Click filter to remove
Displaying 1 - 10 of 20
Culture:
Language:English
Date:1834; 1837
Contributor:Pitcher, Zina, 1797-1872 | Warren, John Collins, 1778-1856
Subject:Grave robbing | Human remains | Skulls | Phrenology | Antiquities | Funeral rites and ceremonies | Anthropometry
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence
Extent:2 items
Description: Letters from Zina Pitcher and John Collins Warren discussing grave robbing of Indigenous ancestors' remains. Pitcher mentions difficulties in getting information about the deceased from Algonquians, who won't speak of the dead. Mentions Osages, Quapaws, Missouri, Kansas, Otos, Omahas; Chitimachas or Comanches; and the five tribes of the Creek nation. Warren lists American skulls in his collection: mostly eastern, except for Ancient Niagara and Chinook, not flattened, plus Ohio cavern and Ohio rock and Mound at Lexington; Algonquian from eastern Massachusetts. He talks of the Guanche cast from the Canaries and some unidentified skulls he has seen.
Collection:Samuel George Morton Papers (Mss.B.M843)
Culture:
Language:English | Guarani | Kogi | Spanish | Murui Huitoto | Bora | Cocama-Cocamilla | Subtiaba
Date:1937-1960 and undated
Contributor:Mason, John Alden, 1885-1967 | Rowe, John Howland, 1918-2004 | Green, Otis H. (Otis Howard), 1898-1978 | Harrington, J. P. (John P.), 1865-1939 | Park, Willard Z. (Willard Zerbe), 1906-1965 | Rankin, Louis | Stout, David B. (David Bond), 1913- | Garro, Eugenio, 1898-1990 | Lévi-Strauss, Claude
Subject:Linguistics | Anthropology | Archaeology | Ethnography | Archaeology | Colombia--History | Brazil--History | Peru--History | Antiquities | Bolivia--History | Ecuador--History
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence | Bibliographies | Essays | Drafts | Notes | Notebooks | Memoranda
Extent:23 items
Description: Materials relating to John Alden Mason's interest in and research on Indigenous Central and South American languages and cultures. Materials attributed to Mason include a bibliography composed of about 300 cards primarily on South American languages, including many entries not in the Handbook of South American Indians; a notebook of observations on the distribution, relationships, etc., of South American languages; a file with correspondence, bibliography, draft of introduction, etc., relating to his contribution to the Handbook of South American Indians; a 166-page essay on the preconquest history and culture of the Andean region (mostly Peru) through the medium of artifacts preserved in the University Museum (University of Pennsylvania); two copies of Mason's "Andean Civilization," including bibliography, for the Encyclopedia Britannica (1960); two copies of the preface to the Spanish edition of "Ancient Civilizations of Peru," with a memorandum from Alfred Kidder II to Mason regarding recent developments in Central Andean archaeology; an incomplete essay titled "Status and problems of research in the Native Languages of South America," primarily concerned with historical linguistics and genetic relationship; and a file of notes on genetic relationships, subgrouping, etc., from published sources or giving his own impressions: Kamakan, Choroti, Ashluslay Kaduveo, Mataco; Malali, Mashakal, Ge, Vejoz, Coropo, Motilon, Towothl, Kaingang, Subtiaba, Hokan, Coroado, etc.. Unattributed materials (most likely Mason's) include circa 2,000 cards of notes on South American linguistic and ethnology focused on genetic classification of South American languages; circa 4,000 cards of notes regarding South American languages and dialects and their geographical distribution, etc.; and 17 pages of notes concerning a letter (included) from Harry B. Wright to Captain Colon Eloy Alfaro proposing that expeditions be sent to Ecuadorean Oriente for study in linguistics, ethnology, etc. Materials attributed to others than Mason include two essays or drafts by John Peabody Harrington on the affiliation of Witoto [Huitoto, probably Murui Huitoto but possibly Nüpode Huitoto], Miranya [aka Miraña or Miranha, now known as Bora] and Guaranian/Tupi-Guarani [Guarani, represented by Cocama], one with Mason's comments; 27 pages of Kagaba [Kogi] texts with interlinear Spanish translation and lists of animals, plants, body parts, natural phenomena, kinship terms, etc., with Spanish and English glosses; and Eugenio Garro's "Geographical distribution of the Native languages and dialects of Peru," an article submitted for the Handbook of South American Indians (marked "not printed in Handbook"). Correspondence includes Mason's Handbook of South American Indians correspondence, with Zellig S. Harris, Harry Hoijer, Eugene A. Nida, et al., soliciting contributions to the handbook, etc.; letters from Claude Levi-Strauss regarding locations, languages, and dialects of indigenous peoples of Brazil (mentions Parintintin [Kagwahiva], Rama-Rama [Rama], Tupi, Nambikuara [Southern Nambikuára], Tupi-Kawahib [Kawahiva?], Kabixiana [Kabixí], Kep-kiri-uat [?]); correspondence with John Peabody Harrington concerning Harrington's work for Mason on the Handbook of South American Indians; correspondence with Willard Z. Park regarding Park's ethnological work among the Kagaba [Kogi] in Colombia; correspondence with Louis Rankin regarding the Cocama, Cocamilla [the dialects of what is now called Cocama-Cocamilla], Chama [Ese Ejja], Campa [Ajyíninka Apurucayali?], and Amuesha [Yanesha'] languages of Peru; correspondence with David B. Stout regarding Stout's genetic classification of Chibchan, Kuna, and Choco, with one page of Mason's opinions on Stout's classification; correspondence with John Howland Rowe regarding South American languages and cultures, including the Quechua, Aymara, and Millcayac languages, early work of Max Uhle in Peru, Bolivia, etc.. and mentioning Alfred V. Kidder, Alfred L. Kroeber, and others; and a letter from Otis H. Green regarding the origin of the word "jivaro."
Collection:John Alden Mason Papers (Mss.B.M384)
Culture:
Chibcha includes: Muysca, Muisca
Language:English
Date:August 25, 1837
Contributor:Gibbon, J.H.
Subject:Archaeology | Antiquities | Pottery
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence
Extent:1 page
Description: Letter to John Vaughan regarding gold idols found near falls of river on Bogota plains together with pottery remains; image sent to American Philosophical Society.
Collection:American Philosophical Society Archives (APS.Archives)
Language:English
Date:1811-1884
Contributor:Fiske, Moses | Peale, Franklin, 1795-1870 | Peale, Charles Willson, 1741-1827 | Sellers, George Escol
Subject:Human remains | Funeral rites and ceremonies | Mounds | Mississippian culture | Adena culture | Hopewell culture | Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) | Antiquities | Material culture | Pottery | Peale's Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.) | Museums
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence | Catalogs
Extent:4 items
Description: 1) Moses Fiske's description of skeletal remains found in basket burial in Warren County, Tennessee, in 1810. 2) Charles Willson Peale's catalogue of museum contents: "Indian curiosities, dresses, ornaments. Implements of agriculture, war, etc. of various nations. In the upper Room." Artifacts and articles of dress of western Indians (Lewis and Clark); ornaments from Ohio mounds; unidentified belts, pouches, and arrowheads. 3) Benjamin Franklin Peale's description of his collection of Material culture; thinks pottery fragments sent to him by Sellers are those of Mound Builders. 4) George Escol Seller's letter describing his artifacts from mounds in Ohio, 60 specimens of tools and cloth. Argues that Franklin Peale collected specimens to show the unity of mankind, while Sellers collects to find the variety of tools. Discusses Mound Builders at some length.
Collection:Peale-Sellers Family Collection (Mss.B.P31)
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)
Culture:
Tutelo includes: Yesan
Haudenosaunee includes: Iroquois, Onkwehonwe
Language:English
Date:1835-1836
Subject:Grave robbing | Human remains | Phrenology | Skulls | Funeral rites and ceremonies | Antiquities | Archaeology
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence
Extent:4 items
Description: Letter discussing grave robbing of Indigenous ancestors' remains. Three letters from Hildreth regarding the opening of "the Mingo sepulchre," the human remains and artifacts he discovered, and his sending of a Mingo and Turtillo (Tutelo?) skull to Morton; he included a full description of the sepulchre in his account of a visit to the Falls of the Cuyahoga. Letter from Townsend tells a story related to him by a trader, Mr. Birnie, that a party of Iroquois Indians on Smoky River in the Rockies in 1822 told him they had recently seen a huge mastodon-like animal, but denied ever having heard of such a beast before. Bones have recently been discovered of such a beast on Peace River, which connects with the Smoky.
Collection:Samuel George Morton Papers (Mss.B.M843)
Culture:
Date:1827-1959
Contributor:Warden, David Bailie, 1772-1845 | Gatschet, Albert S. (Albert Samuel), 1832-1907 | Cresson, Hilborne Thomson | Harris, Thaddeus Mason, 1768-1842
Subject:Mayan languages | Antiquities | Orthography and spelling | Linguistics | Hieroglyphics | Ohio--History | Archaeology
Type:Still Image | Text
Genre:Correspondence | Essays | Compendia | Certificates
Extent:8 items
Description: Materials relating to Mayan culture and language materials at the American Philosophical Society. Topics include Warden's article on Ohio antiquities and Palenque [Warden (1827)]; several items on Cresson's work on Mayan glyphs, including "Remarks upon the graphic system of the ancient Mayas" and Cresson's thoughts on interpretation of Mayan glyphs, the Troano manuscript, the Dresden Codex, and the Zapotec calendar; Gatschet's thank-you note, enclosing photograph of inscribed stone from Palenque, Mexico, now in Smithsonian; Harris on superiority of volumes by Dupaix and Viages at the APS; and a 1959 citation from the University Museum at the University of Pennsylvania for aid in restoring Tikal.
Collection:American Philosophical Society Archives (APS.Archives)
Culture:
Date:August 20, 1834; undated
Subject:Antiquities | Archaeology
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence | Outlines
Extent:2 items
Description: Corroy is critical of Waldeck's claim to be the Champollion of Mexico. Mentions Del Rio, Cabrera, Bemarions, and Castaneda. Rafinesque mentions ancient Mexican and Mayan civilization in an undated outline for a lecture on American history.
Collection:C. S. (Constantine Samuel) Rafinesque correspondence and writings (Mss.B.R124)
Culture:
Tarahumara includes: Rarámuri
Purépecha includes: Tarascan (pej.), P'urhépecha
Otomi includes: Hñahñu, Ñuhu, Ñhato, Ñuhmu
Huastec includes: Téenek, Wastek, Huasteco, Huaxtec, Wasteko
Date:1802-1899
Contributor:Beher, D. | Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844 | Guyot, A. (Arnold), 1807-1884 | Morton, Samuel George, 1799-1851 | Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 | Snider, Jacob | Valentini, Philipp J. J. (Philipp Johann Josef), 1828-1899 | Brinton, Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison), 1837-1899 | Vaughan, John, 1756-1841 | Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849 | Parry, Francis | Rosengarten, J. G. (Joseph George), 1835-1921 | Phillips, Henry, 1838-1895 | Rich, O. (Obadiah), 1777-1850 | Walz, W. G. | Beebe, William Sully, 1841-1898 | Ferrer, Jose Joaquin de
Subject:Antiquities | Orthography and spelling | Linguistics
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence | Essays | Receipts
Extent:22 items
Description: Materials relating to the indigenous cultures and languages of Mexico. Includes requests to view or borrow materials at APS, particularly in the Poinsett Collection; introductions of scholars who wish to view Mexican materials to the Librarian or other appropriate official of the time (including John Vaughan and George Ord); solicitations for donations of Mexican materials, particularly from Joel R. Poinsett; donation of linguistic and other materials from Jose Joaquin de Ferrer;s relating to indigenous cultures and languages of Mexico, particularly Brinton's papers on Nagualism and on Fuegian languages [Brinton (1892) and Brinton (1894)], Valentini's manuscript on Mexican calendar stone, and linguistic work by Albert Gallatin; Mexican antiquities at other institutions such as the Academy of Natural Sciencies, Princeton, and the Peabody Museum; and Samuel Morton's offer to George Ord to exchange books for a Mexican skull he used for a plate in his Crania Americana (1839), and which he now wishes to add to his collection. Specific cultures or languages mentioned include Huastec, Otomi, Tarascan, Tarahumara, and Mexican. Individuals mentioned include Ephraim G. Squier, Bishop Anders, Mr. Frank, Professor Matile, Mr. Bagely, Thomas Sully, Jean-Frédéric Waldeck, and Lord Kingsborough.
Collection:American Philosophical Society Archives (APS.Archives)
Culture:
Language:English
Date:1830-1841
Contributor:Burroughs, Marmaduke | Edmonds, Frederic | Maclure, William, 1763-1840 | Macartney, John P.
Subject:Grave robbing | Human remains | Phrenology | Skulls | Mexico--History | Antiquities | Anthropometry
Type:Text
Genre:Correspondence
Extent:5 items
Description: Letters discussing grave robbing of Indigenous ancestors' remains. Maclure and Burroughs write of the difficulty of obtaining "pure" Mexican skulls; problem of shipping out skulls (though Maclure sends several); innate capabilities of the Indians; educating the Indians. Edmonds sends "heads" collected from the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon near San Juan de Teotihuacan. Mexican curiosities. Macartney sends 6 skulls collected by Jose Gomes de la Cortina, a Mexican gentleman. Claims that skulls are easily obtained from Mexicans. Skulls from Santiago de Flotiloho are unreliable, since epidemic of cholera resulted in throwing bodies into ancient burials.
Collection:Samuel George Morton Papers (Mss.B.M843)