The Department of Anthropology records contain administrative and research materials produced by the department and its members from the time of the Smithsonian Institution's foundation until today.

The Beals papers in the National Anthropological Archives include field notes, correspondence, printed materials, copies of historical documents, drafts and final manuscripts of writings, photographs, and cartographic materials. Most relate to research projects and sometimes include materials of colleagues and assistants. Especially notable is the abundant material regarding Oaxaca markets. There are some materials relating to aspects of Beals's career other than his research but they are generally widely distributed throughout the collection. Materials relating to events that happened to occur at the time of certain field work are often interfiled with the material relating to that certain field work. There are also some personal materials included. Conspicuously missing from the papers are notes on Beals's archeological work, which he has retained. There are relatively few materials relating to his teaching career, although some of the letters exchanged with Alfred Louis Kroeber concern the establishment of anthropology at the University of California at Los Angeles; and correspondence with students in the field concerns teaching as well as research activities. A typesript of notes on the Nisenan are at the Bancroft Library of the University of California at Berkeley. Some of the letters concern Elsie Clews Parsons and Carlos Castenada.

The 1879 act establishing the United States Geological Survey (USGS) declares "And all collections of rocks, minerals, soils, and fossils, and objects of natural history, archaeology, and ethnology, made by the Coast and Interior Survey, the Geological Survey, or by any other parties for the Government of the United States, when …

The collections consists mostly of original and copy prints. There are also some negatives, artwork, photographs of artwork, and printed materials. Included is a large miscellany of ethnological, historical, and some archaeological subjects collected by the Bureau of American Ethnology from a wide variety of sources. To these have been …

The Institute of Social Anthropology was an autonomous unit of the Smithsonian Institution which existed from 1942-1952. The objectives of the Institute of Social Anthropology were to work in cooperation with the institutions in certain Latin American republics which had requested assistance in anthropological work; the Institute of Social Anthropology had two main objectives: 1) Training of personnel in the concepts and techniques of anthropology; 2) Acquisition of a body of scientific information concerning the basic rural populations that is fundamental to any program affecting Latin Americans as well as to science and education. The research provided an understanding of the manner of living, agricultural systems in relation to environmental factors, economic life, crafts and industries, food habits, health status, social organization, religion, language, literacy, and basic attitudes and interests of the people. From a scientific point of view, these studies revealed the most recent changes and the factors making for change in cultures that in many instances can be traced back more than 2,000 years through archaeology and post-conquest written history. From a practical point of view, the findings were indispensable to any action programs, both governmental and private, concerned with matters of health, education, soil erosion, commercial development, colonization, marketing, and so on.

Farouk El-Baz (1938- ) was born in Zagazig, Egypt. He received a B.S. in Chemistry and Geology in 1958 from Ain Shams University, Cairo. In 1960 he came to the United States, where he earned an M.S. in geology at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1961 and a Ph.D. in geology at …

The Beatrice Medicine papers, 1913-2003 (bulk 1945-2003), document the professional life of Dr. Beatrice "Bea" Medicine (1923-2005), a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, anthropologist, scholar, educator, and Native rights activist. The collection also contains material collected by or given to Medicine to further her research and activism interests. Medicine, whose Lakota name was Hinsha Waste Agli Win, or "Returns Victorious with a Red Horse Woman," focused her research on a variety of topics affecting the Native American community: 1) mental health, 2) women's issues, 3) bilingual education, 4) alcohol and drug use, 5) ethno-methodologies and research needs of Native Americans, and 6) Children and identity issues. The collection represents Medicine's work as an educator for universities and colleges in the United States and in Canada, for which she taught Native American Studies courses. Additionally, because of the large amount of research material and Medicine's correspondence with elected U.S. officials and Native American leaders, and records from Medicine's involvement in Native American organizations, the collection serves to represent issues affecting Native Americans during the second half of the 20th century, and reflects what Native American leaders and organizations did to navigate and mitigate those issues. Collection materials include correspondence; committee, conference, and teaching material; ephemera; manuscripts and poetry; maps; notes; periodicals; photographs; training material; and transcripts.

These records consist of the general correspondence of the Office of the Editor, as well as correspondence with authors and readers. Peter Braestrup served as Editor, 1976- .

This accession consists of records documenting the administrative activities of the Office of International Relations and its predecessors, the Directorate of International Activities and the Office of International Activities, respectively, in regard to office budgetary matters and the coordinating of internationally-focused Smithsonian projects and initiatives such as grants, conferences, diplomatic …

Film collection contains 34 travel films from around the world made by Thayer Soule, some of which were made with associates, that he used in presenting travel lectures around the country from 1935 to 1995. He was an associate with Burton Holmes, dean of travel lecturers, from 1946 to 1958. Collection also includes still photographs …