Gray, John Geddings, Memorial Expedition led by Frans Blom, Papers, 1928 (4th Tulane University Expedition to Middle America)
Dec. 30, 1927 - Aug. 5, 1928

COLLECTION GUIDE

Prepared by Ruth Olivera, September 1989.
Revised by Philip S. MacLeod, March 2001.

The collection consists of diaries, notes, records, etc. made during the Gray Memorial Expedition to Chiapas, Mexico and Guatemala. This was Tulane's 4th expedition to Middle America and was considered the most ambitious and dangerous. Frans Blom headed the expedition. Other members were Louis Bristow, Webster McBryde, Ciriaco Aguilar, and Gustav Kanter. While most of the papers here were written by Blom, the diary of Louis Bristow, who served as expedition doctor, is also included. Photographs of the expedition are found in Photograph Collection #41.

Inventory of Collection

1 & 2.

Typescript carbon copy of Frans Blom's "Filed Diary," in two parts: Dec. 30, 1927 - Apr. 22, 1928, pp. 1 - 238, and June 21, 1928 - Aug. 5, 1928, pp. 409 - 545. There are four maps of Chiapas. See also RBC/L972.015/B653/1928 v. 1 and 2.

3.

"Pencil Notes" by Blom covering Tapachula to Comitán, Jan. 16, 1928 - Feb. 2, 1928.

4 and 5.

Original and carbon copy of a typed "Expedition Journal," February 10, 1028 - April 1928, pp. 20 - 87, which note the place or camp, date, start from, barometer, temperature, stop at, barometer, temperature, distance, hours, and days work. Apparently it was written by Blom; all personnel are mentioned in the brief account of the day's activities.

6.

Leather notebook, "TUX 1928," with notes on various ruins taken from different references, also a few daily notations, rough sketches and maps, and the draft of a letter from Blom to Matilda (Geddings Gray) asking for more money. Four loose enclosures including a letter to Blom from Bristow telling of Mac's (McBryde's) illness have been placed in Folder 1. pp. 1 - 82, plus unnumbered pp.

7.

leather notebook, "Index of Monuments at Yaxchilan, Tikal." Other sites are included in the index. Descriptions of monuments include watercolors, sketches, and maps. pp. 1 - 149, plus unnumbered pp.

8.

"Year: Oche Been 10 March 1928 - 9 March 1929," pp. 1 - 12, plus unnumbered pp. Handwritten information recorded by Blom in Zapotal, Chiapas, from informant Baltazar Francisco Tziman.

9.

"Carbon Copy of Archaeological Notes." Feb. 11 - 12, 1928. Typescript report by Blom on caves and ruins near Comitán, with drawings. In the Cueva de los Trapos they found a piece of Maya textile which is illustrated. 19 leaves.

10.

"Notes for Roys," Blom's handwritten list of "Maya Plantnames requiring identification and the number of times each occurs in the Maya text for Ralph L. Roys." pp. 1 - 47.

11. and 12.

"Personal" diary of Louis Bristow written in pen and pencil recording events from Jan. 2 to April 5, 1928, pp. 1 - 127, and April 7 to July 7, 1928, pp. 128 - 216. See also RBC L972.015/B861/1928. Photocopy of pp. 1 - 22 in Folder 2.

13.

"Bones," Bristow's pen observations on skulls and bones. 78 leaves.

14. Folder 1

Enclosures found in leather notebook "TUX 1928" (no. 6), including a letter to Blom from Bristow telling of McBryde's illness.

15. Folder 2

Photocopy of pages 1 through 22 of Bristow's "Personal diary" (no. 11).

16. Folder 3

Colored print of the official flag of the Explorer's Club, carried by the 1928 expedition.

17. Folder 4

Print of pictorial map of the route of the expedition by F.W. McBryde, published in an article by McBryde (RARE F/1434/.M3/LAL) which also includes a key. In Oversize Box 2. Also in map collection inventory, see item 17a for reference to other positive and negative copies of this map and items 795, 796, 797, 798, and 799 for reference to Blom maps of this expedition.

18. Folder 5

Interview of Louis Bristow by Jaime Kibben, September 4, 1989. 35 pages.

19. Folder 6

Xerographic copy of "Trails and no trails: concerning the John Geddings Gray Memorial Expedition, 1928, conducted bu Tulane University, through the jungles of Central America," by Frans Blom, from Holland's The Magazine of the South, February, 1930. pages 10 - 11, 29 - 30, 33, 35.

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Last updated: March 12, 2001