Call Number:

1056

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Penn Museum Archives

Extent:

1.0 linear foot

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

[Item name]. Box [Box number]. Zelia Nuttall papers. Penn Museum Archives. Accessed [Date accessed].

Date:

1896-1897 (bulk) and 1893-1903 (inclusive)

Creator:

Nuttall, Zelia, 1858-1933

Form:

Correspondence and Photographic prints

Abstract:

In 1896 the University of Pennsylvania Museum sponsored its first expedition to Russia. The Museum sent Zelia Nuttall (now remembered mainly for her work in the area of Mexican studies) as its representative on a trip to establish cordial relations and a system of exchanges and cooperation, and to obtain archaeological and ethnological specimens by gift or exchange. Nuttall traveled to Moscow, Kiev, Troitzkoi, Rostov, Nijni-Novgorod, and Riga. She also attended ceremonies for the coronation of Nicholas II and there acquired commemorative prints which she donated to the Museum and to Mrs. Hearst. The collection consists mainly of correspondence from Nuttall to William Pepper and Sara Yorke Stevenson, inventories of objects acquired, and images collected at the Pan-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition at Nijni-Novgorod (modern Gorki).

In 1896 the University of Pennsylvania Museum sponsored its first expedition to Russia. The Museum sent Zelia Nuttall (now remembered mainly for her work in the area of Mexican studies) as its representative on a trip planned by Dr. William Pepper, President of the Museum, and underwritten by Mrs. Phoebe Apperson Hearst. The purposes of the expedition were to establish cordial relations and a system of exchanges and cooperation, and to obtain archaeological and ethnological specimens by gift or exchange. Nuttall traveled to Moscow, Kiev, Troitzkoi, Rostov, Nijni-Novgorod, and Riga. She also attended ceremonies for the coronation of Nicholas II and there acquired commemorative prints which she donated to the Museum and to Mrs. Hearst. Nuttall succeeded in obtaining for the University of Pennsylvania Museum a number of publications and artifacts, along with examples of native Russian costumes.

Zelia Nuttall was born in San Francisco in 1857 and educated in France, Germany, Italy and Bedford College, London. She specialized in pre-Columbian and Mesoamerican manuscripts and the pre-Aztec culture in Mexico. she came to prominence in 1886 with the publication of "Terra Cotta Heads of Teotihuacan" in the American Journal of Archaeology.

Nuttall was named an honorary special assistant to the Peabody Museum in 1887 and in 1908 named honorary professor of the National Museum of Mexico.

September 6, 1857 Born in San Francisco, California 1865-1876 Lived and educated in Europe 1873-1874 Attended Bedford College for Women, London 1880 Married Alphonse Louis Pinant, French anthropologist and linguist 1882 Daughter, Nadine, born in San Francisco 1884 Separated from husband 1886 Appointed "Honorary Assistant in Mexican Archaeology" to the Peabody Museum, Harvard, Harvard; held position for 47 years Published first paper Moved to Dresden, Germany 1884-1885 Expedition to Mexico; worked in Mexico National Museum 1888 Official divorce from husband 1896 Sent to Russia by the University Museum to gather books, exhibits, and information 1898 Found Codex Nuttall (Zapotecan manuscript), now in British Museum 1901 Became charter member of the advisory council for the new Department of Anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley 1902 Published Codex Nuttall (Harvard) Settled in Coyoacan, Mexico 1914 Published New Light on Drake April 12, 1933 Died in Coyoacan, Mexico

The collection consists mainly of correspondence from Nuttall to William Pepper and Sara Yorke Stevenson, inventories of objects acquired, and images collected at the Pan-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition at Nijni-Novgorod (modern Gorki).