INVENTORY OF
THE PAPERS OF EARNEST A. HOOTON

Archives
Peabody Museum
Harvard University
1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

SERIES DESCRIPTION AND CONTAINER LISTS

• Correspondence of Earnest A. Hooton
• Manuscript and Data Files
  • BOX 1: Manuscripts of lectures and writings
  • BOX 2: Manuscripts (with Stagg & Dupertuis), etc.
  • BOX 3: Grant Study & contracts with Army-Air Force, Quartermaster General, etc.
  • BOX 4: A. Damon, J. Stefansson, and Hooton Research Records, 1927-63
  • BOX 5: Century of Progress data
  • BOX 6: Anthropometric data, compiled by Carl Seltzer, 1934
  • BOX 7: Anthropometric data, 1934
  • BOX 8-16: Criminal Study
  • BOX 17: Somatotypes from various studies
  • BOX 18-20: Lecture notes
  • BOX 21: Central European Expedition, Irish Survey
  • BOX 22: Miscellaneous
  • MAP CASE IV: Drawer 5: Oversize illustrations
• Photographs

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INTRODUCTION

PEABODY MUSEUM. EARNEST A. HOOTON RECORDS

Records of Earnest A. Hooton, as Curator of the Peabody Museum and member of the Dept. of Anthropology, were donated to the Peabody Museum of Harvard University, by Earnest A. Hooton and the department from ca. 1930 to present.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The records occupy approximately 40 boxes and cover the period of 1886 to 1954, the year of Hooton's death. However, the bulk of the material dates from about 1930 to 1950, covering his tenure at Harvard. Types of materials include correspondence, anthropometric data, photographs, contracts, progress reports, lectures, and manuscripts of writings, relating to Hooton's research activities as curator at the Peabody and member of the Dept. of Anthropology.

Most of the correspondence is addressed to Hooton in his dual role as curator and faculty member. A significant portion concerns funding sources (e.g. Social Science Research Council and Armed Forces), Museum lab equipment and operation, and Museum fieldwork, as well as Harvard appointments and recommendations of students. Also includes correspondence with colleagues (e.g., Franz Boas and A.L. Kroeber) concerning Hooton's research in physical anthropology and the sharing of information on research methods and theory (for example, on methods of racial analysis). Along with grant applications, this material appears to be integral to an understanding of the anthropometric data collected by Hooton and various fieldworkers.

A small but significant portion of the correspondence concerns Hooton's involvement in professional organizations (such as the American Association of Physical Anthropology), and eugenics and public health organizations (such as the Sterilization League); Hooton's publishing and lecturing activities; and "fan mail," i.e., responses to Hooton's popular writings. Responses to these writings were addressed to Hooton as a leading authority of the time on the issues of "racial anthropology," body build and behavior, criminal anthropology, human evolution and the methods and statistics of physical anthropology. Occasionally, the correspondence files include original manuscripts of essays, book reviews, and scholarly and popular articles.

Supplementing the correspondence are detailed measurements and observations taken on nearly 20,000 individuals in various parts of the U.S. for Hooton's study on criminal anthropology; measurements of some 3,000 visitors to the Field Museum's Hall of Science of the Century of Progress Exhibit, 1933-34; and data gathered by various other individuals.

Hooton's original folder headings have been retained whenever possible.