Biographical/Historical:

Richard Gordon Vivian was born in Laurium, Michigan on August 27, 1908. In 1918, his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1927, he began school at the University of New Mexico and received a B.A. in archeology. In 1929, he became a student in the first field school UNM held at Chaco Canyon, and served as Dr. Edgar L. Hewett's field assistant. He earned his master's degree in 1932, and excavated Casa Rinconada during 1931, 1932 and 1936 for the School of American Research. He married Myrtle Perce in Santa Fe on November 19, 1934. They had two daughters and a son, Gwinn. Gwinn has followed in his father's footsteps as an archeologist and has focused his research on Chaco Canyon. In 1937, Gordon became supervisor of the NPS Indian CCC mobile unit which was established to provide ruins stabilization for parks in the southwest region from 1947-1958. The unit was stationed in Chaco Canyon National Monument which resulted in extensive archeological excavation and research work at the park. In 1958, Vivian became supervisory archeologist for the NPS Southwest Archeological Center at Globe, Arizona. Gordon died of leukemia on April 29, 1966 in Globe, Arizona. The Vivian family lived in Chaco during much of the time that Vivian was working on stabilization projects there. The photographs in this collection were taken during those years. Gordon's son, Gwinn, became an archeologist and conducted research at Chaco Canyon, including a survey of Chacra Mesa and continues to do research on water use and irrigation systems used by the Anasazi in Chaco Canyon. Gwinn is now retired but worked at the University of Arizona Museum in Tucson for many years. He has always maintained his connection to Chaco Canyon and the park and has donated documents and photographs to the park's museum collections, including these photographs and negatives. Publications and papers by Gordon Vivian include: Casa Rinconada Excavation report; Wall Preservation of Pueblo Bonito; Manual for Ruins Stabilization; The Three-C Site, an Early Pueblo II Ruin in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico; The Great Kivas of Chaco Canyon; The Hubbard Site and other Tri-Wall Structures in New Mexico and Colorado; and the Tri-Walled Structure at Pueblo del Arroyo, Chaco Canyon National Monument.