National Anthropological Archives

Guide to the Robert Lemoyne Barrett papers, 1892-1909

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.XXXX.0149
Creators:
Barrett, Robert LeMoyne, 1871-1969
Dates:
1892-1909
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
6.8 Linear feet
Repository:
Barrett was a traveler, popular writer, and geographer. The material relates largely to his expeditions to Norway, Russia and Siberia (with Roland B. Dixon), Baja California, Inner Asia, Ethiopia, Morocco, the American Southwest, and the Canadian Rockies. Included is correspondence between Dixon and W. M. Davis and a manuscript by Ghulan Rasul Galwan, Barrett's Ladaki caravan leader.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
These papers reflect the early life of Robert LeMoyne Barrett (b. 1871) geographer, traveler, and writer. Included are outgoing correspondence which for the most part was intended for publication, manuscripts on various topics, two published articles on Norway, field notes, sketches, charts, maps, noteslips, photographs and other items relating to his various trips from 1892-1909. The bulk of the material reflects the expeditions of Norway conducted in the summers of 1897-98, the Dixon-Barrett Russia-Siberia Expedition of 1901-02, the Baja Peninsula of 1903-04, the Barrett-Huntington Inner Asia Expedition of 1904-06, and Abyssinia in 1909. There is some material on a trip to Morocco in 1892, the Canadian Rockies in 1893, Colorado-Arizona-New Mexico in 1900. There is only a sketch book for a 1923 journey to the Himalayas.
Also included are class lecture notes from his geography courses at Harvard, some material on Japanese writings, passports, the correspondence of Roland Dixon from Russia to W. M. Davis, and the manuscript of Ghulan Rasul Galwan of Leh, India, Barrett's Ladakhi caravan leader in 1905-06. There is little material that calls attention to his early childhood or later personal life. With one small exception, there is no material on his many journeys after 1909. There is no material on the professional and scientific organizations of which he belonged. There are no incoming letters or any manuscripts of books that were published.
The photograph collection is large with early turn of the century prints and negatives of Norway, Europe, the American Southwest, Baja, California, and Inner Asia. Most of the photographs are of mountainous terrains and geographical features of the various locals of his journeys; however, there are a few pictures of Navajo Indians of the early 1900's and Asians of the same period. The bulk of the photograph collection concerns the Inner Asian Expedition which passed through India, Chinese Turkestan, and China and the many small villages en route with landscape views of the Himalayas predominating. Most of these were taken with a theodolite camera capable of measuring altitude.
A copy of a 1976 biographical sketch of Barrett's life entitled "Robert LeMoyne Barrett, 187101969; Last of the Founding Members of the Association of American Geographers," by Geoffrey J. Martin is also included which lists a bibliography of Barrett's publications.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into 6 series: (1) Letters of Robert LeMoyne Barrett, 1892-1909 (most written for publication); (2) manuscripts of writings and publications, 1890s-1920s; (3) materials relating to expeditions, 1897-1923; (4) note slips, 1903-1909; (5) miscellany, undated; (6) photographs, 1897-1906.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
May 28, 1871
Born in Chicago, Illinois
1892
Made trip to Tangier, Morocco
1893
Visited British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies
1894-98
Bachelor of Arts degree, Harvard University
1897-98
Summers spent in Norway undertaking fieldwork
1900
Visited Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado
1901-1902
Traveled through Russia with Roland Dixon
1902
Became a charter member of the Association of American Geographers
1903-04
Roamed the American Southwest and Baja, California
1904-06
The Barrett-Huntington Expedition of Inner Asia
1909
Journeyed to Abyssinia
June 29, 1913
Married Katherine Ruth Ellis, an established writer
1913-14
Holland, German, the Tyrol--Italy
1917
Special expert on labor conditions for the U.S. Shipping Board in England, wrote British Industrial Experience During the War
1923-24
Visited the Himalayas, Servant of Sahibs published
1926
Journeyed to El Teide on Tenerife in Canary Islands
1927
The Himalayan Letters of Gypsy Davy and Lady Ba
1926-27
Traveled to Patagonia
1931
A Yankee in Patagonia published
1932
Cloudtop Mosaics published
March 5, 1969
Died at La Crescenta, California

Administration

Author
James T. Nichols
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers of Robert LeMoyne Barrett were received by the National Anthropological Archives in 1976 as a donation of Mrs. Marjorie Childs, whose late husband, Herbert Childs, had intended to write a biography of Robert Barrett.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Robert LeMoyne Barrett papers are open for research.
Access to the Robert LeMoyne Barrett papers requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation
Robert Lemoyne Barrett papers, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Russia Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Morocco Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ethiopia Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Canada -- Rocky Mountains Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Baja California (Mexico : Peninsula) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ladaki Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Norway Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Southwest Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Siberia Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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