Series 1 - Correspondence

2.2 m of textual records

This series is made up of various correspondence runs in all three accessions that overlap both in terms of correspondent and time period. Each accession contains both chronological runs of correspondence and alphabetical runs as reflected in Lee’s own arrangement. The correspondence is incoming and outgoing and is both a professional and personal nature.

Correspondence in B2007-0018 focuses on Lee’s early career mainly dating from 1965-1975 and especially documents his field work and research in the late 1960s as part of the Kalahari Research Project. There is also correspondence with colleagues and students commenting on his publications, requesting information and advice, requesting his participation at talks and seminar and other professional meetings. The bulk of correspondence in this accession is filed by correspondent’s name and, this accession in particular, has a separate run of files with more famous people and people Lee himself highlighted as influential in his professional development. These include Canadian author Margaret Atwood, the famous astronomer Carl Sagan as well as fellow anthropologists Kathleen Gough, Elenor Leacock, Philip Tobias and Bruce Trigger to list a few.

B2012-0012 contains only an alphabetical series focusing on the period from the mid 1970s to the mid 1990s. Many of the names reappear from the previous accession. These include with well known anthropologists such as Carl Heider (Brown University / University of Southern California), Adam Kuper (University College, London), Mary Leakey, Sidney Mintz (Yale University), Sherwood Washburn (Harvard University and Lee’s advisor) and Eric Wolf (City University of New York).

B2019-0017 has an alphabetical run by name but also contains extensive correspondence that Lee chose to file chronologically.

For all accruals, letters of recommendation and support are files as part of this series at the end.

Contains both chronological and alphabetical runs.

All files are Open except letter of recommendation and support in box B2019-0017/014 (20)-(26) which are restricted until 2049.