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James Bennett Griffin was one of the major forces in the development of North American archaeology and served as the director of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Michigan from 1946 to 1975. The papers contain correspondence, extensive research and photograph files on North American archaeological sites, cultures and artifacts, and information on Griffin's writing, professional activities, and teaching within the University of Michigan Department of Anthropology.

The James B. Griffin Papers are a rich source of information about Griffin's life, the history of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, archaeological sites and topics, particularly in North America, and the overall development of the field of North American archaeology from the 1930s to the 1990s. The papers consist of 16 series: Biographical and Personal; Student Years; Correspondence, 1930-1975; Correspondence, 1975-1997; Radiocarbon Laboratory; Teaching and Advising; Conferences and Symposia; Professional Associations and Affiliations; Speaking Engagements; Travel and International Initiatives; Writings and Publications; Hopewell; Topical Files; Archaeological Sites and Projects; North American Archaeology Card Files; and Photographs.

Melvin Randolph Gilmore was one of the preeminent ethnobotanists of his generation and served as Curator of Ethnology for the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Michigan from 1929 to 1939. The Gilmore Papers contain correspondence, topical files, field notes, photographs, and manuscripts related to his work among Native American groups of the Plains and Prairies, including the Arikara and the Omaha.

The Melvin R. Gilmore Papers consist of three series: Correspondence; Research, Writing, and Field Work; and Photographs. With the exception of the Correspondence series, much of the material in the papers is undated, but appears to date mainly from 1905 to 1930.

Richard K. Beardsley was a professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan from 1947 to 1978 who served several terms as the director of the Center for Japanese Studies. The papers document his anthropological fieldwork in Japan, Spain, and California, and include research and field notes, interviews, questionnaires and surveys in English and Japanese, photographs, and a small amount of correspondence.

The Richard K. Beardsley Papers document Beardsley's anthropological fieldwork in Japan, Spain, and California, and include research and field notes, questionnaires, interviews, photographs, and a small amount of correspondence. The papers consist of three series: Topical Files, Research Files, and Photographs.