Finding Aid for the Arthur J. O. Anderson papers LSC.2133
Finding aid prepared by Chris Salvano and Kelly Besser with assistance from Megan Hahn Fraser
UCLA Library Special Collections
©2013
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
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Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Arthur J.O. Anderson papers
Creator:
Anderson, Arthur J. O.
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2133
Physical Description:
58 Linear Feet
(53 record cartons, 3 document boxes, 1 oversize flat box, 1 telescope box)
Date (inclusive): 1892-1998
Abstract: Arthur James Outram Anderson was a professor and researcher whose specializations included the American Southwest, Mesoamerica,
and the Nahuatl language. Anderson's most significant work that defined his professional career was his collaboration with
colleague Charles E. Dibble, of the University of Utah, on their English translation of the Aztec language Florentine Codex.
The collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, publications, typescripts, scrapbooks, maps, photographs, slides,
microfilm, negatives and notes related to his work as a professor, researcher, editor and translator.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are primarily in English, some materials in Spanish, Portuguese, German and Nahuatl.
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained
by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue
the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
This collection was a gift of Elizabeth F. Klotz, 1999.
[Identification of item], Arthur J. O. Anderson papers (Collection Number 2133). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles
E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
This collection was originally processed in 2012 by Chris Salvano. Kelly Besser, with assistance from Megan Hahn Fraser, completed
processing in 2013. This collection was minimally processed to facilitate access. Most materials are in their original folders
and retain the creator's folder titles and organization.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID:
9971508783606533
Arthur James Outram Anderson was born in Phoenix, Arizona on November 26, 1907 and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico before he
returned to the United States for his college and graduate education. He received a B.A. in English from San Diego State College
in 1930, an M.A. in Anthropology from Claremont Colleges in 1931, and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Southern
California in 1940.
During his professional career, Anderson worked as a professor and researcher largely in the field of Anthropology. He taught
at Occidental College, Eastern New Mexico, and San Diego State University, among other schools, and served as director of
the Roosevelt County Museum in New Mexico and curator of history and director of publications at the Museum of New Mexico
in Santa Fe. His specializations included the American Southwest, Mesoamerica, and the Nahuatl language.
The most significant work that defined his professional career was Anderson's collaboration with colleague Charles E. Dibble,
of the University of Utah, on their English translation of the Aztec language Florentine Codex. The Florentine Codex is a
16th century Nahuatl language document written by Fray Bernardino de Sahagun, a Spanish missionary who documented contemporary
Aztec life in conquest-era Mexico. Sahagun's work, also known by the title
Historia general de las cosas de Nueva Espana, was drafted between the years 1545 and 1590 and documented Aztec rituals, customs, language, and society during the Spanish
conquest of Mexico.
Anderson and Dibble were the first anthropologists to translate and publish the primary resource codex from Nahuatl to English,
a major translation project that spanned more than 30 years, from 1948-1982. In recognition of their achievement, the President
of Mexico conferred upon them, the Order of the Aztec Eagle, with rank of Commander in 1981 and then in 1984, the King of
Spain conferred upon them, the Order of Isabel la Católica, with the rank of Knight Commander.
Anderson's other major publications include:
Anderson, Arthur J. O.
Grammatical examples, exercises, & review: for use with Rules of the Aztec language. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1973.
Anderson, Arthur J. O.
Rules of the Aztec language: classicial Nahuatl grammar. A Translation by Arthur J. O. Anderson, with modifications, of Francisco Xavier Clavijer's Reglas de la lengua mexicana.
Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1973.
Clavijero, Francesco Saverio.
Reglas de la lengua Mexicana con un vocabulario. Edición, introdución, paleografía y notas de Arthur J. O. Anderson; prefacio de Miguel León-Portillo. Mexico: Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas, 1974.
In addition to Anderson's collaboration with Charles Dibble, his bibliography includes joint publications with James Lockhart,
Frances Berdan, Susan Schroeder, Barry Sell, Wayne Ruwet, Spencer Rogers and Thelma D. Sullivan. When Sullivan died, leaving
her translation of Sahagun's Primeros Memoriales unfinished, Anderson completed it for her.
In addition, Anderson served as the Editor of
El Palacio, the journal of The School of American Research and the Archaeological Society of New Mexico, from 1947-1957, and also served
as the Associate Editor of the New Mexico Historical Review from 1946-1957.
In 1975 Anderson retired as professor emeritus from San Diego State University, where he served as a professor since 1961,
and died on June 3, 1996.
The collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, publications, typescripts, scrapbooks, maps, photographs, slides,
microfilm, negatives and notes related to the career of Arthur J. O. Anderson. It includes materials related to Anderson's
teaching and research on the Florentine Codex; Nahuatl language and grammar; Fray Bernardino de Sahagun; his service as the
Editor of El Palacio and as the Associate Editor of the New Mexico Historical Review; monographs and serials from his research
library; and material related to Anderson's receipt of Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle in 1981 and Spain's Order of Isabel
la Católica in 1984.
The collection maintains the creator's original order. Boxes 1-33 comprise Anderson's personal papers and boxes 34-58 contain
his research library.
box 1
Correspondence, Publications and Research Files 1937-1991
College catalogs and bulletins from Occidental, El Camino, San Diego State, and Eastern New Mexico. Periodicals from Mexico
City and Madrid. "Of Interest To UCLA" folder of periodicals. Publications by Anderson, institutional correspondence to Anderson
and a VHS tape titled Gpe. Hernandez: Rayos, Cosmos, Pregnancy, Misc. Cuentos Abelino Martinez: Talocan Cuentos, Tonalli Gpe
Vásquez: Suplica Nemouhtil.
box 2
Publications 1938-1984
Publications include Anderson's Grammatical Examples, Exercises, & Review For Use with Rules of the Aztec Language with inscription
to "Mary and Harry With Love, Arturo," The Hispanic American Historical Review, New Mexico Historical Review, New Scholar
Volume 9, New Mexico Quarterly, Geographical Review, Studies Relating to Early Man in America by E.B. Howard, Environment
and Native Subsistence Economies in the Central Great Plains By Waldo R. Wedel, "Conservation in Pueblo Architecture" by G.R.
Stewart, "Prehistoric Trade in the Southwest" by Harold S. Colton, The Americas: A Quarterly Review of the Inter-American
Cultural History, The Western Humanities Review, El Palacio: A Quarterly Journal of the Museum of New Mexico, Handbook of
Latin American Studies, Seventy-Five Years of Latin American Research at the University of Texas, Boletin de la Sociedad Geografica
de Lima, Current Topics in Aztec Studies: Essays in Honor of Dr. H.B. Nicholson, Discovery: A Monthly Publication of the San
Diego Museum of Man, School of American Research of the Archaeological Institute of American Annual Reports, The School of
American Research: Its Background, Its Future, Reglas de la Lengua Mexicana Con Un Vocabulario: Edicion, introduccion, paleografia
y notas de Arthur J.O. Anderson, pamphlets from Instituto Jalisciense de Antropologia e Historia Guadalajara and an unbound
notebook.
box 3
box 4
box 5
box 6
box 7
Correspondence and Research Files 1922-1986
Nine folders containing manuscript and typescript of the Tlaxcala Actas (1986), including related materials from Frances Berdan
and James Lockhart. Correspondence with the University of Utah Press regarding contracts and publication of Florentine Codex.
Course materials and Nahuatl bibliographies. Two notebooks of Nahuatl vocabulary translations, grammar, and etymology descriptions.
Two of Anderson's scrapbooks entitled "Articles and Pictures on or about Anything Egyptian (Ancient Egyptian)" and "Everything
Ancient Except Egyptian."
box 8
Publications 1971-1998
Publications including the following by Anderson: Codex Chimalpahin Volume 1 and 2, The Tlaxcalan Actas: A Compendium of the
Records of the Cabildo of Tlaxcala (1545-1627), The War of Conquest: How It Was Waged Here in Mexico and Anderson's annotated
working copies of Rules of the Aztec Language: A Translation and Grammatical Examples, Exercises, & Review For Use with Rules
of the Aztec Language.
box 9
box 10
Publications 1892-1993
Books and other publications related to Prehispanic Mexico and translation of Aztec including the Codex Barbonicus and Anderson's
"Temporary Foreword to the Florentine Codex, Books IV and V." Materials also include Anderson's annotated grammar books such
as Carochi's Lengva Mexicana.
box 11
box 12
Manuscripts and Correspondence 1949-1996
Manuscripts and correspondence from Barry D. Sell on the Codex Chimalpahin. Anderson's "Favourite Celebrities" scrapbook of
clippings. Anderson's copy of Brevarium Romanum. Proofs of "O My Beloved Children: Sahagun's Sermons to the Nahuas." First
edition letterpress copy of Agnes C. Sims' "San Cristobal Petroglyphs." Folder of Congress of Americanists correspondence.
Materials also include a folder of Anderson's illustrations for his return address labels.
box 13
Manuscripts and Research Files 1934-1966
Codex Chimalpahin manuscript. Syllabi and course readings from Anderson's doctoral work at USC, annotated copies of his Curriculum
Vitae and a bound copy of his dissertation, "Eclipse Rituals and Procedures of North American Indians in Relation to Their
Ceremonial Patterns, From the Point of View of Social Psychology." Research materials include a photocopy of a German language
document on Aztecs and articles on Spanish Medicine.
box 14
box 15
Course Notes, Bibliographies and Student Papers circa 1920-1970
Twelve small notebooks and two folders of Anderson's course/lecture notes as a professor at San Diego State College. Two folders
of American Southwest archaeology and ethnology notes for class. Anderson's Southwest culture bibliography. Anderson's class
list for Sociology 150 Ethnography of Indians of American Southwest. Five student papers not returned to students in 1966.
Copy of the Anales de Cuauh.
box 16
Publications and Research Files 1949-1980
Bulk of materials includes periodicals and research files concerning Sahagun and Nahuatl. Sahagun, Fr. Bernardino de. Historia
general de las cosas de Nueva Espana.
Partial facsimile edition from the Codices Matritenses in the Mexican language, Mixteca that are housed in the libraries of
the Royal Palace and the Royal Academy of History. Madrid: Phototype of Hauser and Menet. Facsimile photographs of unknown
imprint, Spanish and Nahuatl language. Facsimile photographs of documents from the Seville Archive related to Sahagun. Four
research binders of articles and notes on Sahagun. Folder and binder on Nahuatl grammar and vocabulary
box 17
Primeros Memoriales Research Files and Correspondence circa 1980-1989
box 18
Research Files, Publications, Microfilm, Slides and Negatives 1958-1970
Three Library of Congress microfilm reels of Sahagun's Historia General De Las Cosas Nueva Espana. One film canister of the
Codex Rios Tepetlaoxtoc and Alfonso Caso's interpretation of the Codex Bodley. Seven rolls of film from the Biblioteca Nacional.
Two film canisters. Four boxes of slides. Eight sets of negatives.
Research files include Anderson's notes on the Florentine Codex, Sahagun and the Xolotl Codex. Photostats from Charles Dibble
on the Codex Borgia.
Publications include the following: Benjamin Keen's "Readings in Latin-American civilication: 1492 to the present," Manuscritos
de America por Jesus Dominguez Bordona (Tomo IX), Dental Radiography and Photography, Prehispanic Indian Dentistry, "Historical
notes relating to the Pre-Columbian amber trade from Chiapas, Mexico" and "Archaeology of the Funeral Mound Ocmulgee."
box 19
Correspondence and Research Files 1961-1994
Research files on the Escalona sermons with related correspondence from Barry Sell and Stafford Poole. Research files on Codex
Chimalpahin and related correspondence with Barry Sell. Research files on Sahagun and Sahagun's sermons, Ayer manuscript and
Resurrection sermon. Typescripts of "Aztec Wives" and "The Goddess Within." Materials also include a copy of the Codice en
Cruz and photostats of Mayan calendars, Spanish-Maya dictionary and "Vocabulario en la lengua Maya."
box 20
Correspondence and Research Files 1903-1913, 1957-1997
Correspondence concerning Anderson's teaching positions. Sahaguntine Triptych typescript. Anales del Museo Nacional de Arqueologia.
Correspondence between Charles Dibble and the Library of Congress Hispanic Foundation. Rules of the Classical Nahuatl Language
typescript. "Nahuatl Language Research Materials" file. Correspondence between Susan Schroeder and Christine Anderson. Anderson's
Memorial invitation, copies of his obituaries and correspondence of condolence from Mexico's Ambassador to the United Nations,
Dr. Miguel Leon-Portilla.
box 21
Correspondence, Reprints and Photographs 1956-1997
Correspondence and newspaper clippings concerning Anderson and Charles Dibble's Order of the Aztec Eagle award and Anderson's
Order of Isabel the Catholic from the Spanish government. Annotated reprints and offprints addressed to Anderson from his
colleagues. Black and white photographs of Anderson and Mexico's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Miguel Leon-Portilla
at the San Diego State University Student Union Hall. File of publications, articles and newsletters about the Florentine
Codex. Copies of Anderson's Curriculum Vitae. Cal State University Master's theses of Maria Nissley and Alfred Frank Velsaco,
approved by Anderson. Bound copy of Montezuma opera by Roger Sessions with inscription to Anderson. Anderson's address book.
box 22
Correspondence 1953-1995
Professional correspondence with colleagues and institutions including Charles Dibble, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation,
The Del Amo Foundation, School of American Research, Comision de Intercambio Cultural entre Espana y los EEUU, San Diego State
College, University of Utah and Susan Schroeder.
box 23
Research Slides 1958-1970
Two slide cases of images from the Florentine Codex. One slide case of Peruvian museum work. One slide case of Bodley Manuscripts,
American Museum of Natural History, Madrid, Egerton. One slide case of Pintura del Governador, Zuni, Hopi, Apache and Isleta
Indians. One slide case of prints from British Museum including views of Athens and Rome.
box 24
box 25
Florentine Codex Typescript circa 1955-1971
box 26
box 27
Typescripts, Photostats and Publications 1921-1974
Photostats of the Selden Roll, an ancient Mexican picture manuscript held at Oxford's Bodleian Library. Florentine Codex photostat
negatives. Manuscript photostats from the British National Museum. "Reglas de la Lengua Mexicana" manuscript photostats.
Photographic reproduction of "La aparicion de nuestra senora de Guadalupe de Mexico...." Anderson's translation of the apparitions
of Guadalupe. Unbound copy of "Catalogo alfabetico de nombres vulgares y cientificos de plantas que existen en Mexico." Mappe
Quinatzin photostats. Sahagun Codex photostats. Codex photostats.
Materials also include one of Anderson's Florentine Codex notebooks related to Nahuatl grammar and translations.
box 28
Manuscripts and Research Files 1940-1987
Copy and manuscript of Juan de San Antonio's letter on "Texcoco Episodes."
Exercicio Quotidiano manuscript and appendix. Copy of Ayer MS #1486 with Additions and Appendix. Materials also include early
manuscript drafts, related correspondence, translations, articles, research notes and School of American Research Annual Reports.
box 29
box 30
box 31
box 32
box 33
box 34, box 35
box 37, box 38, box 39, box 40
box 41
box 44
box 46
box 47
box 48
box 49
box 50
box 51
box 52
box 53, box 54
box 55
box 56
box 57
Serials 1946-1986
Proceedings (Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies)
v. 12 (1985-1986).
Revista de Indias
v. 24: no. 95-96 (1964).
Revista Espanola de Antropologia Americana
v. 4 (1969).
Revista Geografica Espanola
no. 20 (1947).
Revista Interamericana de Bibliografia
v. 5: no. 3 (1955).
Revista Mexicana de Estudios Antropologicos
v. 15-20 (1958-1966).
Tlalocan
v. 2: no. 2-3 (1946-1947), v. 3: no. 1 (1949), v. 8-9 (1980-1982).
box 58
Serials 1938-1986
Abside: Revista de cultura Mexicana
v. 2: no. 3 (1938), v. 4: no. 3, 5 (1940), v. 9: no. 1-4 (1945).
Actas del XLI Congreso Internacional de Americanistas
v. 1-3 (1975-1976).
Actas y Memorias XXXVI Congreso Internacional de Americanistas
v. 1-4 (1966).
AAR Studies in Religion
no. 3 (1972).
Antropologia e historia
v. 19: no. 1 (1967).
Anthropos
v. 68: no. 1-2 (1973).
Anthropological papers (University of Utah)
no. 1-8 (1950).
Archivos Leoneses
v. 7: no. 14 (1953), v. 9: no. 17 (1955).
Anales del Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia
v. 3 (1947-1948).
Archivos Nahuas
v. 1 (1954).
Cahiers du Monde Hispanique et Luso-Breslien
v. 31 (1978).
Current Anthropology
v. 11: no. 3 (1970).
Emerita
v. 34: no. 2 (1966).
Historicas
no. 19 (1986).
Language (Linguistic Society of America)
v. 30: no. 1, pt. 2 (1954).
Journal de la Societe des Americanistes
v. 41: no. 2 (1952).