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Often termed the father of Michigan archaeology, Wilbert B. Hinsdale developed and cared for the collections of the Great Lakes Division of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Michigan from 1922 to 1944, after retiring from his position as Dean of the Homeopathic Medical College. The papers contain correspondence, topical files related to archaeological subjects, site files for archaeological sites throughout Michigan, and personal scrapbooks, diaries, and photographs.

The W.B. Hinsdale Papers consist of five series: Personal, Correspondence, Topical Files, Writing and Michigan Site Files.

The University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology was established in 1922 as the Museum of Anthropology. The Museum is one of the major research facilities in the United States for the collection and study of archaeological and ethnological materials. The record group includes budget information, executive committee meeting minutes, topical files, and curator files.

The Museum of Anthropological Archaeology record group includes budget information, executive committee meeting minutes, topical files, and curator files. The records are organized in three series, Budget, Topical Files, and Curator Files.

The records of the Michigan Archaeological Society records cover the period since 1924. The record group consists primarily of reports, meeting agenda and minutes, correspondence, newsletters, and clippings. The series in the record group are Background, Administrative, Activities, Local Chapters, Topical, and Publications.

Researchers should note that this collection contains depictions of the lives and cultures of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodewadami Nations in Michigan (among other Indigenous cultures across North America) in an archaeological context, described by primarily white archaeologists. As such, materials in this collection may contain offensive language and descriptions of those cultures.

Bible scholar and translator, professor of Semitics at the University of Michigan; papers include correspondence, diaries, lectures and essays, archaeological expedition field notes and reports, and professional organization files.

The papers of Leroy Waterman (1875-1972) consist of five linear feet of correspondence, diaries, lecture notes, research notes, speeches, essays, photographs, news clippings, and other materials. The collection has been arranged into seven series: Biographical/personal; Correspondence; Diaries; Lectures, Essays, Speeches, Publications; Archaeological Expeditions; Organizational Affiliations; and Miscellaneous.

Papers of Francis W. Kelsey, University of Michigan professor of Latin (for whom Museum was named); papers of Museum directors and curators, principally Orma F. Butler, Enoch E. Peterson, Louise A. Shier, John G. Winter; papers of University faculty associated with the Museum or the study and teaching of classical and medieval studies, notably Arthur E.R. Boak, Campbell Bonner, Thomas S. Jerome, and Robert H. McDowell; also records of the Institute of Archaeological Research, and material on 1975-1979 Carthage expedition.

The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology records document the administration of the museum from its founding in 1929 and the research and field activities of University of Michigan archaeologists and classical scholars dating back to 1890. The material consists of files of Kelsey Museum director's and curator's and University of Michigan scholars closely associated with the museum or active in archaeological work prior to the museum's founding. The papers include extensive correspondence files; field notebooks, maps, photographs, reports, and other research material from archaeological expeditions; drafts of articles and books; teaching material; and administrative records

The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology records have been treated and described here as a single collection divided into a number of subgroups. In the collection guide prepared by the Kelsey Museum, these subgroups were treated as individual collections, each with a separate finding aid and box numbering sequence beginning at one. The largest subgroup by far is the Francis Willey Kelsey papers, totaling 66.5 linear feet. Artifacts from excavations conducted by Kelsey formed the basis of the Museum's collection.

Papers	Kelsey Box #
Arthur E.R. Boak	1-3
Campbell Bonner	1
Orma Fitch Butler	1-24
Inst. of Archaeological Research	1-7
Thomas Jerome Spencer	1-20
Francis Willey Kelsey	1-156
Kelsey Museum	1-5
Robert H. McDowell	1
Enoch Ernest Peterson	1-8	217-224
Louise Adele Shier	1-9
John Garrett Winter	1
Carthage Excavations	1-15

Jeffrey R. Parsons was Curator of Latin American Archaeology and Director of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. He was a professor at the same institution for over forty years starting in 1966 and carried out extensive research on settlement patterns in the basin of Mexico, in Peru, and in many other countries. Parsons is known for his role in the development of systematic settlement survey methods in archaeology, a methodology which has become common in archaeological work around the world. Material includes papers, maps, site surveys, photo negatives, aerial photographs and digital scans of the negatives.

The Jeffrey R. Parsons papers document the archaeologist's research in the Basin of Mexico, his work at the University of Michigan as professor, Curator of Latin American Archaeology, and Director of the Museum of Anthropology, and his work with colleagues and institutions around the world. Materials date from 1960 to 2009 while the bulk of it is from 1966 to 1973. The majority is related to his fieldwork in the Valley of Mexico and includes paper, photographic material, maps, and documentation about materials collected as part of the surveys, such as information on ceramic sherds. The collection is arranged in nine series: Personal Files, Correspondence 1966-2005, Archaeological Sites and Projects, Topical Files, Publications, Student Years, Visual Materials Series, and Maps.

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.

Records relating to the First Congregational Church of Bay City, Michigan, collected by Ira Butterfield and his father George Butterfield; include correspondence written to wife during World War II while on duty in the Philippines with the Judge Advocate's office; other series concern his activities with the Bay County Council on Juvenile Delinquency, his various campaigns for public office, and his interest in Michigan archaeology; and photographs to be used in political advertisements probably from his campaign for Bay County District Judge in 1974; also photographs taken 1945-1946 while serving in the military with the Judge Advocate's office in the Philippines

The bulk of the collection consists of records pertaining to the First Congregational Church of Bay City, Michigan collected by Ira Butterfield and his father, George Butterfield, over a period of more than 80 years. The rest of the collection consists of the personal papers of Ira Butterfield. These papers relate to his experiences in World War II, his legal career, charitable and personal interests. The majority of these personal papers relate to his various campaigns for public office. The collection is divided into six series: First Congregational Church, Bay City, MI; Military Service; Bay County Council on Delinquency; Campaigns; Archaeology and Photographs. Although the collection contains some records dating from before 1944, the majority date from 1944 to 1990. Some earlier materials may be found in the First Congregational Church of Bay City collection, also held by the Bentley Library.

George R. Fox was an amateur Michigan archaeologist and author. His papers include writings about Cass County, Michigan, manuscripts related to archaeology and history, a small amount of correspondence, and photographs.

The George R. Fox Papers are arranged in four series: Cass County, Archaeology and History Manuscripts, Correspondence, and Photographs. Many of the materials in the papers are undated.

Professor of Near Eastern Languages and Literature at the University of Michigan; personal and professional correspondence relating to archeological expeditions and discoveries in Iran and the Near East.

The George Cameron papers consist of personal and professional correspondence mainly in the 1960s and 1970s. Very little of the materials relates to his work as founder and professor of the U-M Department of Near Eastern Studies. The bulk relates to his interaction and communication with other scholars in the field. The collection has been arranged into three series: Biographical, Correspondence, and Other materials.