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COLLECTION Identifier: 41-7; 2001.7

Charles P. Bowditch papers

Overview

The Bowditch Papers contain administrative and field correspondence and site notes, the bulk of which relate to the Peabody Museum Central American Expeditions.

Dates

  • Creation: 1869-1918

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Unrestricted.

Extent

6.75 linear feet

Bowditch's papers contain field correspondence with his many colleagues as well as site notes; the bulk of which relate to the PM Central American Expeditions. Minutes and correspondence of his work with the American Institute of Archaeology reveal the depth of Bowditch's commitment to the discipline. His meticulous attention to the minute detail that made up the administration of the PM is also reflected in correspondence regarding appointments, finances, and other materials in Box 14. Bowditch's papers also include his research notes on the many hieroglyphic codices that so fascinated him.

Biographical Sketch

Charles Pickering Bowditch (born September 30, 1842; died June 1, 1921), was an early initiator and supporter of Meso and Central American research at the Peabody Museum. His interest in Maya studies was sparked by a pleasure trip to the Yucatan in 1888. Bowditch received both his A.B. (1863) and his M.A. (1866) from Harvard University. He was a leading member of the Museum's Committee for Central American Researchers from 1891 until his death. Bowditch joined the Department of Anthropology faculty in 1897 (1894?) and remained on it until 1921. A business man of independent means, Bowditch planned and supported many PM expeditions to Meso and Central America, and also funded publication and exhibition of their results. During his tenure at HU, he established both Fellow and Instructor positions in Central American Archaeology as well as the PM Memoirs series, which continues to publish topics of Meso and Central American interest. Bowditch was also an active member of the Archaeological Institute of America. An excellent mathematician, he was especially intrigued by Maya hieroglyphics, and his work reflected that interest. Bowditch served as a Museum trustee in 1894-95, and on various departmental committees from 1889-1899.

  1. Swerdlow, Victoria H. "CharlesP. Bowditch Papers Preliminary Inventory". July 1987.

Physical Location

Peabody Museum Archives

Immediate Source of Acquisition

41-7; 2001.7

These papers were transferred to the Peabody Museum from the custody and office of Dr. Alfred M. Tozzer.

1941; 1947; deposited in PM Archives in 1968.

Related Peabody Museum Collections

  1. Central American Expedition Records(Honduras/Guatemala Expedition Records)
  2. Chichen Itza Expedition Records,
  3. Edward Little Rogers Papers
  4. Teobert Maler Papers,
  5. Alfred M. Tozzer Papers

Related Collections at Harvard University:

  1. Edward Herbert Thompson Papers, c. 1885-1900. Tozzer Library Rare Book Room

General note

Collections records may contain language, reflecting past collecting practices and methods of analysis, that is no longer acceptable. The Peabody Museum is committed to addressing the problem of offensive and discriminatory language present in its database. Our museum staff are continually updating these records, adding to and improving content. We welcome your feedback and any questions or concerns you may want to share.

Processed by:

Sarah R. Demb

October 2000

Correspondent Index

Names of correspondents cited in the finding aid, listed alphabetically and followed by folder number when available.
A. Worcester & Sons: f. 137
American Club
Angier, R. H. : f. 135
Aria, Juan A. : f. 133
Baldwin, William H. : f. 135
Barclay, William : f.101
Barrett, S. A. : f.144
Barrios, Josar Reina : f.130, 132
Baum, Henry : f. 59
Beyer, Hermann : f. 152
Bleekman, John E. : f. 138
Boas, Franz : f. 139 [excerpt]; f. 152 [re: anthropology program at Columbia]
Bogran, Gen. Luis (Honduras) : f. 129
Bowditch, Alfred : f. 135, 147, 149
Bowditch, Ingersoll : f. 138-143,145, 147-148
Bowditch, Charles Pickering : f. 42-43, 119, 129-149, 152
Bowditch, Charlotte : f. 147
Brandes, Juan : f. 134-135
Braumholtz, H.J. : f. 119
Breton, Adela : f. 140
Bridgham, Joseph : f. 131
Brinton, Daniel Garrison : f. 119
Burkitt, Robert : f. 60, 133, 139
Carmichael, J. G. H. : f. 48
Carter, Rice & Co. : f. 138
Castells, F. de P. : f. 13
Central American Steamship Line : f. 119
Confederation Life Association: f. 132
Chalmers, Guthrie & Co. : f. 138
Chandler, John Rice : f. 132
Cia. De Agencias y Transportes del Norte : f.133
Clapman, T. J.
Cobb, Bates & Yerxa Co. : f. 137
Clarke, J. Cooper : f. 44
Cooper-Pritchard, A. H. : f.146-147
Crosby, Elisha : f. 130
Cueva, Juan Ramon : f. 130
Curtin, J. : f. 51
Curtis, Helen D.
Destephen, Teodoro : f. 130-131, 137
Dieseldorff, E. P.
Dixon, Roland Burrage : f. 152
Dorsey, George A. : f. 152
Du Dubon, Concepcion
Drummond, Col. Juan : f. 131-132
Edwards, E. J. : f. 137
Eggers & Heinlein : f. 138
Ellery, William : f. 141
Egypt Exploration Fund : f. 141
Eliot, Charles M. : f. 130, 137
Ely, Robert E. : f. 132
Escobar, Fermin
F. B. Vandergrift & Co. : f. 133
Federer, J. H. : f. 139
Fewkes, J. Walter : f. 152
Fleischmann, C. L. : f. 62
Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing : f. 131
Ford, Worthington C.
Foerstemann,Ernest
Foster, John W. : f. 130
Frabanino, Dotore : f. 131
Gates, William E. : f. 64-66, 138
Gignoux, Gerard C. : f. 137, 147
Gilman, Benjamin Ives : f. 133
Goodale, George Lincoln : f. 143
Goodman, Joseph Thompson
Gordon, George Byron : f. 67-68, 112, 131-134, 137-138, 152
Gordon, Hattie : f. 133
Gordon, Jane : f. 133
Gorham, Rogers & Co. : f. 137
Greene, Jerome D. : f. 152
H.M. Sawyer & Co. : f. 137
Haines, Caspar Wistar : f. 131
Hannah, Ian C. : f. 146
Harvard University Press : f. 135, 145-146
Hemenway, Augustus : f. 152
Hernandez, Emilio : f. 131
Hewett, Edgar : f. 120-121
Hoffman, Wilhelm : f. 138
Hooper, Franklin W. : f. 146
Horgan, Robey & Co. : f.137
Hull, G. Stanley : f.152
Hummerwell, F. W. : f. 152
Hunter, Annie G. : f. 111
Irving, Isabel : f.135
Jeffes, G.
Josselyn, H.E. : f. 133
Kelsey, Francis W. : f. 152
King, C. L. : f. 132
Kraemer, Frederick L. : f. 133
Kroeber, Alfred L. : f. 137
Laughton, Nadine C.
Lawrence, Rev. William
Le Plongeon, Alice Dixon : f. 112
Le Plongeon, Augustus : f. 112
Leon, N. : f. 141
Lee, Elliott C: f. 144
Lemus, Jose Jacinto : f. 138
Leverett, George V. : f. 152
Little, Clarence C. : f. 152
Livingston, H. W. : f. 146
The London : f. 137
Lopez, Gorgonio : f. 130
Loring, Charles : f. 146
Lowell, A. Lawrence
Lowell, Francis C. : f. 129-130,152
Lozano, Padre Guillermo : f. 130
Lummis, Charles F. : f. 141
Madrid, Carlos : f. 130-132
Maler, Teobert : f. 78,138, 141-142, 144, 146
Marticonrena, Miguel : f. 131
Martinez, Juan (Hernandez) : f. 110
Marvin, Langdon P. : f. 152
Mason, Phillippe B.
Maudslay, Alfred P. : f. 112
Mead, Frances H. : f. 130-131, 133, 138,140-142, 144, 146, 152
McIver, W. J. : f. 131
Meiushausen,Martin
Merwin, Raymond E. : f. 113, 148
Morse, William A. : f. 138
Myers,Henry C. : f. 79
Nuttall, Zelia : f. 112
Owen, William : f. 130-131, 134
Owens, John G. : f. 128, 130, 151
Pacheco, Remaldo : f. 130
Parker, Alberta M. : f. 138-142
Payer, Richard : f. 130
Peabody Museum Honduras Expedition [Gordon report 1894-95] : f. 132
Peterson, James J. : f. 129-130
Pierce, Roger : f. 152
Piers, Harry : f. 146
Pinart, Alphonse Louis
Pinto, Jesus M. : f. 130
Potts, Frank Armitage : f. 130-131, 138
Pratt, Herbert J. : f. 133
Putnam, Frederick Ward : f. 128-132, 135, 137-143, 145-147, 149, 152
Price, H.W. : f. 130
Rogers, Mrs. B.
Rohl, Adola : f. 138
Russell, Frank : f. 141
Sandham, Hy
Sapper, Carl : f. 135
Saville, Marshall K. : f. 131-132
Seler, Eduard : f. 112
Schellhas, P. : f. 80
Schernikow, Ernest : f. 134, 138
Shorkley, George : f. 131-132
Smith, Clara A.
Southern Pacific Company : f. 137
Spinden, Herbert : f. 81, 152
Stangl, P.L. : f. 132
Taylor, Solatia M. : f. 138
Thompson, Edward Herbert : f. 69, 133, 141, 144, 147
Thomas, Cyrus
Thomas, Mauricio : f. 130
Tozzer, Alfred Marston : f. 6, 45-46, 54-56, 141, 146, 147,151-152
Trethewey, Alberta M. : f. 144-146
Tweedie, M.S. : f. 135
Walcott, Charles : f. 152
Wesselhoft, Leticia : f. 144
West, Gerald Montgomery : f. 132
Wharton, William F. : f. 130
Willoughby, Charles Clark : f. 152
Winthrop, Robert C. : f. 129
Wolcott, H. P. : f. 152
Zelaya, Jeronimo : f. 130-131
Title
Bowditch, Charles P. (Charles Pickering), 1842-1921. Papers, 1869-1918: A Finding Aid
Author
Peabody Museum Archives
Language of description
und
EAD ID
pea00033

Repository Details

Part of the Peabody Museum Archives Repository

Papers in the Peabody Museum Archives consist of primary source materials that document the Museum’s archaeological and ethnographic research and fieldwork since its founding in 1866. More than 2,800 feet of archival paper collections contain documents, papers, manuscripts, correspondence, data, field notes, maps, plans, and other historical records that represent diverse peoples from around the world, and which were created or collected by the Museum, its individual affiliates, or related entities. The collections also document the history or provenience, as well as the creation of, many of the Museum’s archaeological and ethnographic collections.

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