Rudolf Schuller (1873-1932) Papers, 1917-(1920s)-1930

1,016 pieces and circa 1000 photographs.

COLLECTION GUIDE

Prepared by Barbara Frausto, February 1981.

Introduction

Ruldolf Schuller was born in Austria in 1873. Educated as a linguist, Schuller's primary concentration was on Indian languages of Central and South America. From the mid- to late 1900s, Schuller worked in South America, studying Indian tribes in Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. In the early 1920s, Schuller began his ethnological and linguistic studies of various Mexican Indian groups. Foremost among these were the Huastecan Indians. In 1924 Schuller served on the faculty of the National University in Mexico City. Following the abolition of the position in late 1924 Schuller came to New Orleans. It was during this time that the Middle American Research Institute of Tulane University acquired the Schuller Papers. Rudolf Schuller died in Colombia in 1932.

The Schuller Papers contain personal correspondence, notes, manuscripts, photographs, newspaper clippings, and printed ephemera. The major portion of the material consists of field notes, vocabulary lists, and manuscripts from Schuller's studies of a variety of Mexican and Central American Indian languages and dialects, with particular emphasis on the culture and language of the Huastecan Indians. (See also LAL F/1221/.H8S3). There are also materials relating to Schuller's study of the voyages of Columbus and other early explorations. Included in the printed section are newspaper clippings of articles by Schuller and others relating to various ethnological topics. Also contained in this section are a significant number of items concerning the Mexican Revolution and popular Mexican song and poetry of the 1920s. (See also LAL Rare/GR/115.S3).

The papers include an extensive collection of photographic negatives (mostly 2.25" by 3.5") and contact prints. Many of the photographs were taken by Aleko Lilius, a photographer with whom Schuller worked closely. The majority of the photographs depict daily life in Huastecan villages, but there are also some of Mexico City and of Álvara Obregón and Plutarco Elías Calles. (See also entries in TULANET and the LAL card catalogue under Schuller, Rudolf).

Outline of Collection Arrangement

Personal Correspondence, Papers, and Photographs.

II.

Notebooks, Diaries, and Notes

A. Comparative Studies -- Indian Languages and Dialects.

B. Studies of Individual Indian Languages and Dialects.

C. Studies of Mayan Language and Related Dialects.

D. Studies of Huastecan Language and Related Dialects.

E. Data Pertaining to Columbus' Voyages.

F. Copies of Popular Verses.

1. Printed and Typewritten Material.

2. Newspaper Clippings, Magazine Clippings, and Postcards.

G. General Ethnological and Linguistic Notes.

III.

Manuscripts, Typescripts, and Reprints of Articles by Schuller.

IV.

Newspaper Clippings of Articles by Schuller.

Clippings, Reprints, Books, Pamphlets, and Printed Ephemera not by Schuller.

A. Anthropological and Ethnological Subjects.

B. Popular Mexican Culture Circa 1920.

C. Miscellaneous Clippings -- Various Subjects.

D. Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera.

E. Miscellaneous Books, Pamphlets, Advertisements, and Other Miscellanea.

VI.

Photographs.

See binder for a detailed 60-page guide to the Schuller Collection.

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Last updated: April 30, 1997