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Table of contents
Title: Frances E. Watkins Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS.8
Contributing Institution:
Autry National Center, Braun Research Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
18.0 Linear feet
(32 boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1886-1959
Date (inclusive): 1855-1968
Abstract: Frances Emma Watkins, born December 27, 1899 and died circa 1987, was an anthropologist specializing in the American Southwest,
publishing mostly in the 1930s and 1940s. Watkins was an employee of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian from 1930
to the mid-1950s. This collection, spanning from 1855-1968, includes the manuscripts, personal papers, research notes and
publications by Frances E. Watkins, as well as manuscripts, research materials, and publications that she collected. There
are extensive materials on Charles Fletcher Lummis and George Wharton James, including correspondence, manuscripts, and clippings
both by and about them. This collection also includes travel brochures and publications on California and the Southwest from
1930-1960.
creator:
Watkins, Frances E. (Frances Emma), 1899-1987
Collection is open for research. Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit http://theautry.org/research/research-rules-and-application
or contact library staff at rroom@theautry.org A folder-level inventory is available from library staff.
Frances E. Watkins Papers, 1855-1968, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MS.8; [folder number] [folder title][date].
Donation from Mr. A. R. Ameday (Watkins’s brother-in-law), 1987.
Frances Emma Watkins was born on December 27, 1899 in Denver, Colorado. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University
of Denver in 1929, specializing in archaeology and anthropology. While earning her degree, Watkins participated in a 1928
School of American Research excavation at Jemez, New Mexico under Dr. Edgar L. Hewett. After graduation in 1929, Watkins joined
Isabel Kelly and Eva Horner to do field work in a program sponsored by the Laboratory of Anthropology in New Mexico. The group
of three women directed an excavation at Tecolote in New Mexico under the tutelage of Dr. Alfred V. Kidder. It was possibly
the first excavation directed by an all-female team.
In 1930, Watkins began working for the Southwest Museum as Assistant Curator under M. R. Harrington and sometimes filled in
for Southwest Museum librarian Ella L. Robinson. Watkins later went on to receive a Doctorate of Philosophy in the Department
of Anthropology and Archaeology from the University of Southern California in 1942. While at the Southwest Museum, Watkins
participated in field expeditions with Harrington, including an excavation at Borax Lake, California in 1945. Watkins contributed
regularly to the Southwest Museum’s periodical
The Masterkey, penning 24 articles on archaeology and anthropology between 1929 and 1946, in addition to her annual accessions reports and
other columns on museum news and activities. Watkins also published three articles for other Southwest Museum publications,
and nine articles for other publications, such as the
California History Nugget, between 1938 and 1954.
The materials in this archive are arranged into four series: Manuscripts and Employee Files, Personal Papers, Subject Files,
and Publications.
The Manuscripts and employee files series spans 1886-1963 and includes lectures given by Watkins, manuscripts written by Watkins,
Southwest Society and Southwest Museum employee materials, and copies of Southwest Museum annual reports.
The Personal Papers series spans 1912-1959 and includes correspondence, a scrapbook on personal achievements, two scrapbooks
on Tibet and the Dalai Lama, student writings by Watkins from high school and college, a poetry file, year books, and papers
regarding Watkins’s pursuit of a PhD from University of Southern California, including copies of Watkins’s dissertation from
1942.
The Subject Files series includes both professional and personal interests, which are often intermingled, especially in the
clippings files, and span from 1855-1968. This series includes bibliographies and research files compiled by Watkins which
may contain clippings, correspondence, images, maps, manuscripts, and notes. This series contains a large collection of manuscripts
by others, including extensive files on Charles Fletcher Lummis, George Wharton James, and Watkins’s sister Margaret S. Watkins,
all of which may include clippings, correspondence, manuscripts, and publications.
The Publications series includes monographs and serials collected by Watkins, spanning from 1891-1961. Topics of publications
include animals, art, botanical studies, California, celebrities, history, natural history, and travel, specifically in California
and the Southwest.
Originally processed by Jim Hofer. Box inventory created by Lee Lipinski. Additional processing and cataloging was performed
by Holly Rose Larson, Project Archivist, funded by a grant from the NHPRC in 2011.
- Series 1: Manuscripts and Employee Files, 1886-1963
- Series 2: Personal Papers, 1912-1959
- Series 3: Subject Files, 1855-1968, undated
- Series 4: Publications, 1891-1961
George Wharton James Manuscript Collection, undated, Braun Research Library, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, Ca.; MS.4
Charles Fletcher Lummis Papers, 1888-1928, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, Ca.; MS.1
Southwest Museum Institutional Archives, 1907-2003, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, Ca.; MS.3
Southwest Society Institutional Archives, 1903-1917, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, Ca.; MS.2
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry National Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Autry Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Autry National Center
as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Archaeological Institute of America. Southwest Society
James, George Wharton, 1858-1923
Lummis, Charles Fletcher, 1859-1928.
Southwest Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Watkins, Margaret S.
Anthropologists.
Brochures.
California -- Description and travel.
Clippings.
Correspondence.
Manuscripts.
Publications.
Scrapbooks.
Southwest, New -- Description and travel.
Tibet Autonomous Region (China)
Women anthropologists.
Women archaeologists.