Joseph A. Towles papers

The collection contains eight different series of materials that document various aspects of the lives and careers, both separately and together, of Colin Turnbull and Joseph Towles. Anthropological research files focus mostly on their field work on the Mbuti and Mbo pygmies of the Congo area and the Ik of Uganda. Professional papers document their work in academic and museum settings. There are personal papers of their domestic life; fictional writings of Joseph Towles; a professional and personal photograph series; personal and professional films and audio tape, including materials documenting their African fieldwork; slides documenting African fieldwork and travels; and a series documenting the collection itself. Despite the fact the majority of materials document the life and achievements of Colin Turnbull, the collection holding both his and Joseph Towles' papers, is named for Joseph Towles at Turnbull's request. There is also a separate collection of African, religious and domestic artifacts collected by them.

1. Anthropological Research (26 linear feet). Includes field notes and related research materials, including correspondence, maps, diagrams, and publications connected with Colin Turnbull's and Joseph Towles' academic pursuits. The series begins with a large amount of material (circa 1928-1982, bulk 1965-1972) collected by Towles, Turnbull, Patrick and Anne Putnam, and others regarding the Mbuti and Mbo people of the Ituri forest (also known as pygmies) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) -- formerly known as Zaire and the Belgian Congo. Kept in original order when possible, materials include a study of Congolese languages, social structure, environment, life stages, music, villager relations, and rituals (such as the Nkumbi circumcision ritual, the elima menstruation ritual, and the molimo spiritual ritual). Drafts of publications resulting from the research, such as copies of Towles' and Turnbull's dissertations on the Mbuti, are included in this series.

The series also includes similar material collected by Towles and Turnbull on the Ik of Northern Uganda, whom they studied in the field from 1965-1966 and from 1970-1972. In addition, the series contains material collected for their Tourism as Pilgrimage project (1978-1979), Turnbull's work on the US prison system (circa 1976-1986) and Towles' work on Judaism and religion (1980s). The series also includes miscellaneous anthropological research, mostly related to Africa, which includes copies of scarce East African newspapers (1965-1971); galleys and uncorrected proofs on African and anthropological subjects sent to Turnbull; an edited copy of The Human Cycle (1983); and publications and research on subjects such as archeology, psychology, homosexuality, black power and racism in the United States including the 1968 New York University race controversy. Also included are reproductions of materials regarding American slavery such as a slave bill of sale, correspondence, and advertisement for slave sales as well as articles on the Jonestown, Guyana mass suicide (1978). Includes miscellaneous correspondence (1952-1966) and an interview (circa 1979) with a WWII Japanese internment camp detainee.

2. Professional Papers (11.5 linear feet). Includes materials relating to both Towles and Turnbull's (but mostly the latter's) employment (1960-1965) at the American Museum of Natural History, including the 1967 installment of the Man in Africa permanent exhibit. With materials regarding their employment and roles as professors and faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University, Vassar, Pace, and SUNY Buffalo, Hofstra, and George Washington University, consisting of academic correspondence, lectures, grant proposals, reports, news clippings, and student work. Also included in the series are academic critiques by Turnbull and those of Turnbull's work on the Mbuti and Ik, including a 1973 critique of The Mountain People by Frederick Barth with Turnbull's response. Correspondence and documents pertain to the publishing of academic works of Towles and Turnbull, including letters from editors rejecting Towles' work. Miscellaneous materials regarding Towles and Turnbull as students, including material from Towles' studies at Makerere University in Uganda (1965-1967). Printed material regarding formal lectures and conferences, such as An Interdisciplinary Approach to Planned Social Change (1971), conclude the series.

3. Personal Papers (9.5 linear feet). This series includes Towles' diaries (1960-1988) and transcribed copies, annotated by Turnbull, which detail their relationship. Also includes correspondence from Towles/Turnbull as landlords; financial papers; legal papers; cards, letters and notes between Towles and Turnbull, as well as documents pertaining to Towles' death. With publications that document Towles' life such as yearbooks and school textbooks; and scrapbooks with published reviews of Turnbull's works. Miscellaneous items include documents regarding Towles' bequest to the United Negro College Fund; maps; receipts; and other papers pertaining to household items. Other biographical data (1863-1961) is recorded in the Towles family Bible.

4. Fictional Writings (3.5 linear feet). This series contains unpublished short stories, novels, and plays written by Joseph Towles (1959-1988).

5. Photographs (6.5 linear feet). The photograph series consists of personal and professional photos including negatives, positives and proofs (circa 1920-1989). Images include Towles and Turnbull with various friends and family members and on trips abroad as well as in their New York, Virginia and Connecticut homes, including the last image taken of Towles in St. Croix and his burial site. Also included are images from Turnbull's travels to India and his first trip to Africa (1949-1952). Professional photos include anthropological related images from work in the Congo with the Mbuti people, Camp Putnam, Uganda with the Ik people, and regions from their Tourism as Pilgrimage research. Images used for Turnbull publications of The Forest People, The Mountain People, and Wayward Servants are also included. In addition, copies and originals of American Museum of Natural History images are included from various exhibits such as Man in Africa and Lute, Flute, and Drum.

6. Audio-Visual and Other Materials (10.25 linear feet). The audio-visual series contains professional and personal audio and film footage as well as other magnetic media. It includes data disks from Towles and Turnbull's computer presumed to contain material mostly available in hard copy throughout the collection but also Turnbull's diaries (1988-1989), a copy of the unpublished "Lover and Beloved," his notes on prison research, Buddhism, and correspondence (1990). Professional videos consist of anthropology lectures (1975-1991) given by Towles and Turnbull, and film studies (1954-1972) in which Towles and Turnbull document the Ik (1964-1965) and the Mbuti (1954 and edited 1971-1972) in the field. Videos of their personal life (1973-1978) reflect their family and domestic life in Virginia. Audio files consist of cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes of Mbuti songs and interviews that reportedly correspond to video footage.

7. Slides (21.75 linear feet). The slides collection (1948-1988) consists of circa 10,000 personal and professional slides taken by Towles, Turnbull and others during their world travels, mostly relating to the Mbuti of the Ituri Forest in Uganda and the Ik of the Congo. They reflect the people, physical environment, material culture, and rituals. Many slides also relate to Towles and Turnbull's project on Tourism as Pilgrimage and include images of India, China, Japan, Indonesia, and other countries. Personal slides include images of vacations, holidays and visits with friends and family.

8. Collection Processing Materials (1.5 linear feet). Donor files consist of correspondence (1987-1993) regarding the acquisition of the collection; copies of previous inventories (1990-1994); correspondence and lists regarding items removed from collection; and CD of oral history of the collection conducted with Joseph Powell.

» Note on origin: The collection was donated to the Avery Research Center by the United Negro College Fund in 1989 following Towles' death and through the efforts of Turnbull. Affiliated is a large artifact collection. It was initially processed by Joseph Powell under archivist Donald West, from 1990-1994. It was reprocessed by Jessica Lancia, Melissa Bronheim, and Rachel Allen under Harlan Greene in 2009. For materials regarding the acquisition including an oral history with Powell regarding processing of the collection conducted May 2009 by Lancia, see box 50. Where possible, original order was maintained. To increase access, most publications were removed from the collection and added to online catalogue with a note on origin.

» Some items were removed from the collection permanently following issues over ownership. These include the Herbert Lang slides and materials belonging to the American Museum of Natural History. Originals of the film studies are housed at the Smithsonian, which created VHS user copies for Avery.