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Language:English
Date:March 24, 1837
Contributor:Troost, Gerard, 1776-1850
Subject:Grave robbing | Human remains | Phrenology | Skulls | Mounds | Anthropometry
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence
Extent:1 page
Description: Letter discussing grave robbing of Indigenous ancestors' remains. Sends drawings of heads, one of an ancient tribe, flattened at back of head, from mound at junction of French-Broad and Holston rivers. Other from bank of Cumberland river above Nashville, probably of Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Choctaw nations said to visit here. They seem much alike in their living form to Troost.
Collection:Samuel George Morton Papers (Mss.B.M843)
Language:English
Date:1835; 1837
Subject:Grave robbing | Human remains | Phrenology | Mounds | Anthropometry
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence
Extent:3 items
Description: Letters discussing grave robbing of Indigenous ancestors' remains. Letter from John Warren Collins including a list of American Indian skulls in his collection: Chinook, Mound Builder, and Algonquian. Has cast of Guanche skull from Canary Islands. Two letters from John Kirk Townsend on September 20, 1835 concern Chinook and Klickitat ancestors' remains he is sending to Morton from Philadelphia, including disturbing descriptions of grave-robbing and the destruction of sacred sites in the midst of epidemic disease.
Collection:Samuel George Morton Papers (Mss.B.M843)
Culture:
Language:English
Date:1829-1839
Contributor:Hildreth, Samuel P. (Samuel Prescott), 1783-1863 | Troost, Gerard, 1776-1850 | Drake, Daniel, 1785-1852 | Silliman, Benjamin, 1779-1864 | Sullivant, Joseph, 1809-1882 | Tappan, Benjamin, 1773-1857 | Clemens, James W. | Wood, William | Powell, W. Byrd (William Byrd), 1799-1866 | Peirson, A. L. (Abel Lawrence), 1794-1853
Subject:Grave robbing | Human remains | Phrenology | Skulls | Anthropometry | Funeral rites and ceremonies | Antiquities | Mounds | Archaeology
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence | Lectures
Extent:21 items
Description: Letters mostly discussing grave robbing of Indigenous ancestors' remains and Morton's phrenological work. Topics include human and animal crania and skeletons that correspondents have and/or have sent to Morton; phrenological anaylsis of Indigenous ancestors' remains, attributing traits to various peoples based on skull formation; Native American burial sites and mortuary customs; excavation of Native mounds and descriptions of the objects and human remains found inside; discovery of mastadon skeletons; and speculation about Native American origins. Several letters relate to Ohio, Illinois, and the Upper Mississippi Valley. Peru and Mexico also mentioned.
Collection:Samuel George Morton Papers (Mss.B.M843)
Language:English
Date:1837-1838
Contributor:Abadie, Eugene Hilarian | Bachman, John, 1790-1874
Subject:Grave robbing | Human remains | Skulls | Phrenology | Anthropometry | Funeral rites and ceremonies | Mounds | Florida--History | Indian Removal, 1813-1903
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence
Extent:3 items
Description: Letters discussing grave robbing of Indigenous ancestors' remains. Abadie (medical director for General Scott in forcing emigration) has two skulls of Seminole boys, one from tribe of Black Dirt, Hola-Te-Ematha and other from party led by John Cavallo (Cow-A-Gee). Describes Seminole burial practices. Has 3 female heads and 2 male heads from near Okee-Chobee, only 2 of 12 that were not "very offensive." Describes presumed Yemasee mounds. Talks of tuberculosis among the Indians. Treated wife of Cooper, daughter of King Paine, Seminole chief under the Spanish. Abadie follows up to see if skulls arrived, mentions cave near Fort Cap where he is sure there are flat-headed Indian skulls. Bachman has two skulls, one of which is to go to Edinburgh; both belong to Audubon. He will have them drawn if permissible. One skull is Ya-hadjo (Ma-hadjo?), a "grand rascal," other is that of famous chief (Mad Wolf) killed in Florida.
Collection:Samuel George Morton Papers (Mss.B.M843)