Witthoft, John

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John Witthoft taught in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.

From the description of Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1959-1969. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 191213574

Born October 4, 1921 in Oneonta, New York, John Witthoft had an unusual childhood. Suffering from scarlet fever at age 6, the disease left him with permanent eye damage and life-long tremors. His family saw these physical afflictions as retribution for his disagreeing with their religious beliefs and as a consequence disowned him at a very early age. At age 13 he started working and held many various jobs until finally settling on anthropology as a career. He obtained his masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1946. While at the university, he assisted anthropologist Frank Speck with his studies of Cherokee language and culture at Big Cove, North Carolina. From 1948-1966, Witthoft was the Pennsylvania state anthropologist. He reported to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and curated the state museum in Harrisburg. Some of his work there included field drawings of Indian mounds in Bradford County in 1948 as part of the Works Progress Administration program. Witthoft joined the faculty of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1966 and remained as professor there until his retirement in 1986. During his teaching career he continued his field research among the Eastern Cherokee, Seneca, Cayuga, Delaware, and Cataba in the Atlantic region and the Hopi and Paiute in the West.

From the guide to the Papers and drawings for Cherokee Indian materials, 1893-1948, (American Philosophical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Wallace, Anthony Francis Clarke. Anthony F. C. Wallace Papers. 1920-2000. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Witthoft, John. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1959-1969. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn George S. Snyderman Papers, Bulk, 1945-1985, 1758-1995 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Green, Amos R., 1887-1968. Amos R. Green papers, 1932-1967. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf North American Fur Trade Conference (1965 : Saint Paul, Minn.). Conference papers, 1975 Nov. 1-3. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Amos R. Green Papers, 1932-1967 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn William N. Fenton papers, 1933-2001 American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn C. F. Voegelin Papers, 1934-1970 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Witthoft, John. Will West Long, Cherokee informant. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn William N. Fenton papers, 1933-2001 American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Frank Gouldsmith Speck Cherokee Collection, 1880-1948 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Speck, Frank G. (Frank Gouldsmith), 1881-1950,. Collection of notes and diaries in the Cherokee syllabary, 1840-1932. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Seneca language, Circa 1970 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Conference papers., 1975 November 1-3. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf United States. Work Projects Administration. Pennsylvania. Reports, 1918-1948. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn United States. Work Projects Administration (Pa.) Reports, 1918-1948, 1918-1948 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Floyd Glenn Lounsbury papers, ca. 1935-1998, Circa 1935-1998 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Collection of notes and diaries in the Cherokee syllabary, 1840-1932, 1840-1932 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Voegelin, C. F. (Charles Frederick), 1906-1986. Papers, 1836-1968. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Papers and drawings for Cherokee Indian materials, 1893-1948 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Cox, Steven L. A re-analysis of the Shoop Site / Steven L. Cox. Washington Library Network
referencedIn United States. Work Projects Administration (Pa.) Reports, 1918-1948, 1918-1948 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Phillips Fund for Native American Research Collection, 1960-present American Philosophical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873 person
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Banks, Joseph, Sir, 1743-1820 person
associatedWith Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839 person
associatedWith Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899 person
associatedWith Cox, Steven L. person
associatedWith Curry, Ed person
associatedWith Cuvier, Georges, Baron, 1769-1832 person
associatedWith Darlington, William, 1782-1863 person
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A., (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931 person
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 person
associatedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
associatedWith Fenton, William N. (William Nelson), 1908-2005 person
associatedWith Fitch, John person
associatedWith Genth, F. A., (Frederick Augustus), 1820-1893 person
associatedWith Gray, Asa, 1810-1888 person
associatedWith Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 person
associatedWith Green, Amos R., 1887-1968. person
associatedWith Haas, Mary R., (Mary Rosamond), 1910-1996 person
associatedWith Harding, Warren G. person
associatedWith Lounsbury, Floyd Glenn person
associatedWith Newcomb, Simon person
associatedWith Newton, Isaac, Sir, 1642-1727 person
associatedWith North American Fur Trade Conference (1965 : Saint Paul, Minn.) corporateBody
associatedWith North American Fur Trade Conference (1965 : Saint Paul, Minnesota). corporateBody
associatedWith Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796 person
associatedWith Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 person
associatedWith Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864 person
associatedWith Seybert, Adam, 1773-1825 person
associatedWith Snyderman, George Simon, 1908- person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Speck, Frank G. (Frank Gouldsmith), 1881-1950, person
associatedWith Stevens, Henry person
associatedWith Sturtevant, William C. person
associatedWith Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 person
associatedWith Swadesh, Morris, 1909-1967 person
associatedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824 person
associatedWith United States.Work Projects Administration (Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Work Projects Administration. Pennsylvania. corporateBody
associatedWith Voegelin, C. F. (Charles Frederick), 1906-1986. person
associatedWith Wallace, Anthony F. C., 1923- person
associatedWith Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865 person
associatedWith Watt, Harry person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony person
associatedWith Westlake, Neda M. person
associatedWith West Long, Will. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
North Carolina
Subject
Cherokee dance
Cherokee Indians
Cherokee Indians
Cherokee masks
Indians of North America
Southeast Indians
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1921-10-04

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