From Artifacts to People Facts: Archaeologists, World War II, and the Origins of Middle East Area Studies by Matthew August Kohlstedt B.S. in Radio/Television/Film, June 2002, Northwestern University M.A. in American Studies, May 2008, The George Washington University A Dissertation submitted to The Faculty of The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 31, 2015 Dissertation directed by Melani McAlister Associate Professor of American Studies and International Affairs The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University cer- tifies that Matthew August Kohlstedt has passed the Final Examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy as of December 15, 2014. This is the final and approved form of the dissertation. From Artifacts to People Facts: Archaeologists, World War II, and the Origins of Middle East Area Studies Matthew August Kohlstedt Dissertation Research Committee: Melani McAlister, Associate Professor of American Studies and International Affairs, Dissertation Director Thomas A. Guglielmo, Associate Professor of American Studies, Committee Member Andrew Zimmerman, Professor of History and International Affairs, Committee Member ii © Copyright 2015 by Matthew August Kohlstedt. All rights reserved iii Dedication To Sarah and Ben. For everything, for always. iv Acknowledgments More than four years ago, I left my comfortable graduate student home in Wash- ington, DC, for what was supposed to be a one-year psychology job for my wife in Madi- son, WI. One year turned into two; we had a child; I worked non-dissertation jobs; and I grew increasingly uncertain when I would be able to dedicate enough time to this project to see it through to completion. That I was able to finish is a testament to a strong support network. It is a pleasure to be able to thank some of those people here. The geographic distance between my dissertation committee and me required an extra level of dedication on their part. I am grateful to them for their patience and thoughtful comments along the way. Melani McAlister has been a generous reader throughout this process. I am continually in awe of her efforts on behalf of her students. Whether over the phone, on Skype, or in a diesel Mercedes taxi as we were driven across Beirut, she has always been engaged with what I have been trying to do. Tom Guglielmo and Andrew Zimmerman have been immensely helpful and supportive. They offered in- cisive and, importantly, doable suggestions. The example they both set as educators and scholars is extraordinary. Jamie Cohen-Cole and Dina Khoury were ideal readers. It was a pleasure to have their thoughts on this project. Of course, any errors that remain are my own. Although she was not on my committee, in an earlier stage at GW Melinda Knight taught me an enormous amount about teaching. A number of professors at Northwestern University were instrumental in shaping my post-undergraduate path. Brian Edwards stands out as a generous person, an invalu- able advisor, and a mind-bogglingly entertaining writer. He first recommended Melani’s v book to me more than a decade ago, and has been a touchstone since that time. Scott Cur- tis, David Tolchinsky, and Paul McEwan all provided guidance and served as references at different points. I deeply appreciate their help. My recent trip to Washington, DC reminded me of what a great group of graduate students I was lucky enough to study with. Jeremy Hill, Katie Brian, and Megan Black were particularly helpful during challenging times. Having been a part of such a great co- hort of students, I am forever spoiled by the experience. A number of grants supported this research. The Loughran Foundation, the Cos- mos Club, and the American Studies Department of the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences at GW provided travel and writing funds. A Rockefeller Archive Center Grant- in-Aid allowed me to see Rockefeller Foundation documents in person, and Mary Ann Quinn was invaluable as an archivist. Many other archivists made this research possible: Cory Czajkowski at the University of Miami; John Larson at the Oriental Institute; Ar- mand Esai at the Field Museum; Philip Grover and Chris Morton at the Pitt Rivers Muse- um; Jack Green at the Ashmolean Museum; Scott Taylor at Georgetown University; and numerous staff members at the larger archives. The Center for American Studies and Re- search at the American University of Beirut, the Institute for Constitutional History, and The George Washington University all provided funds for conference travel. Graham, Missy, Eli, and Logan Davis; Briana Wilson and Juan Carlos Camacho Sofrony; Rob and Parvathy Paymer; Negar Tekeei and Nikhil and Aydin Waingankar; Aneel and Dorissa Gursahaney; Nathan and Stephanie Crowe; and Pete, Cat, Emma, and Maggie Reynolds all provided shelter and company during various return trips to DC and vi research trips elsewhere. I hope I can provide the same gracious hospitality to them some day. Many years ago, a group of friends – Brian Battle, Justin Elkow, Ian Slaughter, and Karl Scharnweber – were patient with me as I did graduate student stuff during what was supposed to be a football weekend. I hope we can plan a similar outing soon, and drag along Brian Sabella and Jim Adamczyk, too. I plan on being more fun the next time. After moving to Madison, WI, I have had a couple jobs to support my (growing) family. I am thankful to Epic Systems and the College of Letters & Science Honors Pro- gram at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for providing interesting challenges at work. Sissel Schroeder, Jennifer Kaufmann-Buhler, Jacqui Guthrie, Jon Iftikar, Colin Rohm, and Laura Bradley all expressed interest in my dissertation, and were patient with my scheduling. The student workers have been delightful to work with as well. Both my in-laws and my own family have been extraordinarily supportive, even as this process stretched beyond its original, intended timeline. It is a joy to be a part of the Skopek family. My son, Benjamin, has five wonderful cousins, Finn, Orion, Nico, Carmen, and Rafa. I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble they can all get into. My sib- lings-in-law, Jeff Skopek, Laura Diaz Anadon, Matt Skopek, and Melanie Brussat, are great holiday companions (or any time of the year, for that matter). Marilyn and John Skopek are incredibly supportive in every possible way. My own family has always emphasized education. My paternal great-grandfather once hitched the local one-room schoolhouse to a team of horses and dragged it closer to his own house and brood. My paternal grandmother, Deloris Kohlstedt, got her GED in her seventies. Now approaching 98, she just recently told me that she used to read our set vii of encyclopedias after she put us to bed. In addition to being an inspiration for her love of learning, she has continued to be the kindest person I have ever met. Her husband, Gus, died when I was three, but left me with a number of cherished memories. My maternal grandparents, Duaine and Kathy Lang, were smart and funny. They paid for a significant portion of my undergraduate education. But I’m just as grateful for the memories of their annual pig roasts. Aunts and uncles, cousins and second cousins — I’m lucky to have such a great extended family. My three siblings and their partners, Katie Kohlstedt and Paco Portillo Rangel; Lindsey and Devin Meyer; and Kevin Kohlstedt and Karly Chisholm, continue to impress me with their accomplishments and aptitude for their chosen professions and paths. Whether providing spirulina, children’s books, or microbrews, they all helped me com- plete this project. Ben’s cousins on that side, Kai and Teo, have made such a strong im- pression on Ben that he will wake up in the morning and ask where they are. But, as a bonus, now he knows where Mexico is! My parents, Jim and Pat, have always been sup- portive of my ideas and directions. Words fail to capture my gratitude to them. As for Sarah, Benjamin, and the soon-to-be baby, what can I possibly write that could express the depth of my love for you? If I wasn’t a sentimental wreck before hav- ing kids, I am one now. Sarah is the best partner, in every sense of the word, that I could have ever imagined. Ben makes me laugh every day, starting with exclaiming, when he awakes, “I’m all done sleeping!” He has been very patient as I spent long hours at the computer instead of with him. Ben, good news — I’m all done dissertating! viii Abstract of Dissertation From Artifacts to People Facts: Archaeologists, World War II, and the Origins of Middle East Area Studies This dissertation traces the complex factors that influenced the World War II-era transition of some archaeologists and physical anthropologists who studied the ancient Middle East into roles that impacted U.S. policy towards the Middle East. The first chap- ter focuses on the archaeological expeditions and disciplinary practices that first exposed these social scientists to the inhabitants of the region that came to be known as the Mid- dle East. Their experiences during the 1920s and 1930s influenced the opinions they formed and would later put to political use. The second chapter traces the various roles they took on in service of the U.S. government during the Second World War. Although many academics performed a variety of duties during the war, they were all united by a common belief: that academic knowledge of foreign peoples was going to be necessary in the postwar world.