Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia, 1922-1923

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Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia, 1922-1923.

2005

The Field Museum Archives 2

Collection Summary Repository: Field Museum Archives. Chicago, Illinois. Creator/collector: Mason, John Alden, 1885 - 1967 Title: Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia Dates: 1922 - 1923 Quantity: 16 folders, 1 linear foot. Form/Genre: Correspondence, catalog, and reports. Abstract: Correspondence, notes and artifact cataloging information written by John Alden Mason, 1922-1923. Language: English Local Number: FM ARC 2005.01

Administrative Information Restrictions: Due to archives' physical condition/conservation constraints, or possible cultural proprietary concerns, physical access requests for Museum Archives materials must be reviewed by the Museum Archivist. Access to the Field Museum Archives collections materials is by appointment only, upon research approval. Please contact the Field Museum Archives to make arrangements for research access. Copyright Status: The status of copyright in the writings of B.Laufer, J.A. Mason, and all other individuals in this collection of papers, is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.). Preferred Citation: Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: container number, Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia, 1922-1923, Field Museum Library Archives, Chicago, Illinois. Prepared by: Dan Schnepf Supervisor: Armand Esai, Museum Archivist

Selected Search/Index Terms Names :

Mason, John Alden

Subjects:

Archaeology--South America. Captain Marshall Field expedition to Colombia. 1922-1923. Columbia--Antiquities. Santa Marta (Colombia)--Antiquities. Scientific expeditions--Colombia. Scientific expeditions--History--20th century. Tairona Indians. 3

Biographical Notes

Mason, John Alden Date Event 1885 Born in Orland, Indiana. 1912 Doctorate from the University of California, Berkley. 1916-1924 Assistant Curator of Mexican and South American Archaeology, Field Museum. 1917 Drafted and returns from World War I 1917-1922 Supervises installation of Mexican and South American exhibition cases. 1922-1923 Leads Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia 1924 Turns in official resignation to B. Laufer. 1924 Presents data from expedition to Columbia in paper at the International Congress of Americanists, Göteborg, Germany. 1924-1925 Curator of Mexican and Central American Archaeology at American Museum of Natural History. 1926 "Coast and crest in Colombia: an example of contrast in American Indian culture" published in Natural History Magazine. 1926-1958 Curator at the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. 1931 Archaeology of Santa Marta, Columbia: The Tairona Culture. Part I published. 1936 Archaeology of Santa Marta, Columbia: The Tairona Culture. Part II published. 1967 Died in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.

Scope and Content Note

In 1922, Captain Marshall Field provided funds for an archaeological survey of Columbia. Assistant Curator John Alden Mason led the expedition that lasted until August of 1923. This collection notably consists of correspondence, largely in the form of letters between John Alden Mason and the Curator of Anthropology, Berthold Laufer. Additionally, the collection contains: bills of lading, requisition applications, reports, artifact lists, drawings, field notes, and an expedition diary. The conditions of the records in this collection range from fair to good. Many of the pages are brittle. The notebooks and drawings are in good condition. Artifacts collected and discussed in the records of this collection can be found under Anthropology accession number 1419 in the Anthropology Records Room. 4

Description of Series Box Series

Box 1 Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia 1922- 1923.

Expedition Correspondence Records John Alden Mason wrote to Berthold Laufer, Curator of Anthropology.

Administration Records Mason wrote requests for supplies for the expedition, lists of returned supplies, letters about the exportation of artifacts, lists of box contents, and bills of lading for the artifacts. Also included are the Anthropology Department's contributions to the Annual Report to the Director, 1922 & 1923.

Cataloging Records Mason wrote lists of artifacts, lists of photographic negatives, a drawing of an artifact, and reports for artifacts he collected.

Miscellaneous Records A photocopy of "Cuentos Columbianos" written by J.A. Mason later becomes "Cuatro Cuentos Columbianos", which was published in the Journal of American Folklore in 1930,can be found here.

Box 2 Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia 1922- 1923.

Notebooks and Journal, 1922-1923 During the expedition, Mason wrote in a set of 15 notebooks and later produced a 242-page journal based on the notes from those notebooks. 5

Container List

Box Series Subseries Folder

Box 1 Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia, 1922- 1923 . Expedition Correspondence Records

Folder 1: Correspondence 16 Feb. 1923 – 24 Dec. 1923 - Letter, December 24, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, December 20, 1923, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, no date, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, November 12, 1923 J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, September 12, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, July 28, 1923, J.A. Mason to L.S. Rowe. - Typed copy of letter, July 18, 1923, J.A. Mason to Charles L. Owen. - Letter, July 18, 1923, J.A. Mason to Charles L. Owen. - Letter, July 8, 1923, J.A. Mason to Charles L. Owen. - Envelope from preceding letter, July 19, 1923, J.A. Mason to Charles L. Owen.. - Letter, July 3, 1923, J.A. Mason to Charles L. Owen. - List, no date, J.A. Mason, “Contents of box delivered to Mrs. C.C. Crawford, Property of Field Museum, Chicago.” - Letter, June 25, 1923, J.A. Mason to Charles L. Owen. - Letter, June 25, 1923, J.A. Mason to Charles L. Owen. - Letter, June 21, 1923, Charles L. Owen to J.A. Mason. - List, no date, “List of contents delivered to Mr. Bremner”. - Letter, June 11, 1923, J.A. Mason to Charles L. Owen. - Letter, May 8, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, April 13, 1923, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Typed copy of letter, March 14, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, March 14, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Typed copy of letter, March 4, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, March 4, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Typed copy of letter, February 16, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, February 16, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. 6

Folder 2: Correspondence 9 Sept. 1922- 1 Feb. 1923 - Letter, February 1, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Typed copy of letter, January 29, [1923], J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Typed copy of letter, January 29, [1923], J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, January 29, [1923], J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, January 23, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, no date, J.A. Mason [to Berthold Laufer?] - Letter, January 15, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, January 7, 1923, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, January 4, 1923, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, December 24, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, December 19, [1922], J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Typed copy of letter, December 17, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, December 17, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, December 10, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, December 4, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Memorandum, December 4, 1922, E.D.W. [to Berthold Laufer?] - Letter, December 3, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, November 21, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, November 20, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, November 21, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, November 26, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, November 13, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, October 24, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, November 12, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, November 13, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Note, no date, J.A. Mason [to Berthold Laufer?]. - Letter, November 6, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, December 9, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, November 9, 1922 Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Typed copy of letter, October 19, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, October 19, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, November 1, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, October 6, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Typed copy of letter, October 15, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, October 15, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, October 14, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, September 23, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, September 26, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, September 23, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, September 9, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. 7

Folder 3: Correspondence 9 Aug 1922. – 2 Sept. 1922 - Newspaper article clipping, August 15, 1922, “Find City of Ancients” . - Note, September 2, 1922, Rose J. Watson to Mrs. Alden Mason - Letter, no date, Florence Roberts Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, August 29, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J. A. Mason. - Letter, August 23, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J. A. Mason. - Letter, August 5, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, August 21, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, August 29, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, September 4, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, September 5, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, September 5, 1922, Berthold Laufter to J. A. Mason. - Letter, August 18, 1922, Berthold Laufter to J. A. Mason. - Letter, July 20, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, August 16, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, August 10, 1922, Berthold Laufter to J. A. Mason. - Letter, July 31, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, July 11, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Document, no date, “Archaeological Specimens in Collection of Manuel Chediak, Santa Marta.” - Letter, July 26, 1922, Berthold Laufter to J. A. Mason. - Letter, July 8, 1922, J.A. Mason to Mr. Hatch. - Letter, July 8, 1922, J.A. Mason to Sr. Gral Pacheco. - Letter, July 6, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, July 25, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, August 9, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer.

Folder 4: Correspondence 6 April 1922-3 July 1922 - Letter, July 3, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, June 9, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, June 26, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, June 27, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, June 1, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, May 22, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, May 16, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, May 15, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, May 27, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - List, May 10, 1922, J.A. Mason to Field Museum, “Archaeological Specimen mailed by J.A. Mason to Field Museum, May 10, 1922”. - Document, July 15, 1922, Berthold Laufer, “Information for Publicity Concerning Dr. Mason’s work in Columbia, South America.” - Typed copy of preceding document - Letter, May 10, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. 8

- Letter, April 17, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, April 19, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, April 26, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, April 30, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Morning Note, April 12, [1922], J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Afternoon Letter, April 12, 1922, J.A. Mason to Berthold Laufer. - Letter, April 6, 1922, Berthold Laufer to J.A. Mason. - Letter, April 4, 1922, J.A. Mason to Francis C. Nicholas.

Administration Records

Folder 5: Supplies & Misc. Requisition Applications - List, no date, J.A. Mason, “Check of medical and other equipment from expedition, J.A. Mason” (2 pages). - Photocopy, no date, “Check of medical and other equipment from expedition, J.A. Mason” (2 pages). - Requisition Application, February 16, 1922 - Requisition Application, March 29 [1922]. - Requisition Application, February 16, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 31, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 18, 1922 - Requisition Application, April 3, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 21, 1922 - Requisition Application, April 3, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 22, 1922. - Requisition Application, April 3, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 24, 1922. - Requisition Application, April 4, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 24, 1922 - Requisition Application, January 21, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 28, 1922. - Requisition Application, February 25, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 3, 1922. - Requisition Application, January 30, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 8, 1922. - Requisition Application, January 30, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 11, 1922. - Requisition Application, January 31, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 15, 1922. - Requisition Application, January 31, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 15, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 9, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 16, 1922. - Requisition Application, February 9, 1922. - Requisition Application,, March 17, 1922. - Requisition Application, February 10, 1922. 9

- Requisition Application, March 21, 1922. - Requisition Application, February 11, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 21, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 11, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 22, 1922 - Requisition Application, February 13, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 23, 1922. - Requisition Application, February 15, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 23, 1922. - Requisition Application, February 16, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 23, 1922. - Requisition Application, February 16, 1922. - Requisition Application, March 24, 1922. - Library Withdrawal slip, October 1, 1923. - Requisition Application, March 28, 1922. - Requisition Application, no date. - Requisition Application, no date. - Requisition Application, no date. - Requisition Application, no date. - Requisition Application, March 28, 1922, “Mason Exped.” - Requisition Application, March 29, 1922 - Requisition Application, March 29, 1922. - Booklet, no date, no author, [expense report booklet?]

Folder 6: Exportation - Photcopy, no date, “Data for estimate of value of collection” (2 pages) - Photocopy, no date, “Digest of claims on Columbian Government for expropriation of collections”. - Letter, no date, Berthold Laufer to American Minister of Bogotá, Columbia. - Letter, June 27, 1923, H.C. Woodsum to Stanley P. Bremner. - Letter, June 21, 1923, Samuel H. Piles to J.A. Mason. - Letter, June 12, 1923, J.A. Mason to H.C. Woodsum. - Letter, May 17, 1923, J.A. Mason to La Academia Nacional [de?] Historia. - Letter, May 1, 1923, Samuel H. Piles to J.A. Mason. - Document, November 2, 1920, “ENCLOSURE No.3. DISTPATCH No.137”. - Letter, March 12, 1923, Samuel H. Piles to J.A. Mason. - Letter, March 8, 1923, Samuel H. Piles to J.A. Mason. - Telegram, January 13, 1923, Jorge Veles to J.A. Mason. - Telegram, January 14, 1923, Samuel H. Piles to J.A. Mason. - Letter, December 25, 1922, J.A. Mason to Sr. Vargas Ministerio de Agricultura, Columbia. - Letter, December 25, 1922, [Sr.Vargas?] to Samuel H. Piles. 10

- Telegram, December 21, 1922, Sr. Vargas to J.A. Mason. - Letter, December 5, 1922, Samuel H. Piles to J.A. Mason. - Letter, November 25, 1922, J.A. Mason to “Sir”, Minister of America, Columbia. - Letter, June 9, 1922, J.A. Mason to Columbian Minister of Foreign Relations. - Letter, March 4, 1922, Robert Ward Bliss to Director of the Field Museum of Natural History. - Invoice, July 5, 1922 - Bill of lading, [illegible date] - Bill of lading, no date - Bill of lading, July 6, 1922. - Bill of lading, October 17, 1922. - Bill of lading, May 11, 1922. - Bill of lading, May 11, 1922

Folder 7: Reports - Photocopy, annual report, December 30, 1922, "Report on the Activity of the Department of Anthropology for the year 1922." (2 pages). From: Box 1: Anth Directors' Files Annual Reports - Monthly Reports. - Photocopy, annual report, 1923, pages "7" and "8". From: Box 1: Anth Directors' Files Annual Reports - Monthly Reports.. - Document, no date, diary starts April 10 [1922]“Condensed Diary of J.A. Mason”. - Report, January 8, 1923, J.A. Mason, “Report of the SOUTH AMERICAN EXPEDITION of FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 1922, J. Alden Mason” (11 pages). - Note, no date, no author, “From Dept of Anthropology fie” - Report, 1923 n.d., J.A. Mason, “Report of the SOUTH AMERICAN EXPEDITION of FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 1923, J. Alden Mason” (15 pages).

Cataloging Records

Folder 8: Cataloging 1 of 3 - Document, no date, “METATES AND TRENCHED STONES”. - Document, no date, “MANOS AND RUBBING STONES”. - Document, no date, “SMALL STONE TOOLS”. - Document, no date, “NET SINKERS AND OTHER PERFORATED STONES”. - Document, no date, “Grooved implements of unpolished stone”. - Document, no date, “Misc. tools of unpolished stone” (2 pages). - Document, no date, “Implements of polished stone” . - Document, no date, “Axe-heads” (12 pages). - Document, no date, “MISC STONE” (2 pages). 11

- Document, no date, “MONOLITHIC AXES” (12 pages). - Document, no date, “Small pendant figurine ornaments” (8 pages). - Document, no date, “BONE, etc.” (6 pages). - Document, no date, “MISC.” (3 pages). - Document, no date, “METAL” (13 pages). - Document, no date, “DIGEST OF CATALOG”. - List, no date, ] “Photographic Negatives J.A. Mason”. - Document, no date, “Notes on plates”. - List, no date, “Photographic plates”. - Document, no date, “ETHNOLOGICAL SPECIMENS” (15 pages).

Folder 9: Cataloging 2 of 3. - Envelope, no date, [addition from Field Museum Archives] “A33”. - Note, April 30, 1924, “Instructions to Mr. Ellingson for numbering uncatalogued material of the Capt. Marshall Field Columbian Expedition.” - List, December 6, 1923 “Digest of Archaeological Specimen”. - List, no date, “Archaeological Specimens in Collection of Manuel Chediak, Santa Marta” (63 pages). - List, no date, “Metal Objects”. - List, no date, [specimen, some marked, “consigned to waste”].

Folder 10: Cataloging 3 of 3. - List, no date, “DIGEST OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS”. - List, no date, “specimens unaccounted for”. - List, April 1, 1923, “Disposition of Arhuaco Specimens”. - List, no date, “Contents of boxes of Archaeological Materials of J.A. Mason”. - List, no date, “Contents of box delivered to Mrs. C.C. Crawford, Chicago.” - List, September 17, 1923, “Contents of box delivered to Mr. Bremner.” - List, no date, “List of Speimens shipped by J. Alden Mason to Field Museum of Natural History in one box, August 8, 1922.” - List, October 17, 1922, “Contents of box to be shipped to Field Museum”. - List, November 23 “CONTENTS OF PACKED BOXES”. - List, no date, “List of Photographic Negatives of J.A. Mason.” - Invoice, October 17, 1922, invoice from American Consular Service at Santa Marta, Columbia. - Note, no date, no author, refers to sketch (also in Mylar envelope). 12

- Sketch, no date, no author - Note, no date, note about archival records.

Folder 11: Misc. - Photocopy, no date, “CUENTOS COLOMBIANOS” (8 pages).

Box 2 Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Columbia, 1922- 1923 . Notebooks and Journal, 1922-1923

Folder 12: Journal, 1922-1923 1 of 3 - Diary, May 18, 1922 to August 19, 1922, J.A.Mason (100 pages).

Folder 13: Journal, 1922-1923 2 of 3 - Diary, August 21, 1922 to January 4, 1923, J.A. Mason (57 pages).

Folder 14: Journal, 1922-1923 3 of 3 - Diary, January 30, 1923 to April 5, 1923, J.A. Mason (85 pages).

Folder 15: Notebooks #1 thru 9. - Notepad, May 18, 1922 to June 5, 1922, Bk I JA Mason (~72 pages). - Notepad, June 6, 1922 to June 27, 1922, Bk II . - Notepad, June 27, 1922 to July 20, 1922, Bk III. - Notepad, July 20, 1922 to August 19, 1922, Bk IV . - Notepad, August 21, 1922 to October 1, 1922, Bk 5. - Notepad, October 2, 1922 to November 4, 1922, Bk 6. - Notepad, November 29, 1922 to January 5, 1923, Bk 7. - Notepad, January 1923 to April 28, 1923, Archaeology 8. - Notepad, January 1923 to April 28, 1923, 9 Hawkins, Misc. - Notepad, no dates, Linguistics N ägäba.

Folder 16: Notebooks #10 thru 15. - Notebook, January 30, 1923 10 Ethnology I Copy. - Notebook, no dates, 11 Ethnology II Arhuaco.. - Notebook, April 24, 1923, 12 Goajiro, Ethnology. - Notebook, no date, 13 Linguistics N ägäba. - Notebook, no date, 14 Linguistics (Southern Language) Arhuaco. - Notebook, no date, 15 Goajiro Linguistics.