Edgar L. Hewett Collection
Collection
Identifier: AC 105
Scope and Content
This collection contains the personal and professional papers of archaeologist and educator Edgar Lee Hewett (1865-1946). The collection includes materials from 1861-1992, with the bulk of the materials from 1897-1947. The types of materials include correspondence, manuscripts by Hewett and others, publications, archaeological notes and reports, financial records, personal documents, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, account books and ledgers, visitor registers, maps, and other miscellaneous papers.
As an active archaeologist in the Southwestern United States and Central America, director of several museums, professor at multiple universities, and member of many professional and scientific organizations, Hewett generated a large amount of correspondence and papers throughout his career. Topics include: Hewett's archaeological research and excavations in New Mexico, the Southwestern United States, and Guatemala; Hewett's work as founder and Director of the Museum of New Mexico and School of American Archaeology/School of American Research (now the School of Advanced Research); the Antiquities Act of 1906; the protection and ownership of archaeological and historical sites; national parks and monuments like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon; the Archaeological Institute of America; Hewett's work at the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, California and later as Director of the San Diego Museum (now the San Diego Museum of Us); the creation of the New Mexico Museum of Art; the Taos and Santa Fe art colonies; Native American artists; Pueblo culture and politics; archaeological field schools in the Pajarito Plateau, Jemez region, and Chaco Canyon; Hewett's work at New Mexico Normal University (now New Mexico Highlands University), the University of New Mexico, and the University of Southern California; New Mexico history; social and cultural life in Santa Fe; the Santa Fe Fiesta; New Mexico politics; Hewett's books and publications; etc.
As an active archaeologist in the Southwestern United States and Central America, director of several museums, professor at multiple universities, and member of many professional and scientific organizations, Hewett generated a large amount of correspondence and papers throughout his career. Topics include: Hewett's archaeological research and excavations in New Mexico, the Southwestern United States, and Guatemala; Hewett's work as founder and Director of the Museum of New Mexico and School of American Archaeology/School of American Research (now the School of Advanced Research); the Antiquities Act of 1906; the protection and ownership of archaeological and historical sites; national parks and monuments like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon; the Archaeological Institute of America; Hewett's work at the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, California and later as Director of the San Diego Museum (now the San Diego Museum of Us); the creation of the New Mexico Museum of Art; the Taos and Santa Fe art colonies; Native American artists; Pueblo culture and politics; archaeological field schools in the Pajarito Plateau, Jemez region, and Chaco Canyon; Hewett's work at New Mexico Normal University (now New Mexico Highlands University), the University of New Mexico, and the University of Southern California; New Mexico history; social and cultural life in Santa Fe; the Santa Fe Fiesta; New Mexico politics; Hewett's books and publications; etc.
Dates
- 1861 - 1992
- Majority of material found within 1897 - 1947
Creator
Language of Materials
Collection is mostly in English, with some materials in Spanish and French and a very small amount in German, Czech, Chinese, Quechua, Italian, Russian, Latin, and Arabic.
Access Restrictions
None
Copy Restrictions
Duplication allowed for research purposes. User responsible for all copyright compliance.
Biographical Note
Born on November 23, 1865, in Warren County, Illinois, archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett began his career as a schoolteacher in Missouri. While working as a professor at Tarkio College, he met his first wife, fellow teacher Cora E. Whitford (1868-1905), whom he married on September 16, 1891. Hewett earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Pedagogy at the State Normal School in Greeley, Colorado (now the University of Northern Colorado) in 1893 and 1897 respectively, then served as president of New Mexico Normal University in Las Vegas, New Mexico (now New Mexico Highlands University) from 1898-1903. Hewett developed an interest in the archaeology of the southwestern United States and the work of Adolph F. Bandelier, and he began his own amateur archaeological work in northern New Mexico. He pursued a doctorate from the University of Geneva from 1903-1908, which culminated with the publication of his thesis, "Les communautes anciennes dans le desert americain" (Ancient Society in the American Desert).
During this time, Edgar L. Hewett’s growing expertise and advocacy for the preservation of southwestern archaeological sites placed him on the forefront of national antiquities legislation. He led U.S. Congressman John F. Lacey of the House Committee on Public Lands on a tour of the pueblo ruins and cliff dwellings of the Southwest in 1902 to make the case for their protection, and in 1904 wrote a crucial memorandum on the "Historic and Prehistoric Ruins of the Southwest and their Preservation" for the U.S. Department of the Interior and General Land Office. Hewett joined members of the Smithsonian Institution, Archaeological Institute of America, and American Anthropological Association in Washington, D.C. to draft antiquities legislation and lobby Congress. In 1906, Hewett personally drafted the bill which passed through both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906, becoming what is known as the Antiquities Act. Unfortunately, during this period of Edgar’s professional success, Cora Hewett struggled with illness and died in 1905 at the age of 36.
Back in New Mexico, Hewett worked to create a center for archaeological and anthropological research. Prominent archaeologists and anthropologists such as Alice Cunningham Fletcher, William Henry Holmes, and Frederick Webb Hodge supported his vision. In 1907 he became the first Director of the Archaeological Institute of America’s School of American Archaeology (later known as the School of American Research and then the School of Advanced Research), which he pushed to be located in Santa Fe in the historic Palace of the Governors. Shortly thereafter, in 1909, the New Mexico territorial legislature created the Museum of New Mexico, also to be located in the Palace of the Governors, and appointed Hewett as Director. Young archaeologists and anthropologists came from across the United States and other countries to join Hewett on his summer field schools and excavations, including Sylvanus Griswold Morley, Alfred Vincent Kidder, Jesse L. Nusbaum, Neil Merton Judd, John Peabody Harrington, and Barbara Freire-Marreco. In Santa Fe, Hewett worked with businessmen and politicians such as Frank Springer, John R. McFie, Ralph Emerson Twitchell, and Paul A. F. Walter to promote the School of American Archaeology and Museum of New Mexico. He met his second wife, Donizetta Adelade Jones Wood (1869-1960), and they married in 1911. Donizetta shared Edgar’s interest in archaeology and accompanied him on excavations and international trips, as evidenced by her appearance in many of his photographs.
Hewett’s archaeological work took him around the Southwest and throughout the world. In New Mexico, Hewett oversaw archaeological excavations at sites like Chaco Canyon, Puye Cliff Dwellings, Gran Quivira, Pecos, Quarai, Abo, Kuaua, Paa-ko, and various ruins in the Jemez, Pajarito Plateau, and Rito de los Frijoles areas. He also conducted archaeological surveys and research throughout Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, most importantly at Mesa Verde National Park. Beyond the United States, Hewett also worked in Mexico and Central America and conducted excavations at the Mayan site of Quirigua in Guatemala from 1910-1912. He wrote numerous books and articles about his archaeological research, including Ancient Life in the American Southwest (1930), Ancient Life in Mexico and Central America (1936), Chaco Canyon and Its Ancient Monuments (1936), Indians of the Rio Grande Valley (1937), Ancient Andean Life (1939), Mission Monuments of New Mexico (1943), and more.
Hewett was involved with many different institutions and projects throughout his career. In Santa Fe, Hewett founded the New Mexico Museum of Art in 1917 and supported other artistic and cultural endeavors such as the restoration of the Palace of the Governors, the Taos Society of Artists, the Santa Fe Fiesta, and the Southwest Indian Fair/Santa Fe Indian Market. He chaired and taught at the University of New Mexico's Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, which he helped found in 1927, and trained generations of students at his summer field schools in the Jemez region and Chaco Canyon. There he mentored a significant number of women archaeologists and anthropologists, such as Florence Hawley Ellis, Anna Osler Shepard, Marjorie Ferguson Lambert, Bertha P. Dutton, and others. Hewett also worked for several years in California as Director of Exhibits for the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego from 1915-1916, founder and Director of the San Diego Museum (now the San Diego Museum of Us) from 1917-1929, and a professor of archaeology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the State Teachers' College in San Diego (now San Diego State University). Hewett served as Director of the Museum of New Mexico and School of American Research up until his death on December 31, 1946, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
During this time, Edgar L. Hewett’s growing expertise and advocacy for the preservation of southwestern archaeological sites placed him on the forefront of national antiquities legislation. He led U.S. Congressman John F. Lacey of the House Committee on Public Lands on a tour of the pueblo ruins and cliff dwellings of the Southwest in 1902 to make the case for their protection, and in 1904 wrote a crucial memorandum on the "Historic and Prehistoric Ruins of the Southwest and their Preservation" for the U.S. Department of the Interior and General Land Office. Hewett joined members of the Smithsonian Institution, Archaeological Institute of America, and American Anthropological Association in Washington, D.C. to draft antiquities legislation and lobby Congress. In 1906, Hewett personally drafted the bill which passed through both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906, becoming what is known as the Antiquities Act. Unfortunately, during this period of Edgar’s professional success, Cora Hewett struggled with illness and died in 1905 at the age of 36.
Back in New Mexico, Hewett worked to create a center for archaeological and anthropological research. Prominent archaeologists and anthropologists such as Alice Cunningham Fletcher, William Henry Holmes, and Frederick Webb Hodge supported his vision. In 1907 he became the first Director of the Archaeological Institute of America’s School of American Archaeology (later known as the School of American Research and then the School of Advanced Research), which he pushed to be located in Santa Fe in the historic Palace of the Governors. Shortly thereafter, in 1909, the New Mexico territorial legislature created the Museum of New Mexico, also to be located in the Palace of the Governors, and appointed Hewett as Director. Young archaeologists and anthropologists came from across the United States and other countries to join Hewett on his summer field schools and excavations, including Sylvanus Griswold Morley, Alfred Vincent Kidder, Jesse L. Nusbaum, Neil Merton Judd, John Peabody Harrington, and Barbara Freire-Marreco. In Santa Fe, Hewett worked with businessmen and politicians such as Frank Springer, John R. McFie, Ralph Emerson Twitchell, and Paul A. F. Walter to promote the School of American Archaeology and Museum of New Mexico. He met his second wife, Donizetta Adelade Jones Wood (1869-1960), and they married in 1911. Donizetta shared Edgar’s interest in archaeology and accompanied him on excavations and international trips, as evidenced by her appearance in many of his photographs.
Hewett’s archaeological work took him around the Southwest and throughout the world. In New Mexico, Hewett oversaw archaeological excavations at sites like Chaco Canyon, Puye Cliff Dwellings, Gran Quivira, Pecos, Quarai, Abo, Kuaua, Paa-ko, and various ruins in the Jemez, Pajarito Plateau, and Rito de los Frijoles areas. He also conducted archaeological surveys and research throughout Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, most importantly at Mesa Verde National Park. Beyond the United States, Hewett also worked in Mexico and Central America and conducted excavations at the Mayan site of Quirigua in Guatemala from 1910-1912. He wrote numerous books and articles about his archaeological research, including Ancient Life in the American Southwest (1930), Ancient Life in Mexico and Central America (1936), Chaco Canyon and Its Ancient Monuments (1936), Indians of the Rio Grande Valley (1937), Ancient Andean Life (1939), Mission Monuments of New Mexico (1943), and more.
Hewett was involved with many different institutions and projects throughout his career. In Santa Fe, Hewett founded the New Mexico Museum of Art in 1917 and supported other artistic and cultural endeavors such as the restoration of the Palace of the Governors, the Taos Society of Artists, the Santa Fe Fiesta, and the Southwest Indian Fair/Santa Fe Indian Market. He chaired and taught at the University of New Mexico's Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, which he helped found in 1927, and trained generations of students at his summer field schools in the Jemez region and Chaco Canyon. There he mentored a significant number of women archaeologists and anthropologists, such as Florence Hawley Ellis, Anna Osler Shepard, Marjorie Ferguson Lambert, Bertha P. Dutton, and others. Hewett also worked for several years in California as Director of Exhibits for the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego from 1915-1916, founder and Director of the San Diego Museum (now the San Diego Museum of Us) from 1917-1929, and a professor of archaeology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the State Teachers' College in San Diego (now San Diego State University). Hewett served as Director of the Museum of New Mexico and School of American Research up until his death on December 31, 1946, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Extent
24 Linear Feet
Collection Available Online
The Edgar L. Hewett Collection has been digitized and is available at New Mexico History Museum Digital Collections.
Separated Materials
The Edgar L. Hewett Photographs and Ephemera Collection is located at the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives PAAC-0056.
General
Contact Information
- Fray Angelico Chavez History Library
- New Mexico History Museum
- P.O. Box 2087
- Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-2087, U.S.A.
- Phone: (+)505.476.5090
- Fax: (+)505.476.5104
- Email: histlib@mnm.state.nm.us
- URL: www.palaceofthegovernors.org
- Account books
- Archaelogy -- Southwest, New
- Archaeology -- New Mexico
- Artists -- New Mexico
- Bandelier National Monument (N.M.)
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park (N.M.)
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Excavations (Archaeology) -- Guatemala -- Izabal (Dept.)
- Excavations (Archaeology) -- New Mexico
- Festivals -- New Mexico -- Santa Fe
- Indians of North America -- New Mexico
- Manuscripts
- Maps
- Mesa Verde National Park (Colo.)
- Museum of New Mexico
- Museums -- New Mexico
- New Mexico -- History
- Publications
- Quiriguá site (Guatemala)
- School of American Archaeology (Santa Fe, N.M.)
- School of American Research (Santa Fe, N.M.)
- Scrapbooks
- Taos Society of Artists
- Universities and colleges -- New Mexico
- University of New Mexico
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the Edgar L. Hewett Collection, 1891-1960 (bulk 1897-1947)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Library Staff - re-processed in 2007 by Dan Prall - re-processed and digitized in 2022-2024 by Sarah Rounsville
- Date
- ©2000 - updated ©2008 - updated ©Oct. 2024
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//Museum of New Mexico::Fray Angelico Chavez History Library//TEXT (US::NmSM::AC 105::Edgar L. Hewett Collection)//EN" "nmsm1ac105.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library Repository
Contact:
Fray Angélico Chávez History Library
New Mexico History Museum
113 Lincoln Ave
Sante Fe NM 87501 USA
(505) 476-5090
historylibrary@state.nm.us
Fray Angélico Chávez History Library
New Mexico History Museum
113 Lincoln Ave
Sante Fe NM 87501 USA
(505) 476-5090
historylibrary@state.nm.us