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COLLECTION Identifier: 995-18

Hugh O'Neill Hencken papers

Overview

Papers include general research materials relating to The Earliest European Helmets 1971. Hencken's research focused on early bronze helmets of Europe and the Aegean and the bulk of the papers relate to the Duchess of Mecklenburg archaeological collection from Magdalenska gora.

Dates

  • Creation: 1907-1986

Conditions Governing Access

Access: Unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Copying: Unrestricted.

Extent

16 linear feet

Hugh O'Neill Hencken's papers include general research materials (his professional correspondence and some teaching notes and syllabi), research and manuscript materials relating to The Earliest European Helmets (1971) on early bronze helmets of Europe and the Aegean, materials relating to research in Tangiers, and Mecklenburg Collection research materials.

The bulk of the papers relate to the Duchess of Mecklenburg archaeological collection from Magdalenska gora [Magdalenaburg], Slovenia, (Kraijna) [Carniola], Yugoslavia, and include site notes and photographs, extensive specimen notes, photographs/drawings, and relevant research and funding correspondence. This major project in Hencken's work is revealed in great detail through his findings from the Iron Age site materials. Excavated by the Duchess between 1905 and 1914, the collection was brought to New York in 1934 and was bought by the Peabody Museum in 1935 and 1940, except for a small part which went to the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford University. Under Hencken, the Peabody cleaned and restored thousands of objects, and undertook to draw illustrations of specimens for publication. In 1959, the Peabody began to seek grant funding for continued collection research.

The Mecklenburg materials in Hencken's papers document the extensive research and administrative work that went into funding the Peabody's acquisition of the collection, and the drawing of the objects from it for scholarly publication, as well as the original excavation and subsequent provenance of the collection.

Biographical Sketch:

Hugh O'Neill Hencken was born in New York City on January 8, 1902, the son of Albert Charles and Mary Creighton O'Neill Hencken. He spent his youth in Pennsylvania, and went to Princeton University in 1920. He graduated from Princeton with an A.B. in 1924 and went on to Cambridge University to receive a B.A. (1926), an M.A. (1929), and his PhD in archaeology in 1930. Hencken received numerous honorary degrees from institutions that included Cambridge University and the National University of Ireland. He was appointed Associate in European Archaeology at Harvard University in 1930 and was made Assistant Curator of European Archaeology at the Peabody Museum the following year. He was Curator of the same department from 1933-1960, and also taught at London, Oxford, and Edinburgh universities during this period. Hencken married Mary Thalassa Alfred Cruso October 12, 1935. They had three daughters: Ala, Sophia, and Thalassa. His wife, who had a diploma in archaeology from London University, died June 11th, 1997.

From 1955-1960 Hencken served as the Director of Prehistoric Studies at the American School of Prehistoric Research. He was a Lecturer in Anthropology at Harvard University in 1943-44, 1948 and 1956. Hencken conducted excavations and museum research on Iron Age peoples and objects in England, Ireland, Morocco, Algeria, Italy, Greece and elsewhere in Europe and North Africa. A member of professional and academic societies too numerous to mention, Hencken was also a prolific writer, publishing excavation reports, articles, and books on his work in Europe. He died in 1981.

Sources:

  1. Hencken Who's Who Information 1954 - 1972
  2. Boston Globe June 12, 1997

Arrangement

The Hencken Papers are arranged in the following records groups and series:

A. Mecklenburg Collection Research

  1. I. Correspondence andnotes 1907-1984
  2. II. Related reprints 1948-1966
  3. III. Mecklenburg papers sent by Gustav Mahr, n.d.
  4. IV. Magdalenska gora ms. and related materials 1976-1978, n.d.
  5. V. Site notes and manuscripts 1909-1980, n.d.

B. General Research Materials

  1. I. Object slides and illustrations, n.d.
  2. II. Italy notes 1940-1950, n.d.
  3. III. Specimen photographs1974, n.d.
  4. IV. Reports and course materials
  5. V. Correspondence and grant applications 1946-1978, n.d.
  6. VI. Research notes andcorrespondence 1937-1977, n.d.

C. Research relating to The Earliest European Helmets, ASPR Bulletin 28 (1971)

  1. I. Correspondence
  2. II. Helmets manuscript materials 1970, n.d.

D. Tangiers Research

  1. I. Gilman (Antonio) materials 1967-1974
  2. II. Lloyd Cabot Briggs& Charles Stearns materials 1961-1964, n.d.

E. Lecture and Research Note Cards

  1. I. Lecture andResearch note cards, n.d.

F. Photographic Material

  1. I. Object slides and illustrations
  2. II. Mecklenburg notes, photograph material, 1984-1985, n.d.
  3. III. Mecklenburg correspondence, photographmaterial, 1979-1984, n.d.
  4. IV. General research, photographmaterial, 1948-1956, n.d.
  5. V. Correspondence and notes,photographic material
  6. VI. Site materials, photographs, 1978-79, n.d.
  7. VII. Tangiers material, photographs, n.d.
  8. VIII. Correspondence and grant applications, photographs, 1953-1969

Physical Location

Peabody Museum Archives

Immediate Source of Acquisition

#995-18

These papers were transferred from the Department of Anthropology, Harvard University to the Peabody Museum Archives by Victoria Swerdlow in 1987. They were accessioned in 1995.

Related Peabody Museum Archival Collections:

  1. #40-77 Mecklenburg Collection Records

Related Museum Collections:

  1. Mecklenburg Collection, Peabody Museum, Harvard University, #34-35, #40-77
  2. MecklenburgCollection, Asholean Museum, Oxford University
  3. MecklenburgCollection, Narodni Musej, Ljubljana, Slovenia
  4. Mecklenburg Collection,Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien, Austria

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 Demb, Archivist June 1997; edited by Patricia H. Kervick, Associate Archivist; August 2009

Correspondent Index

Names of correspondents are listed alphabetically and followed by box.folder. List is incomplete as some signatures could not be deciphered.
Adler, Barbara; Harry N. Abrams : 24.4
Alexander, John : 7.2, 7.3
Alföldi, Andrew : 20.13
Almagro, Martin; Museo Arqueológico : 20.13
American Academy in Rome : 24.4
American Academy of Arts and Sciences [grant applications] : 13.1
American Anthropological Society : 13.2
American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science : 20.9
American Council of Learned Societies [grant applications] : 13.3
American Philosophical Society : 13.4, 13.5
American School of Prehistoric Research : 13.6, 17.1
Anati, Emmanuel : 13.7
Angel, J. Lawrence : 13.8
Anthropology 104A, Anthropology 116 : 13.9
Arambourg, M. Camille : 13.10
Ashmolean Museum : 13.11
Åström, Paul; Svenska Institutet i Rom : 24.3
Balmuth, Dr. Miriam : 13.12
Bankoff, Arthur : 13.13
Banti, Luisa : 13.14
Barnett, Richard; British Museum : 24.4
Barron, Catherine : 24.4
Beauregarde, Comte Olivier Costa de : 20.13
Beck, Curt W. : 13.15
Benjamin, Anna : 24.4
Berce, Rudolf; Narodni Muzej :7.3, 20.9
Berliner, Rudolph P. : 20.13
Bersu, Dr. Gerhard; Union Internationale desSciences Préhistoriques et Protohistoriques : 7.2
Beyer, Mr. ; Veb Max Niemeyer Verlag : 24.4
Böhm, Jaroslav : 13.16
Böhner, Dr. K.; Germanisches Zentralmuseum : 20.9
Bökönyi, Dr. Sándor : 13.17
Braidwood, Dr. Robert J. : 13.18
Brandt, K.H.; Focke-Museum Bremen : 24.4
Brea, Dr. Bernabò : 13.19
Breitenstein, Niels; Antiksamlingen Nationalmuseet : 20.13
Briggs, Lloyd Cabot : 13.20
British Academy : 13.21
Brown, Ann : 13.22
Brown, Donald : 13.23
Brown, Frank E.; American Academy in Rome : 20.13
Browne, Gordon : 13.24
Buchner, Giorgio : 13.25
Burstein, Suzanne : 13.26
Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques : 24.4
Calmels, M. Bernard : 13.27
Çambel, Dr. Halet : 13.28
Cambridge, University of : 13.29
Carbon14 [AAA] : 13.30
Case, Humphrey : 13.31
Catling, H.W. : 13.32
Catling, Hector; Ashmolean Museum : 24.4
Chang, Kwang-Chih : 13.33
Childe, V. Gordon; University of London : 7.2, 7.3, 20.13
Cintas, Pierre : 13.34
Clark, Dr. J.Grahame D. : 7.4, 13.35
Colt, H. Dunscombe, Jr. : 13.36
Courbin, P.; Ecole Francaise d'Athènes : 7.3
Cowen, John D. : 7.2, 13.37
Daniel, Glyn : 13.38
Dawes, Gen. Charles : 13.39
Dehn, W. : 13.40
Dernier, A.; Soc. des Antiquaires de l'Ouest : 20.13
Derry, A. see Société des Antiquairesde l'Ouest (Poitiers)
Didier, Anne-M.;Institut Royal du Patrimoine Artistique : 24.4
Doranlo, Dr. R.E.; Ville de Falaise Bibliothèque Municipale : 20.13
Dumitrescu, Dr. Vladimir; Academia R.P. (Bucuresti) : 7.2, 13.41, 24.3
Duncan, Mrs. E.M.; Soc. for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies : 24.4
Dunbalin[?], Tom; Oxford University : 7.2, 7.3
Dunn, Charles : 13.42
Duport, Louis : 20.13
Dyson, Robert; University Museum, Univ. of Penn. : 13.43, 20.13
Eckhardt, Dr. Wolfgang; Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg : 24.4
Ehgartner, W.; Naturhistorischen Museum : 7.2
Ehrich, Bob : 7.2
Ehrich, Robert : 14.1
Einudi, Karin; Fototeca Unione : 20.13
Eogan, George : 14.1
Esser, Dr.; Landeschauptstadt und Universitätsstadt Mainz : 20.13
Evans, E. E. : 7,4
Evans, John; University of London : 7.2, 14.2
Falconi-Amorelli, Maria Terese : 14.3
Felbermeyer, Johannes : 14.4
Filip, Jan; Academie Tehecoslovaque desSciences Institute D'Archeologie : 7.2
Flavigny, R.C. : 20.13
Fogolari, Guilia : 14.5
Folting, Stephen; Inst. for Advanced Study, Princeton : 7.2, 20.9
Foltiny, Stephen : 7.3, 14.6
Franchand, C.; Centre de Recherches de L'Histoire de la Sidérurgie : 20.13
Funke, Dr. : 20.13
Galovic´, Radoslav : 14.8
Garas´anin, Draga : 14.9
Garas´anin, M. : 14.40
Gardiner, Sarah D. : 14.11
Gaul, Harriet A. : 14.12
Gavela, Branko : 14.13
Gehrig, Ulrich; Antikenabteilung : 24.4
Gilman, Antonio : 14.14, 18.7
Gimbutas, Marija : 14.15a, 14.15b
Gobert, E. G. : 14.16
Gosling, Bernard; Clarendon Press : 24.4
Green, Gertrude : 14.17
Grohne, E.; Focke-Museum : 20.13
Gualtieri, Maurizio : 14.18
Hammond, Mason : 14.19
Harden, Donald B. : 7.2, 14.20
Harrison, Richard : 14.21
Hase, Friedrich-Wilhelm von : 14.22
Hauper, Einar; Harvard University : 7.2, 7.3
Hawkes, Christopher; Eur. Arch, Oxford: 7.2, 7.3, 14.23
Hawkins, Gerald: 14.24
Haynes, Denys; British Museum: 20.13, 24.4
Haynes, Robert H. : 14.25
Heber, Christa; Hirmer Verlag Muchen Hemery : 24.4
Marcel; Musée du Chateau deCompiegne : 20.13
Heres, Dr. Gerald; Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin : 7.2
Holloway, R. Ross : 14.26
Homolka [Dr. Froelich Rainey] : 14.27
Homolka [Dr. Robert W. Ehrich] : 15.1
Hood, Sinclair; Oxford : 7.2, 7.3
Howe, Bruce : 15.2
Howells, William W. : 15.3
Huxley, George : 15.4
Inskeep, Raymond Robert : 15.5
Istituto di Studi Etruschi: 15.6
Iverson, Johs. : 7.4
Jacobsthal, Paul; Oxford : 7.2, 7.3
Joffroy René; Musées des Antiquités Nationales : 20.13
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation [Dow] : 15.8
Kern, J.H.C.; National Museum of Antiquities (Leiden) : 24.3
Kerr-Wilson, J.D.; Spink & Son : 20.13
Kimball, Richard A.; American Academy in Rome : 20.13
Kimmig, Wolfgang : 15.9
Klejman, J.J. : 24.3
Knez, Tone : 15.10
Kragh, Ole; Glydendal : 24.4
Kromer, Karl : 15.11
Kunisch, Norbert; Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz : 20.13
Lamberg-Karlovsky, Carl C. : 15.12
Lanhotham, Paul F.; Oxford : 20.9, 20.13
Lattimore, Owen : 20.9
le Roux, Susan; MacMillan & Co. : 24.4
Leitz, B.; Munksgaard : 24.4
Lerat, Lucien; University of Besançon, France : 7.2, 7.3
London Museum, The : 7.2
Loskol, Franole; Naturhistorisches Museum Wien : 24.4
Lozar, Rajko : 20.4
MacWhite, Eoin : 7.2, 7.3
Maetzke, Gugielmo; Amntihita dell'Etruria : 20.13
Mahr, Gustav : 15.13
Mainjonet, M.; Bibliotheque Nationale : 24.4
Markotic, Vladimir; Illinois State Normal University : 7.2, 7.3,15.14
Marshack, Alexander : 15.15
Martin, Paul S. Chicago; Natural History Museum : 7.2
Maxwell-Hyslop, Rachel 1954 : 7.2
Merhart, Gero von : 15.16
Metropolitan Museum of Art : 20.13
Milton Fund (William F.) : 15.17
Moszolics, Amalia : 15.18
Müller-Karpe, Hermann; Vor.Und Fruhgeschichtiliche Staatssammlung : 15.19, 20.13, 24.3
Myers, John L.; Oxford : 7.2, 7.3
Nahon, Joseph R. : 15.20
National Endowment for the Humanities : 15.21
National Science Foundation : 15.22 - 15.26
Natufiuans : 15.27
Navarro, J.M. de : 15.28
Neustupny, Jiri : 7.2
Nikitine, Sylvie; Musee Vivenel : 24.3
Otto, Solveig; Instituttet for Saamenlignen de Kulturforskning : 24.4
Padoua : 16.1
Pallottino, Massimo : 16.2
Peabody Museum : 16.3
Penna [photographs] : 16.4
Penna, Renato; Museo Nazionale (Rome) : 7.2
Peroni, Renato : 16.5
Piggott,Stuart; Dept. of Preh. Arch., U. of Edinburgh : 7.2, 7.3, 16.6, 20.9
Plenderleith, [?]; The British Museum : 7.2
Plesl, Evzen : 16.7
Prague [Narodi Museum] : 16.8
Pusey, Nathan M. : 16.9
Rainey, Froelich : 16.10
Reimer, Georg; Walter deGruyer & Co. : 24.4
Ribarits, Kristina; Hirmer Verlag Munchen : 24.4
Richardson, L. 'Emmy' : 7.2, 20.13
Ridgeway, David : 20.13
Riedl, N. : 16.11
Rompe, Dr. Ing[mar?]; Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin : 7.2
Rowlette, Ralph M. : 7.2, 7.3, 20.13
Russell, Mrs. Leonard : 24.4
Rutteri, Silvio : 7.2
Sandars, Nancy : 7.2, 16.12, 20.13
Saporiti, Nada; Metropolitan Museum of Art : 20.13
Sawyer, Janet M. : 16.14
Schaefffer, Claude : 16.15
Schiek, S.; Staatliches Ant für Denkmalpflege : 7.2
Schmandt, Denise : 16.16
Schuldt, Müller; Mus. für Ur. und Frühgeschlichte Schwerin : 7.2
Schultes, Richard Evans : 16.17
Slalinak, Milan; Slovenske Narodne Muzeum : 7.2
Small, Alastair M. : 16.18
Société des Antiquaires de l'Ouest (Poitiers) : 7.2
Sordinas, Augustus : 16.19
Stearns, Dean Charles E. : 16.20
Sulimirski, Tadensz : 16.21
Sweden, HM King of : 16.22
Swindler, Marcy H. (University of Michigan, FA Dept.) : 7.2, 7.3
Thimme, Jürgen; Badisches Landesmuseum : 7.2
Thornton, M.J.; British School of Archaeology at Athens : 24.4
Tiné, Santo : 7.2
Tocik, Dr. Anton; Archeologicky ústav Slovenskej Akademie vied Institut Archeologique de l'Academie Slovaquedes Sciences NITRA- HRAD : 7.2
Tringham, Ruth : 16.24
Universitets Oldsaksamling (Oslo) : 7.2
Unverzagt, W : 20.9
Vanaise, P.; Institut Royal du Parimoine Artistique : 24.4
Vangelli, Carlo : 20.13
Varagnae, A.; Musées Nationaux-Musées des Antiquités Nationales : 20.13
Vaufrey, Raymond : 16.25
Vermeule, Emil : 16.26
Vernet, E; Musée Départmental des Hautes-Alpes : 20.13
Vessberg, Olof; Medelhavsmuseet :24.3
Villard, François : 16.27
Vogt, Emil : 16.28
Voss, John; The American Academy of Arts and Sciences : 7.2
Wace, Mrs. Alan : 24.4
Wagner, Friedrich : 20.13
Wagner, W.; Römische-Germanische Kommission Plunderleith, British Museum : 7.2
Wells, Dr. Peter S. : 16.30
Wenner-Gren Foundation : 16.31
Wheeler, Sir Mortimer : 16.32
Widener : 16.33
Willovanseder, K. : 20.13
Zeilinger, Dr. Konrad; Landesmuseum Joanneum : 7.2
Title
Hencken, Hugh O'Neill, 1902-1981, Papers: A Finding Aid
Author
Peabody Museum Archives
Language of description
und
EAD ID
pea00043

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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