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