Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1913-1963, predominant 1913-1937 (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
1.51 m of textual and graphic records
14 artifacts
2 folders of architectural drawings
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Except for photographs, this series contains little documentation on Davidson Black’s employment before 1917 when he enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps and went overseas. The bulk of this series relates to his work in China at the Peking Union Medical College, his anthropological research including his discovery of "Peking man", and his travels within China and to Mongolia, India, Siam, and elsewhere.
The files contain correspondence, photographs, addresses, and publications (including some drafts), and memorabilia. Most of the photographs were taken by Dr. Black himself, though some were taken by Adena and others (especially presentation copies) by friends and colleagues. Dr. Black carefully annotated many of the photos he took, often in considerable detail even to the time of day and the shutter speed used. Included are a few glass-plate negatives and about 50 lantern slides. The negatives are usually dated and were kept except if they were in good condition. On his travels, Dr. Black collected autographed photographs of many of the scientists and academics he met; these are included in this series.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The records are grouped as much as possible by activity and are arranged more or less chronologically within each group. The spelling of place names is what Dr. Black used.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open