This collection (1934-1976, undated) contains news clippings, correspondence, maps, and a comic book story (1942) detailing Tewkesbury’s expedition through the Darien Isthmus. In addition, there are several files of “Richard A. Tewkesbury: Source Material Relating to His Trips to the Darien in 1939 and 1940.” These files contain correspondence, maps, photographs, news clippings, and Tewksbury’s accounts of the trips. The collection also includes his passport and a certificate (1962) for crossing the equator.



Tewkesbury’s papers also contained several small artifacts; these items have been placed in the University Archives Artifact Collection. The artifacts include a small plastic elephant, his compass, small hand carved wooden statue, and a native child’s mola blouse. The statue and the mola blouse were items he received from the natives of the Darien Jungle. Mola is the traditional textile art form of the Kuna people of Panama and Columbia. Molas are cloth panels with intricate designs made from multiple layers of cloth in a reverse appliqué technique. The plastic elephant is an example of the items Tewkesbury gave to the native people during his trip.