Malcom Watkins papers, 1935-1979, and undated : Marlborough research, 1953-1969 : Marlborough Point, Virginia, 1954-1956, and Williams Court House, Virginia, 1957.

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 field book belongs to the 8th series, which contains materials documenting Watkins' historic archeology excavations at Marlborough, Virginia. Included is 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. This field book includes detailed notes and surveys on Marlborough Point and on Williams Court House. It contains details of structures and walls. Dates of notes range from August 1954 to August 23, 1957.

Date Range

1954-1956

Start Date

1954

End Date

Aug 23, 1957

Access Information

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Topic

• Virginia--Stafford County
• Archaeology--United States
• Architecture
• Museums
• Civilization--History
• Pottery--Virginia
• Courthouses--Virginia
• Architectural surveys
• Museum techniques

Place

• Marlboro
• Virginia

Form/Genre

• Fieldbook record
• Field notes

Accession #

SIA RU007322

Collection name

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

Physical Description

1 field book

Physical Location

Smithsonian Institution Archives

Sublocation

Box 16, folder 4