C. Malcom Watkins papers, 1935-1979, and undated : Marlborough research, 1953-1969, Marlborough history, photos : Marlborough - photographs, drawings, etc., related to excavations and site interpretation (some field notes), 1954, and undated.

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Abstract

C. Malcolm Watkins (1911- ) was born in Malden, Massachusetts, and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Harvard College in 1934. In 1936, he began to pursue his interest in early American culture through curatorial work at the Wells Historical Museum, the predecessor of Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, Massachusetts. From 1942 to 1946, Watkins served in World War II in the United States Air Force. He returned to the Wells Historical Museum until 1948, when he accepted the position of Curator for the Department of Anthropology in the United States National Museum and then transferred to the Departments of Civil History and Cultural History at the National Museum of History and Technology, focusing on early American ceramics and glass. Watkins' research concentrated on early American life as seen through types of ceramics and their use. He was also instrumental in the development of the field of historic archeology, and he also studied pioneer life in California settlements. These papers document Watkins' professional life. The present folder is part of the 8th series of papers, which contains materials documenting Watkins' historic archeology excavations at Marlborough, Virginia. Included in the series are correspondence with Frank M. Setzler and Oscar H. Darter, who contributed to Watkins' work with the Marlborough project, notes from the dig at Marlborough, photographs, site drawings, research notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, maps of the area, graphic illustrations of artifacts, and three notebooks with manuscripts on the history and cultural history of Marlborough. The present materials are in two folders: the first includes notes, 8x10 and 5x7 photographs, some with negatives attached, of the site, aerial views, artifacts, site drawings, mathematical notes. There are copies of a declaration of revaluation of a building in Marlborough by the Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia. The second folder includes a 8x10 photograph, a copy of "Location of Control Points" used in 1956 excavations, mathematical equations, rough field notes, and notes.

Date Range

1954

Start Date

1954

End Date

1954

Access Information

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Topic

  • Virginia--Stafford County
  • Archaeology--United States
  • Museums
  • Civilization--History
  • Pottery--Virginia
  • Museum techniques

Place

  • Marlboro
  • Virginia

Form/Genre

  • Fieldbook record
  • Field notes
  • Black-and-white photographs
  • Sketches
  • area plans (orthographic projections)

Accession #

SIA RU007322

Collection name

C. Malcom Watkins papers, 1935-1979, and undated

Physical Description

2 folders

Physical Location

Smithsonian Institution Archives

Sublocation

Box 15, folders 6-7