A Guide to the Denise Schmandt-Besserat Papers, 1953-2008
|
|
|
|
|
Creator: |
Schmandt-Besserat, Denise. |
|
Title: |
Denise Schmandt-Besserat
Papers |
|
Dates: |
1953-2008 |
|
Abstract: |
Denise Schmandt-Besserat is a
professor emerita of Art and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at
Austin and a scholar of the art and archaeology of the ancient Near East. Her papers
include research materials, manuscript drafts, subject files, correspondence,
reviews, clippings, publications, and teaching materials. |
|
Accession No.: |
92-234; 93-293; 2000-147; 2003-031; 2003-054; 2003-101;
2007-100; 2009-052; 2009-250; 2009-305 |
|
Extent: |
44 ft. |
|
Language: |
Materials are written in English and French. |
|
Repository: |
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The
University of Texas at Austin |
Denise Schmandt-Besserat is a professor emerita of Art and Middle Eastern Studies at
the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Schmandt-Besserat studies the art and
archaeology of the ancient Near East. Her research has focused on the origin of
writing and counting, and her published works include: Before
Writing (1992), How Writing Came About
(1996), The History of Counting (1999), and When Writing Met Art (2007). Dr. Schmandt-Besserat
trained at the Ecole du Louvre in Paris, France. She received an honorary doctorate
from Kenyon College in 2008.
Research materials, manuscript drafts, page proofs, and editorial materials document
the creation of Denise Schmandt-Besserat’s published works, including Before Writing (1992), How Writing
Came About (1996), When Writing Met Art
(2007), and scholarly articles. Also included in the collection are subject files,
correspondence, reviews and press clippings, publications, teaching materials, and
research materials that document Dr. Schmandt-Besserat’s scholarly activities,
research, teaching, lectures, and travel.
Note that the inventory below is in abridged form. For a complete folder listing,
contact the repository.
Access Restrictions
Access to portions of this collection are restricted. See inventory below for
details. Contact repository for further information.
Use Restrictions
A portion of these papers is stored remotely. Advance notice required for
retrieval.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subjects (Persons) |
|
|
Schmandt-Besserat, Denise -- Archives. |
|
Subjects |
|
|
Writing and art -- Middle East. |
|
|
Art, Ancient -- Middle East. |
|
|
Art, Prehistoric -- Middle East. |
|
|
Writing -- History. |
|
|
Archaeology and art--Middle East |
|
Places |
|
|
Middle East--Antiquities. |
|
|
Middle EAst--Studying and teaching. |
|
|
Middle East -- Antiquities.
|
|
|
|
|
Some material has been separated to the Artifact Collection. |
Denise Schmandt-Besserat Papers, 1953-2008, Dolph Briscoe Center for American
History, The University of Texas at Austin.
Detailed Description of the Papers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Onsite at SRH: |
| box |
| 2.325/D8c |
|
|
Galley proofs of Before Writing,
Vols. 1 and 2 |
| box |
| 2.325/T63a |
|
|
Page proofs of How Writing Came
About, 1996 |
| box |
| 3X138c |
|
|
Filmstrips: |
|
|
|
|
‘Origin of Writing,’ The Reading Laboratory, Inc.,
Archaeological Perspectives on Man,
undated |
|
|
|
|
‘How Writing Began,’ The Reading Laboratory, Inc.,
undated |
|
|
|
VHS Tapes: |
|
|
|
|
‘Treasures from the Royal Graves of Ur’ The University of
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology,
undated |
|
|
|
|
‘Origins of Writing,’ Discover Magazine,
undated |
|
|
|
|
‘How Writing Began,’ Alarion Press, History through Art and
Archaeology, 1987 |
|
|
|
|
‘The Origin of Writing,’ First UU Church of Austin Public
Affairs Forum, undated |
|
|
|
|
‘Origins of Writing,’ Scotch home tape,
undated |
|
|
|
|
‘Origins of Writing,’ Scotch home tape, undated ‘Ain Ghazal’
Edit, TRT 10 mins, February 1999 |
|
|
|
|
‘How writing began’ Alarion Press, History through Art and
Archaeology, 12 mins, undated |
|
|
|
Umatic Tapes: |
|
|
|
|
‘The Royal Archives of Elba,’
undated |
|
|
|
|
‘Science Magazine, Show #3, Interview with Denise
Schmandt-Besserat, discussion of the Origin of Writing’ CBC Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, undated |
|
|
|
|
‘Odyssey – Key to the Land of Silence’,
undated |
| box |
| 2X83c |
|
|
Audio material: |
|
|
|
|
Origins of Writing Event, 9658-59 3037/Quad, Tapes 1-6,
August 10-11, 1990 |
|
|
|
|
Mexico, Denise Schmandt-Besserat, February 8,
1993 |
|
|
|
|
Utah Public Radio Interview Broadcast, February 9,
2000 |
|
|
|
|
Origin and Development of Writing, automatic,
undated |
|
|
|
|
Madison lecture, Symbols, April
1988 |
|
|
|
|
Canadian Broadcast Corporation Broadcast, Tapes 1-2,
January 19, 1994 |
|
|
|
|
Frontiers of Communication, Tape 2, Media Centre Audio
Production Services, undated |
|
|
|
|
Una’s Lecture, “Origin of Writing” Tapes 1-2, March
7, 1989 |
|
|
|
|
Lecture on the “Origins of Writing” Oriental Lab,
April 16, 1980 |
|
|
|
|
Held in the residence of Ms. Safeya Binzagr,
undated |
|
|
|
|
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS),
Science Update, “Numbers and Taxes,” April
1989 |
|
|
|
|
“How Writing Began,” 1987 (Includes a short filmstrip, VHS
tape and maps at 3X138c) |
|
|
|
|
“Archaeological perspectives on man; The Origin and
Development of Writing,” 1980 (Includes a short filmstrip, VHS tape
and maps at 3X138c) |
| box |
| 2/FILM E70 |
|
|
Search for Solutions flat film |
| box |
| 2.325/D20b |
|
|
Certificate |
| box |
| 2W15 |
|
|
Computer printout of token discovery location, size, shape and
museum location |
|
|
|
Display Cards showing token shapes |
|
|
|
Map of Token locations |
|
|
|
Photographic paper of Token illustrations |
| box |
| 3Y387 |
|
|
Photographs of tokens with a colorized overlay. Separated in
envelopes by figure numbers from the book “Before Writing” |
| box |
| 3So100 |
|
|
Illustrations in small envelopes |
| box |
| 3R38a |
|
|
Diskettes (77) |
| box |
| 3W105 |
|
|
VHS Introduction I |
| box |
| 2.325/P17 |
|
|
Subject files: |
|
|
|
|
Letters of recommendation, educational certificates, early
professional history, 1953-1984 |
|
|
|
|
Notes (Photocopied articles and book excerpts),
1981-2005 |
|
|
|
|
Language Origins Society, 1991,
2002 |
|
|
|
|
W. W. Norton & Company, correspondence,
1992-1993 |
|
|
|
|
Japan (Translations of Schmandt-Besserat’s works),
2000-2008 |
|
|
|
|
Retirement, 2001-2002 |
|
|
|
|
The Warburg Institute – London (Colloquium on “Iconography
without Texts,” June 2005),
2004-2005 |
|
|
|
|
Handbook of Writing Research
(chapter contribution), 2004-2006 |
|
|
|
|
Elsevier (Article on “Writing Systems” for the Encyclopedia of Archeology),
2005-2007 |
|
|
|
|
Henri Contenson (Article for Syria in his honor),
2006-2007 |
|
|
|
|
Georgia (Paper presented to the Georgian National Academy of
Sciences), 2007 |
|
|
|
|
92nd Street Y, Young Men & Young Women’s Hebrew
Association – New York (October lecture),
2007 |
|
|
|
|
Archeological Institute of America lecture (Talks for
Seattle, Spokane, and Walla Walla societies),
2007 |
|
|
|
|
Chicago (American Accounting Association lecture),
2007 |
|
|
|
|
Correspondence and applications,
2007 |
|
|
|
|
New York Y, 92nd Street Young Men & Young Women’s Hebrew
Association (May lecture), 2007 |
|
|
|
|
Ravenna (XIX International Conference on South Asian
Archeology, Italy), 2007 |
|
|
|
|
UT Business School (lecture),
2007 |
|
|
|
|
Kenyon College (honorary doctoral degree conferral),
2007-2008 |
|
|
|
|
New Orleans – Charles Bazerman (Conference on College
Composition and Communication, “Writing Realities, Changing
Realities”), 2007-2008 |
|
|
|
|
Business (correspondence),
2008 |
|
|
|
|
Georgia (Tblisi visit), 2008 |
|
|
|
|
Neolithic – Leiden (Conference on “Interpreting the Late
Neolithic of Upper Mesopotamia”),
2008 |
|
|
|
|
University of Oklahoma (speaking engagement),
2008 |
|
|
|
Illustrations for When Writing Met
Art, University of Texas Press,
2007 |
|
|
|
Publications: |
|
|
|
|
Korean translation of The History of
Counting, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
Assorted collected publications,
2007-2008 |
|
|
|
Diploma, honorary doctorate, Kenyon College, May 17,
2008 |
| box |
| 2.325/E486 |
|
|
RESTRICTED: |
|
|
|
|
Personal and financial information [2009-052],
1933-2007 |
|
|
|
|
--- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Offsite at the LSF: |
| box |
| 2.325/F36 |
|
|
Manuscript, rough draft and galley proofs, Before Writing: From Counting to Cuneiform, Vol.
1 |
| box |
| CDL2/L335 |
|
|
Before Writing, book: |
|
|
|
|
Permissions, 1990 |
|
|
|
|
UT Press, correspondence and publications,
1990-1991 |
|
|
|
|
Readers, 1989 |
|
|
|
|
Preface, correspondence,
1990-1991 |
|
|
|
|
Book edition, 1990 |
|
|
|
|
Corrections |
|
|
|
|
Index |
|
|
|
|
Vol. II, catalog |
|
|
|
|
Map |
|
|
|
|
Drawings |
|
|
|
|
Original manuscript to UT Press, August 3,
1989 |
|
|
|
|
Illustrations |
|
|
|
|
Proofs |
|
|
|
|
Galleys |
| box |
| CDL2/L336 |
|
|
Drafts of book |
|
|
|
Chapters on Iraq, Iran, tablets |
|
|
|
Tokens: Cones; Spheres; Discs; Cylinders; Tetrahedrons;
Others |
|
|
|
Clay analysis |
|
|
|
Correspondence, circa 1979 - circa
1989 |
| box |
| CDL2/L337 |
|
|
Grants, circa 1980 - circa 1990 |
|
|
|
Articles on origin of writing |
|
|
|
Correspondence, 1980-1985 |
| box |
| CDL2/L338 |
|
|
Articles on origin of writing,
1980s |
|
|
|
Correspondence, 1980s |
| box |
| CDL2/L339 |
|
|
Articles on origin of writing,
1980s |
|
|
|
Correspondence, 1980s |
|
|
|
Critics' press reaction, magazines, and newspaper
clippings |
| box |
| CDL2/L340 |
|
|
Computer printouts: |
|
|
|
|
Key to computer program |
|
|
|
|
Per Millennia |
|
|
|
|
Reserve |
|
|
|
|
Envelopes |
|
|
|
|
Tablets |
| box |
| CDL2/L341 |
|
|
Data forms file |
|
|
|
Computer tapes |
| box |
| CDL2/L342 |
|
|
Token catalogs: |
|
|
|
|
Syria |
|
|
|
|
Turkey |
|
|
|
|
Iraq |
|
|
|
|
Iran |
|
|
|
|
Palestine |
|
|
|
|
Statistics |
|
|
|
|
Masters |
|
|
|
|
Sites |
|
|
|
|
Tokens |
|
|
|
|
Envelopes |
|
|
|
|
Tablets |
|
|
|
|
Token charts |
|
|
|
|
Tokens typed per millennium |
|
|
|
|
Eighth Millennium |
|
|
|
|
Subtypes |
|
|
|
|
Forms |
|
|
|
|
Computer masters |
|
|
|
|
Coded sheets |
| box |
| CDL2/L343 |
|
|
Data sheets, notes, printed material |
|
|
|
Seals: Bullae, Tablets |
|
|
|
Impressed tablets |
|
|
|
Envelopes |
|
|
|
Pictographic tablets |
| box |
| CDL2/L344 |
|
|
Site files: |
|
|
|
|
Uruk, miscellaneous materials |
| box |
| CDL2/L345 |
|
|
|
Syria |
| box |
| CDL2/L346 |
|
|
|
Iraq |
|
|
|
|
Turkey, Palestine, Egypt, and others |
| box |
| CDL2/L347 |
|
|
|
Iran |
| box |
| CDL2/N205 |
|
|
Miscellaneous oversized files |
| box |
| 2000-147/1 |
|
|
Before Writing, Abridged
Version: |
|
|
|
|
Figures, May 15, 1995 |
|
|
|
|
Copy 2, May 15, 1995 |
|
|
|
|
Corrected by Teresa, February 16,
1995 |
|
|
|
American Scientist, “The Top 100
Science Books of the Century,” reprint,
1999 |
| box |
| 2000-147/2 |
|
|
How Writing Came About, edited
drafts, circa 1995 |
|
|
|
Before Writing, Abridged Version,
copy 1, May 15, 1995 |
| box |
| 2003-054/1 |
|
|
Teaching materials, 1998-2002 |
|
|
|
Book Lists, 1974-2000 |
|
|
|
Course Descriptions, 1981-1994 |
|
|
|
Course Manuals |
| box |
| 2003-054/2 |
|
|
Publications, 1967-1995, undated |
| box |
| 2003-054/3 |
|
|
Publications, 1977-1994, undated |
| box |
| 2003-054/4 |
|
|
Art and Token letters, 1993-2002 |
|
|
|
Tokens, 1979-1998 |
|
|
|
Visible Language, undated |
|
|
|
Written Communication, undated |
|
|
|
Art, 1993-2002 |
|
|
|
Man, undated |
|
|
|
Written Communication Xerox,
undated |
|
|
|
Internationale de l’ Imaginaire.
Editor Cherif Khaznadar, Maison Des Cultures Du Monde: Paris,
1985 |
|
|
|
Visible Language. Volume 20:3.
Editors David Olson, Derrick de Kerckove, Visible Language: Cleveland,
Ohio, 1986 |
|
|
|
Journal of Library History, 1986 |
|
|
|
Tokens and Pictography, undated |
|
|
|
Xerox – International Encyclopedia of Communications,
undated |
|
|
|
Strasbourg, undated |
|
|
|
Visible Language Volume 8:1 Editor Merald E. Wrolstad, Visible
Language: Ohio, 1984 |
|
|
|
Collected Papers of the Society for Near
Eastern Studies, Volume 2. Editor Robert Chadwick, Society
for Near East Studies: Quebec, 1984 |
|
|
|
Clay in Anatolia, undated |
|
|
|
Clay in Syria, undated |
|
|
|
Syria reprints, undated |
|
|
|
On the Invention of Writing,
undated |
|
|
|
The Legacy of Sumer, undated |
|
|
|
Immortal Egypt, undated |
|
|
|
On the Origins of Writing,
undated |
|
|
|
Early Technologies-Technology and Cultures |
| box |
| 2003-054/5 |
|
|
Newspaper clippings, 1975-2001 |
| box |
| 2003-054/6 |
|
|
Lectures, 1985-2000, undated |
|
|
|
Material for children's books, 1994-1999,
undated |
| box |
| 2003-031/1 |
|
|
Research material, 1977-2001,
undated |
| box |
| 2003-031/2 |
|
|
Quotes, 1977-2002, undated |
| box |
| 2003-031/3 |
|
|
Publications, A-Z by title,
1967-2000 |
| box |
| 2003-101/1 |
|
|
Reviews, 1992-1999, undated |
|
|
|
Citation: Art, 2003 |
|
|
|
Salary: Past annual reports, letters |
| box |
| 2003-101/2 |
|
|
Reviews, 2000-2003, undated |
|
|
|
Computer Printouts, 1986 |
|
|
|
|
Cones, Spheres, Discs |
|
|
|
|
Vessels |
|
|
|
|
Tools |
|
|
|
|
Biconoid |
|
|
|
|
Paraboloid |
|
|
|
|
Oviod |
|
|
|
|
Tetrahedron |
|
|
|
|
Animal |
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
|
Bent Coil |
|
|
|
|
Oval |
|
|
|
|
Cylinder |
|
|
|
|
Rectangle |
|
|
|
|
Triangle |
|
|
|
Publications |
|
|
|
|
Drawings used in Volume 1 of Before
Writing |
|
|
|
|
Drawing references |
|
|
|
|
Volume 1, Before
Writing |
|
|
|
Photocopies: Printout of Token location, number, museum location
and size |
|
|
|
--- |
| box |
| 2009-250/1 |
|
|
Course Notes: |
|
|
|
|
Syria sites |
|
|
|
|
Jordon |
|
|
|
|
Lebanon |
|
|
|
|
Liban |
|
|
|
|
Palestine |
|
|
|
|
Islamic Era |
| box |
| 2009-250/2 |
|
|
|
Turkey |
|
|
|
|
Materials--metal |
|
|
|
|
Persia-symbols/writing, 1997. |
|
|
|
|
Islamic Persia |
|
|
|
|
Islamic Iran |
|
|
|
|
Luristan |
| box |
| 2009-250/3 |
|
|
|
Egypt: |
|
|
|
|
|
Paleo/pre-dynasty |
|
|
|
|
|
Amarna/late |
|
|
|
|
|
Everyday life |
|
|
|
|
|
Middle Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
Topics |
|
|
|
|
|
Early New Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
Old Kingdom |
| box |
| 2009-250/4 |
|
|
|
|
Late Egypt |
|
|
|
|
Religion: |
|
|
|
|
|
Death |
|
|
|
|
|
Pantheon |
|
|
|
|
Sumer: |
|
|
|
|
|
Sites |
|
|
|
|
|
Topics--economy, warfare |
|
|
|
|
Babylon |
|
|
|
|
Uruk: |
|
|
|
|
|
Civilization |
|
|
|
|
|
Artifacts |
| box |
| 2009-250/5 |
|
|
|
Assun: |
|
|
|
|
|
Topics |
|
|
|
|
|
Reliefs |
|
|
|
|
Texts |
|
|
|
|
Magic |
|
|
|
|
Art |
|
|
|
|
Akkad |
|
|
|
|
UrIII |
| box |
| 2009-250/6 |
|
|
|
Achaemenian: |
|
|
|
|
|
History and objects |
|
|
|
|
|
Sites |
|
|
|
|
|
Reliefs |
|
|
|
|
Elam |
|
|
|
|
Iran |
| box |
| 2009-250/7 |
|
|
|
Theory |
|
|
|
|
Early Mesopotamia, Zawi-Cheri, Ubald |
|
|
|
|
Spychet [Uruk notes in French]. |
|
|
|
Diskettes, 1996-1997 |
|
|
|
|
AG |
|
|
|
|
Articles |
|
|
|
|
Class |
|
|
|
|
Seminars |
|
|
|
|
Kid books |
|
|
|
Diskettes, 1998-2000 |
|
|
|
|
Accounts |
|
|
|
|
AG |
|
|
|
|
Articles |
|
|
|
|
Class |
|
|
|
|
Kid books |
|
|
|
Diskettes, 2001 |
|
|
|
|
AG |
|
|
|
|
Articles |
|
|
|
|
Class |
|
|
|
|
302 |
|
|
|
|
Kid books (none on "articles") |
|
|
|
|
Grants |
|
|
|
|
Lecture |
|
|
|
|
Recom[mendations?] |
|
|
|
|
Reviews |
|
|
|
|
Writing |
| box |
| 2009-305/1 |
|
|
Photo albums: |
|
|
|
|
Family, 1997-2001 |
|
|
|
|
Turkey, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
Egypt, 2000 |
|
|
|
|
Reunions, 2006 |
| box |
| 2009-305/2 |
|
|
|
Family, 1987-2000 |
|
|
|
Schmandt Chronicles for mama’s fiftieth birthday [articles by
Jurgen, Phillip, and Alex Schmandt] |
|
|
|
Course notes: |
|
|
|
|
Kings I |
|
|
|
|
Kings II |
|
|
|
|
Sumer topics |
| box |
| 2009-305/3 |
|
|
|
Ed |
|
|
|
|
Ed art |
|
|
|
Photo album, 1990-1994 |
|
|
|
Floppy disks: |
|
|
|
|
Book part I: Intro – outline – chap. 1-4. Abbrev. Title.
Title pt. I., March 1, 1990
(3 disks) |
|
|
|
|
Drawer Uruk/Berlin, 1987, Final. Map. Photos. Tiefschmitt,
May 25, 1989 |
|
|
|
|
Book II. Chap 5-9 – concl – title cat – title pt. 2 charts,
March 1, 1990
(3 disks) |
| box |
| 2009-305/4 |
|
|
Teaching and writing files |
| box |
| 2009-305/5 |
|
|
Rolled negatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Offsite at CDL 3, Range 66, Section
1: |
| box |
| 2007-100/1 |
|
|
Research materials for the book When
Writing Met Art |
| box |
| 2007-100/2 |
|
|
Research materials for the book When
Writing Met Art |
| box |
| 2007-100/3 |
|
|
Business, 2003-2006 |
| box |
| 2007-100/4 |
|
|
Business, 2007 |
|
|
|
Middle Eastern tours, 2001-2006 |
|
|
|
Lectures |
|
