Greenman, Emerson F.

Emerson Frank Greenman was a prominent Michigan archaeologist who served as Curator of the Great Lakes Division of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Michigan from 1945 to 1965.

From the description of Emerson Frank Greenman photograph series. 1888-1958. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 85778187

From the description of Emerson Frank Greenman papers, 1888-1984 (bulk 1924-1972). (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 85778399

Curator of Museum of Anthropology at University of Michigan.

From the description of Emerson Frank Greenman papers, 1934. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34422839

Emerson "Doc" Frank Greenman was born on September 10, 1895 in Hartwellville, Michigan. He originally entered the University of Michigan in 1916 as a student in the College of Engineering, but left when he was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1918. Greenman returned to Michigan in 1920, but this time as a student in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Studying under Wilbert Hinsdale, from whom he gained a particular appreciation for Michigan archaeology, and Alexander Ruthven, he received his A.B. in 1923.

From 1923 to 1924, Greenman attended Oxford University, receiving a diploma in anthropology. He also studied with the American School of Prehistoric Research in Europe in 1924. He then returned to the University of Michigan in the fall of 1924 to pursue doctoral studies in anthropology. He received his Ph.D. in 1927.

Though he was appointed as Curator of the Great Lakes Division of the Museum of Anthropology in 1927, Greenman choose to leave in April 1928 to take a position as the Curator of Archaeology at the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. He remained there for seven years, during which time he directed excavations at a number of Woodland sites, including the Seip Mound, as well as at the Reeve, Tuttle Hill, and South Park Sites.

Greenman returned to the University of Michigan again in 1935 as a Research Associate in the Museum of Anthropology, a position he held for two years. Greenman was then promoted to Assistant Curator in 1937, Associate Curator in 1942, and Curator in 1945. Greenman held this position until his retirement in 1965. Greenman also taught in the Department of Anthropology, appointed as an Associate Professor in 1946 and promoted to Professor in 1965.

Greenman was an active field archaeologist, conducting excavations at many sites around the Great Lakes and publishing the results. His largest research program was the excavation of sites in the Manitoulin District of Ontario, Canada. Greenman led a field school in the area from 1938 to 1953. He also led major excavations at the Younge Site in 1935, and the Riviere aux Vase, Wolf and Furton Sites in 1936 and 1937. Greenman's major publications included The Younge Site: An Archaeological Record for Michigan (Museum of Anthropology Occasional Contribution no. 6, 1937), Guide to Serpent Mound (Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1939) and The Indians of Michigan (Michigan Historical Commission, 1961). Late in his career, Greenman became very interested in drawing connections between the Solutrean, an Upper Paleolithic culture of Europe, and the early cultures of the New World, publishing his hypotheses and findings in Current Anthropology in 1963.

Greenman did much to foster cooperation between professional and amateur archaeologists in Michigan. He was the first secretary-treasurer of the Michigan Archaeological Society (MAS), a position he held from 1950 until 1955 when he was named Honorary Secretary. He was also the first editor of Michigan Archaeologist, guiding the journal from 1953 through 1965. He was awarded the society's Distinguished Service plaque in 1963 and a festschrift issue of the Michigan Archaeologist was produced in his honor in 1965.

Greenman and his wife Edna were married in October 1927, and had three children, Mary, Emerson, and Sarah. Greenman died on June 24, 1973, in Ann Arbor.

From the guide to the Emerson Frank Greenman Papers, 1888-1984, 1924-1972, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)