based on Cordry's collection of Mexican Indian costumes. Included are images of Indigenous peoples of Mexico, fiestas and dances, pottery, boats, weaving, spinning, masks, vendors and markets, churches, and shrines. Depicted groups include the Huichol, Mestizo, Tarascan, Seri, Mayo, Tepehua, Totonac, Nahua, Mazatec, Cuicatec, Chinantec, Zapotec, Mixe, Amusgo, Huave, Mixtec, Chapanec, Zoque, Tzotzil, and Maya. Additionally, there are some self portraits of Donald Cordry and his wife Dorothy.
Biographical/Historical note
Biographical/Historical note
Donald Bush Cordry (1907-1978) was an artist and photographer who studied the art of Indigenous peoples of Mexico. In 1931, Cordry made his first trip to Guerrero, Mexico, where he became interested in contemporary mask making. In 1934, Cordry moved to New York to work as a marionette designer for puppeteer Tony Sarg. While there, he contacted George G. Heye to learn more about Indigenous Mexican art. This led to a series of collecting expeditions from 1935 to 1938, during which Cordry collected Mexican masks and other artifacts for the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation.
Administration
Author
Sarah Ganderup
Custodial History note
Donated to the Smithsonian in 1984 by Dorothy Cordry, through Jane Walsh, as part of accession 361232. Transferred from the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropological Archives, circa 1987.
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 87-38, Donald Cordry photographs of Indigenous peoples of Mexico, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Location of Other Archival Materials
Location of Other Archival Materials
Additional photographs made by Cordry can be found in the National Anthropological Archives in Photo Lot 82-14.
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 accessions 361232 and 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
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 accession 355867.
More Information
Local Call Number(s)
Local Call Number(s)
NAA Photo Lot 87-38
,
USNM ACC 361232
Bibliography
Bibliography
Photographs published in Donald Bush Cordry and Dorothy M. Cordry, Mexican Indian Costumes, The Texas Pan American Series, Austin: University of Texas Press, 1968.
Other Finding Aids note
Other Finding Aids note
Inventory available in repository.
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Mixe Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Amuzgo (Amusgo) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Zapotec Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mestizos Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pottery -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Purepecha (Tarasco) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tepehuán (Tepehuan) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Totonac Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mazatec [Huautla] Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Nahua Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chinantec Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dances -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Weaving -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Markets -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clothing and dress Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wixarika (Huichol) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Seri Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ikood (Huave) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chiapanec Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mixtec Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mayas Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Yoreme (Mayo) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuicatec Indians Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Spinning -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mexico Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Zoque Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tzotzil Maya Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of Mexico Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Masks -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cordry, Donald Bush -- Exhibitions Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Repository Contact
National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
naa@si.edu