Call Number:

0042

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Penn Museum Archives

Extent:

1.2 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1891-1921 (inclusive)

Creator:

Culin, Stewart

Form:

Scrapbooks

Abstract:

Born in Philadelphia in 1858, Stewart Culin joined his father's business following graduation from Nazareth Hall. In the course of business, Culin regularly came in contact with Chinese community members, learned to speak Chinese, and developed an interest in Chinese medicine and ancient Chinese games. He became an expert on games of the world especially those of China, Korea and Japan publishing and lecturing on this subject. Culin also studied American folklore and was a founding member of the American Folklore Society and President of the national society The Stewart Culin Papers are held in two archival boxes. Most of the records span the period from 1896 to 1902.

Stewart Culin was born in Philadelphia on July 13, 1858. He did not have professional training and was a self-taught scholar with a powerful curiosity about other cultures. Culin became acquainted with the Chinese community in Philadelphia, learning their customs and language, and, in 1887, wrote his first publication on their religious and medical practices. In 1890, Culin was appointed Secretary of the Oriental Section at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Paleontology (now called "The Penn Museum") and was made the Museum's first director in 1892, a position he held until 1899 when the office was abolished. Culin remained the Curator of the American and General Ethnology Sections until 1903 when he resigned from the museum. During his time in Philadelphia, Culin organized exhibits of games and folk culture at international exhibitions in Madrid (1892), Chicago (1893), Atlanta (1895), Paris (1900), and Buffalo (1901). He became a renowned expert on games of the world and published essays on Korean games (1895), Chinese games with dice and dominoes (1895) and chess and playing cards (1898). In 1900, Culin made the first of many trips to the American West to collect information on Native American games. When Culin left the University of Pennsylvania Museum in 1903 he found an appointment as the first Curator of the Department of Ethnology at the Museum of Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. The Brooklyn Museum received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1993 to preserve and make available the Culin Archival Collection. Culin continued his trips to the American West until 1911, collecting Native American material for the Museum of Brooklyn. He accumulated an extensive collection of material from native cultures from all over the American West. Culin then made three collecting trips into Asia, visiting Japan and China from 1909-1910; Japan in 1912; and India, Korea, China and Japan from 1913-1914. He also obtained items from Africa and Eastern Europe. His focus was on material culture: instruments, games, religious items, textiles, and decorative arts.

Culin was a founding member of the American Folklore Society and the Oriental Club in Philadelphia and also belonged to the American Anthropological Association. He wrote several books on games from different cultures, but is most famous for his Games of the North American Indians. Culin was also a pioneer in the art of designing exhibitions. His novel ideas earned him much commendation, as well as disparagement. He earned gold medals for his exhibitions at the World's Exposition in Madrid (1892), the World's Colombian Exposition in Chicago (1893) and the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta (1895). Yet it was mainly the novelty of his ideas that led to the strife between Culin and other department leaders at the Penn Museum, which led to Culin's forced resignation in 1903.

When Stewart Culin died in 1929, he left a lasting impression on the art of designing museum exhibitions as well as a large catalogue and collection of games from all over the world.

Stuart Culin Museum Chronology

1890-1894 Secretary, Board of Managers.

1890-1897 Secretary, University Archaeological Association (this entity merged with the Board of Managers of the Museum in 1899).

1892-1899 Director (position discontinued after 1899).

1892-1903 Curator, Sections of Asia and General Ethnology.

1899-1903 Curator, Section of American and Prehistoric Archaeology.

As Director, Culin was given charge of the collections not falling under the purview of other sections. These included the material forming the Section of General Ethnology. This section, however, was not so named in the Minutes until 1894, when Culin is specifically listed as its Curator. However, he was already carrying out these duties beginning in 1892.

Born in Philadelphia in 1858, Stewart Culin joined his father's business following graduation from Nazareth Hall. In the course of business, Culin regularly came in contact with Chinese community members, learned to speak Chinese, and developed an interest in Chinese medicine and ancient Chinese games. He became an expert on games of the world especially those of China, Korea and Japan publishing and lecturing on this subject. Culin also studied American folklore and was a founding member of the American Folklore Society and President of the national society.

Stewart Culin's contribution to the early museum is unique and is reflected in his records in the archives. He held administrative positions such as Secretary of the Board of Managers beginning in 1890, Secretary of the University Archaeological Association from 1890 to 1897, Director of the Museum Section of General Ethnology from 1892 to 1899 while also serving as Curator of the section of Asia and General Ethnology and Curator of the American and Prehistoric Archaeology section. In light of his many duties, the researcher is cautioned that there may be overlap among the Culin Collections and it would be important to check all finding aids related to Stewart Culin for accuracy and completeness. The researcher is also directed to the Letterbooks stored in the oversize cabinets.

The Stewart Culin Papers are held in two archival boxes. The vast majority of the records span the period from 1896 to 1902. Initially, all of the contents were filed in folders which referred to correspondence regardless of the material. Processing involved sorting out materials related to curstorial responsibilities,then alphabetizing and arrangement by date.

The data is arranged in three series, correspondence, curatorial and scrapbooks. There is an alphabetical listing of all correspondents which supplements the series.

Two oversized scrapbooks described by Culin as "Personal Scrapbbok No1" and "Personal Scrapbook No. 2, "containing invitations, pamphlets, announcements, etc. from learned societies and institutions."