Lothrop, Samuel Kirkland

Samuel K. Lothrop had a long affiliation with the Peabody Museum that lasted from 1915-1960. After completing his Ph.D. in anthropology at Harvard University, he was appointed the Director of the Museum's celebrated Central American Expedition 1916-1917. Lothrop was an Associate in Anthropology from 1919-1934. In 1935 he was promoted to Research Associate in Anthropology for Middle America, a post which he kept until 1940 when he was named Assistant Curator in Middle American Archaeoiogy. Lothrop was designated Curator of the same department in 1943 and in 1947 became Curator for Andean Archaeology; a post which he held until 1960.

In addition to his work for the Peabody Museum, Lothrop also conducted and participated in explorations for the Carnegie Institute, the Museum of the American Indian (Heye Foundations), and the Institute for Andean Research. During his involvement with these various institutions, Lothrop traveled to much of Central and South America, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Tierra del Fuego. With the material gathered from his expeditions, Lothrop authored both anthropological and archaeological studies, including: Tulim: an Archaeological Study of Eastern Yucatan, (1924); Pottery of Costa Rica and Nicaragua (1926); Pottery Types and their Sequence in El Salvador (1927); Indians of Tierra del Fuego (1928); Indians of the Parama (1931 ); Atitlan: An Archaeological Study of the Borders of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala (1933); Zacualpa: A Study of Quiche Artifacts (1936) Cocle: An Archaeological Study of Central Panama (Part I & Part II) (1937, 1941); Inca Treasure as Depicted by Spanish Historians (1938).

Lothrop also served in the U.S. Military Intelligence Department, working as an intelligence agent during World War I. Some of the papers pertaining to this work are contained in the archives, but may remain closed for a period of years to protect the privacy of individuals.

Samuel Kirkland Lothrop was born in 1892. Upon his graduation from Harvard College, he joined A.V. Kidder's archaeological dig at Pecos (New Mexico), thus beginning a long and illustrious career at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. After earning a PhD in anthropology (Harvard), Lothrop was appointed Director of the Museum's Central American Expedition (1916-1917). From 1919-1934, he served as Associate in Anthropology and, in 1935, was promoted to Research Associate (Anthropology for Middle America), a title he held until 1940. That same year, he assumed the position of Assistant Curator (Middle America Archaeology) and became Curator of the Department in 1943. He assumed the position of Curator for Andean Archeology from 1947 until his retirement in 1960.

Lothrop was instrumental in founding the Institute of Andean Research and served as an active participant and President for many years. He also conducted expeditions sponsored by the Carnegie Institute of Washington (CIW) and the Museum of the American Indian (Heye Foundation). During this time, he traveled extensively throughout Central and South America, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Upon his death in 1965, Lothrop's colleagues described him as a brilliant, unorthodox scholar with an innate talent for storytelling. He left behind a legacy of publications that discuss his archaeological and anthropological research and explorations including: The Discovery of Gold in the Graves of Chiriqui, Panama (1919); Tulum, An Archaeological Study of the East Coast of Yucatan (1924); The Architecture of the Ancient Mayas (1925); Pottery of Costa Rica and Nicaragua (1926); Stone Sculptures from the Finca Arevalo, Guatemala (1926); Pottery Types and Their Sequence in El Salvador (1927); The Indians of Tierra del Fuego (1928); Diet and Stature in Tierra del Fuego (1928); A Modern Survival of the Ancient Maya Calendar (1930); Golden Relics of an Ancient American People (1934); Zacualpa: A Study of Ancient Quiché Artifacts (1936); Inca Treasure as Depicted by Spanish Historians (1938); and Gold Artifacts of Chavín Style (1951).

Sources: Asplund, Janelle and Ghyaelaine Young-Wales. "Samuel K. Lothrop and Joy Mahler Lothrop Archive: A Finding Aid." Easby, Jr., Dudley T. "Samuel Kirkland Lothrop, 1892-1965. ' American Antiquity 31, no. 2, pt. 1 (Oct. 1965): 256-61.