Morris, Ann Axtell, 1900-1945

Ann Axtell Morris; archaeologist, author, and artist; Died at her home in Boulder, Colorado, on April 1, 1945; Graduated from Smith College; studied in France with the American School of Prehistoric Research; married Earl H. Morris in 1923; collaborated with him in his work for Carnegie Institution of Washington in the Maya and Southwestern fields; At Chichen Itza she excavated the Temple of the Xtoloc Centote and copied the many important wall-paintings in the Temple of the Warriors; joint author with Earl Morris and Jean Charlot of the report on Temple of Xtoloc Centote; Recorded and studied pictographs and cave-paintings in Southwest, amassing a large and valuable archive of photographs, drawings, and water-colors; Wrote two successful books, "Digging in the Southwest" and "Digging in Yucatan" which have done much to acquaint the general reader with the methods and aims of archaeology.

Ann Axtell Morris; associated with National Parks: Aztec Ruins National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park; Archaeologist in the American Southwest and Mesoamerica; place of birth: Omaha, Nebraska; date of birth: February 9, 1900; date of death: 1945; archaeologist, artist, and author; Graduated from Smith College; married Earl Halstead Morris in 1923; During the 1920’s and 1930’s, Ann and Earl worked together during extensive multi-year excavations throughout the American Southwest and in Mexico, including 5 seasons at Chichen Itza, Yucatan in partnership with the Carnegie Institution of Washington; Ann spent much of her time recording and painting architecture, petroglyphs and pictographs, landscapes, and expedition work; Many of her recording methods are still in use today by modern archaeologists, as they provide context within the sites history and represent the importance of color at a time when archaeologists were using black and white photography; wrote 2 books about her experiences as an archaeologist and the significance of her findings, “Digging the Yucatan” and “Digging in the Southwest;" two daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Sarah Lane; Elizabeth studied Anthropology at the University of Arizona, and following in her parents footsteps, became an Archaeologist and Professor at Colorado State University.