Son of Harvey Hanson and Tabitha Stice Hewett, farmers of Indiana's Warren County. Tabitha Hewett was an activist for Indian causes.
He was an archaeologist/anthropologist active in work on the Native American communities of New Mexico and the southwestern United States, and most famous for his role in bringing about the Antiquities Act, a pioneering piece of legislation for the conservation movement.
He graduated from Tarkio College and was named professor there in 1886. In 1889 he was principle in the school at Fairfax, Missouri and married Cora Whitford. He became superintendent of schools in Florence, Colorado. In 1898 he earned his masters degree in Pedagogy and became the president of Normal University at Las Vegas. He attended the University of Geneva and attained his doctorate in Sociology in 1908. He was the founder and first director of the Museum of New Mexico, as well as the first president of the New Mexico Normal School, now New Mexico Highlands University.In 1909 another action of the territorial legislature created the Museum of New Mexico. Hewett was a logical choice to be its first director, and was installed in the position. The enabling legislation that the Museum be managed by the SAR, helping to solidify Hewett's grasp on both positions.
Hewett's 1891 marriage to Cora Whitford proved eventful for his eventual career and prominence. Cora was described in contemporary accounts as "frail" -- frequently (and almost certainly in this case) a euphemism for a victim of tuberculosis -- and at her doctors' advice, the Hewetts started to spend time in the warmer climate of northern New Mexico.[2] As a result Edgar Hewett was exposed to, and became fascinated by, the prehistoric ruins in Frijoles Canyon near Santa Fe -- a site that would eventually become
the centerpiece attraction of Bandelier National Monument.In 1922 he became the Professor of anthropology at the California State teachers college at San Diego. He resigned in 1927 to become the Professor of Anthropology and Archeology at the University Of New Mexico. Between 1932 and 1934 he was a professor and department head at UCLA. After 1934 he continued to be the director of research there. Hewett remarried in 1911, to Donizetta Jones Wood, who would survive him.
Hewett's appointment at the School ruffled feathers among the old school of American archeology, which was largely centered on the East Coast and took a decidedly
condescending stance toward the "amateur" Hewett, Alice Fletcher's backing notwithstanding. As time passed, Hewett's academic credentials came to be more recognized, and he spent time and effort building academic archeology in the western United States. He organized archeology and anthropology departments at the University of New Mexico and University of Southern California. The UNM department, where Hewett spent much of the latter part of his life, would eventually become one of the world's best, and administration of the the Museum of New Mexico passed from the SAR to the university, where it remains today.
By 1910 he was collaborating with the Smithsonian Institution on work in Frijoles Canyon; Neil Judd was one of the students there. By 1915 he was director of exhibits for the San Diego Panama-California Expedition, leading in turn to his assuming directorship of the San Diego Museum of Man, a spin off of the Expedition. This museum survives today as one of the institutions in San Diego's Balboa Park district.
Hewett continued to work as a field archaeologist practically until his death.
Edgar Lee Hewett died on December 31, 1946. His ashes are interred at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, one of the units of the Museum of New Mexico that he helped create, next to those of his long-time friend and supporter Alice Fletcher.
(This is Father Hewett's 1st cousin)
He was an archaeologist/anthropologist active in work on the Native American communities of New Mexico and the southwestern United States, and most famous for his role in bringing about the Antiquities Act, a pioneering piece of legislation for the conservation movement.
He graduated from Tarkio College and was named professor there in 1886. In 1889 he was principle in the school at Fairfax, Missouri and married Cora Whitford. He became superintendent of schools in Florence, Colorado. In 1898 he earned his masters degree in Pedagogy and became the president of Normal University at Las Vegas. He attended the University of Geneva and attained his doctorate in Sociology in 1908. He was the founder and first director of the Museum of New Mexico, as well as the first president of the New Mexico Normal School, now New Mexico Highlands University.In 1909 another action of the territorial legislature created the Museum of New Mexico. Hewett was a logical choice to be its first director, and was installed in the position. The enabling legislation that the Museum be managed by the SAR, helping to solidify Hewett's grasp on both positions.
Hewett's 1891 marriage to Cora Whitford proved eventful for his eventual career and prominence. Cora was described in contemporary accounts as "frail" -- frequently (and almost certainly in this case) a euphemism for a victim of tuberculosis -- and at her doctors' advice, the Hewetts started to spend time in the warmer climate of northern New Mexico.[2] As a result Edgar Hewett was exposed to, and became fascinated by, the prehistoric ruins in Frijoles Canyon near Santa Fe -- a site that would eventually become
the centerpiece attraction of Bandelier National Monument.In 1922 he became the Professor of anthropology at the California State teachers college at San Diego. He resigned in 1927 to become the Professor of Anthropology and Archeology at the University Of New Mexico. Between 1932 and 1934 he was a professor and department head at UCLA. After 1934 he continued to be the director of research there. Hewett remarried in 1911, to Donizetta Jones Wood, who would survive him.
Hewett's appointment at the School ruffled feathers among the old school of American archeology, which was largely centered on the East Coast and took a decidedly
condescending stance toward the "amateur" Hewett, Alice Fletcher's backing notwithstanding. As time passed, Hewett's academic credentials came to be more recognized, and he spent time and effort building academic archeology in the western United States. He organized archeology and anthropology departments at the University of New Mexico and University of Southern California. The UNM department, where Hewett spent much of the latter part of his life, would eventually become one of the world's best, and administration of the the Museum of New Mexico passed from the SAR to the university, where it remains today.
By 1910 he was collaborating with the Smithsonian Institution on work in Frijoles Canyon; Neil Judd was one of the students there. By 1915 he was director of exhibits for the San Diego Panama-California Expedition, leading in turn to his assuming directorship of the San Diego Museum of Man, a spin off of the Expedition. This museum survives today as one of the institutions in San Diego's Balboa Park district.
Hewett continued to work as a field archaeologist practically until his death.
Edgar Lee Hewett died on December 31, 1946. His ashes are interred at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, one of the units of the Museum of New Mexico that he helped create, next to those of his long-time friend and supporter Alice Fletcher.
(This is Father Hewett's 1st cousin)
Son of Harvey Hanson and Tabitha Stice Hewett, farmers of Indiana's Warren County. Tabitha Hewett was an activist for Indian causes.
He was an archaeologist/anthropologist active in work on the Native American communities of New Mexico and the southwestern United States, and most famous for his role in bringing about the Antiquities Act, a pioneering piece of legislation for the conservation movement.
He graduated from Tarkio College and was named professor there in 1886. In 1889 he was principle in the school at Fairfax, Missouri and married Cora Whitford. He became superintendent of schools in Florence, Colorado. In 1898 he earned his masters degree in Pedagogy and became the president of Normal University at Las Vegas. He attended the University of Geneva and attained his doctorate in Sociology in 1908. He was the founder and first director of the Museum of New Mexico, as well as the first president of the New Mexico Normal School, now New Mexico Highlands University.In 1909 another action of the territorial legislature created the Museum of New Mexico. Hewett was a logical choice to be its first director, and was installed in the position. The enabling legislation that the Museum be managed by the SAR, helping to solidify Hewett's grasp on both positions.
Hewett's 1891 marriage to Cora Whitford proved eventful for his eventual career and prominence. Cora was described in contemporary accounts as "frail" -- frequently (and almost certainly in this case) a euphemism for a victim of tuberculosis -- and at her doctors' advice, the Hewetts started to spend time in the warmer climate of northern New Mexico.[2] As a result Edgar Hewett was exposed to, and became fascinated by, the prehistoric ruins in Frijoles Canyon near Santa Fe -- a site that would eventually become
the centerpiece attraction of Bandelier National Monument.In 1922 he became the Professor of anthropology at the California State teachers college at San Diego. He resigned in 1927 to become the Professor of Anthropology and Archeology at the University Of New Mexico. Between 1932 and 1934 he was a professor and department head at UCLA. After 1934 he continued to be the director of research there. Hewett remarried in 1911, to Donizetta Jones Wood, who would survive him.
Hewett's appointment at the School ruffled feathers among the old school of American archeology, which was largely centered on the East Coast and took a decidedly
condescending stance toward the "amateur" Hewett, Alice Fletcher's backing notwithstanding. As time passed, Hewett's academic credentials came to be more recognized, and he spent time and effort building academic archeology in the western United States. He organized archeology and anthropology departments at the University of New Mexico and University of Southern California. The UNM department, where Hewett spent much of the latter part of his life, would eventually become one of the world's best, and administration of the the Museum of New Mexico passed from the SAR to the university, where it remains today.
By 1910 he was collaborating with the Smithsonian Institution on work in Frijoles Canyon; Neil Judd was one of the students there. By 1915 he was director of exhibits for the San Diego Panama-California Expedition, leading in turn to his assuming directorship of the San Diego Museum of Man, a spin off of the Expedition. This museum survives today as one of the institutions in San Diego's Balboa Park district.
Hewett continued to work as a field archaeologist practically until his death.
Edgar Lee Hewett died on December 31, 1946. His ashes are interred at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, one of the units of the Museum of New Mexico that he helped create, next to those of his long-time friend and supporter Alice Fletcher.
(This is Father Hewett's 1st cousin)
He was an archaeologist/anthropologist active in work on the Native American communities of New Mexico and the southwestern United States, and most famous for his role in bringing about the Antiquities Act, a pioneering piece of legislation for the conservation movement.
He graduated from Tarkio College and was named professor there in 1886. In 1889 he was principle in the school at Fairfax, Missouri and married Cora Whitford. He became superintendent of schools in Florence, Colorado. In 1898 he earned his masters degree in Pedagogy and became the president of Normal University at Las Vegas. He attended the University of Geneva and attained his doctorate in Sociology in 1908. He was the founder and first director of the Museum of New Mexico, as well as the first president of the New Mexico Normal School, now New Mexico Highlands University.In 1909 another action of the territorial legislature created the Museum of New Mexico. Hewett was a logical choice to be its first director, and was installed in the position. The enabling legislation that the Museum be managed by the SAR, helping to solidify Hewett's grasp on both positions.
Hewett's 1891 marriage to Cora Whitford proved eventful for his eventual career and prominence. Cora was described in contemporary accounts as "frail" -- frequently (and almost certainly in this case) a euphemism for a victim of tuberculosis -- and at her doctors' advice, the Hewetts started to spend time in the warmer climate of northern New Mexico.[2] As a result Edgar Hewett was exposed to, and became fascinated by, the prehistoric ruins in Frijoles Canyon near Santa Fe -- a site that would eventually become
the centerpiece attraction of Bandelier National Monument.In 1922 he became the Professor of anthropology at the California State teachers college at San Diego. He resigned in 1927 to become the Professor of Anthropology and Archeology at the University Of New Mexico. Between 1932 and 1934 he was a professor and department head at UCLA. After 1934 he continued to be the director of research there. Hewett remarried in 1911, to Donizetta Jones Wood, who would survive him.
Hewett's appointment at the School ruffled feathers among the old school of American archeology, which was largely centered on the East Coast and took a decidedly
condescending stance toward the "amateur" Hewett, Alice Fletcher's backing notwithstanding. As time passed, Hewett's academic credentials came to be more recognized, and he spent time and effort building academic archeology in the western United States. He organized archeology and anthropology departments at the University of New Mexico and University of Southern California. The UNM department, where Hewett spent much of the latter part of his life, would eventually become one of the world's best, and administration of the the Museum of New Mexico passed from the SAR to the university, where it remains today.
By 1910 he was collaborating with the Smithsonian Institution on work in Frijoles Canyon; Neil Judd was one of the students there. By 1915 he was director of exhibits for the San Diego Panama-California Expedition, leading in turn to his assuming directorship of the San Diego Museum of Man, a spin off of the Expedition. This museum survives today as one of the institutions in San Diego's Balboa Park district.
Hewett continued to work as a field archaeologist practically until his death.
Edgar Lee Hewett died on December 31, 1946. His ashes are interred at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, one of the units of the Museum of New Mexico that he helped create, next to those of his long-time friend and supporter Alice Fletcher.
(This is Father Hewett's 1st cousin)
Inscription
EDGAR LEE HEWETT
1865 - 1946
ORGANIZER AND DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF AMERICAN RESEARCH AND OF THE MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO. LEADER AND INSPIRER OF YOUTH. WISE COUNSELOR AND TRUE FRIEND OF THE INDIAN. HUMANIST, EDUCATOR, AUTHOR, SCIENTIST AND OUTSTANDING AMERICAN.
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