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COLLECTION Identifier: 63-25

Patrick Tracy Lowell Putnam correspondence and notes

Overview

These papers contain Patrick T.L. Putnam's notes and correspondence concerning trade, and the plants and animals of the Belgian Congo, as well as the sale and shipping of animals to zoos.

Dates

  • Creation: 1930 - 1953

Conditions Governing Access

Restrictions on access: None

Conditions Governing Use

Restrictions on use: None

Extent

.5 linear feet

This collection consists of 5 folders of notes and correspondence pertaining to Patrick Putnam's study of trade, and the animals and plants of the Belgian Congo.

Biographical Sketch:

Patrick Tracy Lowell Putnam (1904-1953) was born into a wealthy New England family. Initially an only child, his parents eventually adopted six additional children. Putnam graduated from Harvard in 1925. He started as a chemistry major but changed to anthropology after participating in an expedition to Dutch New Guinea directed by Professor Earnest A. Hooton. From 1928-1930 Putnam carried out ethnological studies in the Congo for the Peabody Museum. In 1933 he established Camp Putnam, an outpost located in the Ituri Forest, where the Transafrican Highway crosses the Epulu River. Putnam studied the Mbuti people while he operated a small guesthouse for travelers and provided basic medical services. Putnam was married three times. His third wife was Ann Eisner an artist from New York City. She moved with him to Camp Putnam in 1946. Her observations were recorded in her paintings and her book, Madami: my eight years of adventure with the Congo pigmies. Putnam died in 1953. Camp Putnam was abandoned in 1958.

Sources:

  1. Haskell, Susan. "Patrick Putnam". December 1992.

Physical Location

Peabody Museum Archives

Immediate Source of Acquisition

# 63-25

These papers are a gift of Elizabeth Putnam [aunt of P.T. L. Putnam], 1963

Related Peabody Museum Collections

  1. PeabodyMuseum Accession Files # 27-56, 27-58, 27-59, 29-4, 29-45, 49-9, 62-6,63-25, 970-1
  2. P.T. L. Putnam ethnographic photographcollections, PA-IN 50-08 ; PA-IN 50-19

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.

Title
Putnam, Patrick Tracy Lowell, 1904-1953. Papers,1930-1950: A Finding Aid
Author
Peabody Museum Archives
Language of description
und
EAD ID
pea00045

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.

Contact:
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Harvard University
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