52 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1942 



In keeping with the Smithsonian Institution's policy of coopera- 

 tion with and aid to other institutions, Dr. Roberts took leave from 

 July 28 to August 9 to give a series of lectures on Southwestern 

 archeology and to direct student excavations at the University of 

 New Mexico Field Session in the Chaco Canyon, N. Mex. During 

 his absence, the work at San Jon was continued under the supervision 

 of Eugene C. Worman, Jr., of the department of anthropology, 

 Harvard University. From the Chaco Canyon, Dr. Roberts re- 

 turned to San Jon, and, upon completion of the work there, returned 

 to Washington. 



The fall and winter months were spent in regular office routine; 

 in the preparation of a manuscript entitled "Archeological and 

 Geological Investigations in the San Jon District, Eastern New 

 Mexico" for publication in the Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collec- 

 tions; in library researches for information for and sponsoring 

 programs on Carthage, Zebulon M. Pike, and Babylon for "The 

 World Is Yours" broadcasts; in organizing air-raid protection groups 

 for the Smithsonian building and serving as building warden under 

 the Public Buildings Administration Civilian Defense program ; and 

 in assisting in the preparation of material for evacuation to storage 

 places outside of Washington. 



On June 27 Dr. Roberts left Washington for Newcastle, Wyo., to 

 inspect a site on the Cheyenne River where animal bones and arti- 

 facts were reported to be eroding from a gully bank and possible 

 valuable information was in danger of being lost through the action 

 of natural agencies. This investigation was just starting at the close 

 of the fiscal year. 



Dr. Julian H. Steward, anthropologist, continued his activities as 

 editor of the Handbook of South American Indians. On September 

 2, 1941, Dr. A. Metraux was appointed to assist Dr. Steward in the 

 preparation of the Handbook. 



At the end of the fiscal year, completed manuscripts totaling about 

 600,000 words had been received from approximately 90 contributors. 

 Half of the contributions are from Latin American scientists, while 

 the remainder are from North American specialists on Middle and 

 South American Indian tribes. The very important tribal map 

 covering a large portion of South America was completed for the 

 Handbook by Curt Nimuendaju and is now in Dr. Steward's hands. 

 A collection of photographs of South American Indians was begun, 

 and between 4,000 and 5,000 bibliographic items had been assembled. 



From February to May 1942, Dr. Steward visited Brazil, Argen- 

 tina, Paraguay, and Chile, where he conferred with Latin American 

 anthropologists and arranged for their cooperation in matters per- 

 taining to the Handbook. He also discussed plans for the formation 

 of an "inter-American anthropological and geographic society," for 



