Descriptive Summary
D'Harnoncourt, Rene, 1901-1968.
Rene D'Harnoncourt Photograph Collection
1900-1925
English
33332835
218 photographs;
64 postcards.
Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin
Photographs (by C.B. Waite, 1901-1907, and others) and postcards collected in Mexico during the early twentieth century.
Biographical Note
Rene D'Harnoncourt was a museum director and authority on American Indian and Mexican arts and crafts. Born 1901 in Vienna, Austria; died 1968 in Long Island, New York. D'Harnoncourt lived in Mexico from 1925 to 1933 and worked as an artist before joining a Mexico City antiques firm in 1927.
D'Harnoncourt compiled and lectured on a collection of folk art for the Mexican Ministry of Education (1929) and was chosen to prepare an exhibition of Mexican fine and applied arts for display in the U.S. After its opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1930, D'Harnoncourt toured with the exhibition for two years.
D'Harnoncourt moved permanently to the U.S. in 1933. He directed the radio program, "Art in America"; taught art history at Sarah Lawrence College (1934-1937); and began working for the Indian Arts and Crafts Board of the Department of the Interior in 1936, becoming general manager in 1937 and chairman of the board in 1944. He joined the staff of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1944 and was its director from 1949 until July 1968.
Scope and Contents
Photographs and postcards collected in Mexico during the early twentieth century. One hundred twenty-four were made 1901-1907 by photographer C. B. Waite. The others are undated; some were made by a photographer with the surname of Scott, a few were copyrighted by the Sonora News Company, and most of the remainder are unattributed. Images consist of commercial travel views of street scenes, architecture, and picturesque, in situ and studio portraits of native residents of Mexico, many from the series, “Views of Mexico,” by C.B. Waite; and snapshots of similar subjects. A few photographs were taken in Guatemala but locations are not well identified. Mexican locales represented in the photographs include Mexico City, Tehuantepec, and Uruapan, among others; some locations are unidentified. Many of the prints are gelatino-chloride and silver gelatin snapshots.
Organization
Organized into three series: I. Photographs by C. B. Waite. II. Assorted photographs. III. Postcards.
Arrangement
Arranged numerically within subseries and folders.
Preferred Citation
René D'Harnoncourt Photograph Collection, 1900-1925, Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.
Access RestrictionsUnrestricted.
Use RestrictionsStandard copyright restrictions apply.
Digital images included in this on-line finding aid are property of the Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries. Please contact the Benson for information about reproducing or redistributing these images.
Acquisitions Information
The René D'Harnoncourt Photograph Collection was donated 1971-1974 to the Benson Latin American Collection by his daughter, Anne D'Harnoncourt.
Processing Information
The collection was described by the Benson's Mexican Archives Project in August 1994.
Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project Jaunary 5, 1995.
Index Terms
Subjects
Mexico--Description and travel--Photographs.
Mexico City (Mexico)--Photographs.
Tehuantepec (Mexico)--Photographs.
Uruapan del Progreso (Mexico)--Photographs.
Guatemala--Photographs.
Indians of Mexico--Photographs.
Other Authors
Waite, C. B. (Charles Burlingame)
Sonora News Company
Document Types
Photographs.
Postcards.
Container and Item List
Photographs by C.B. Waite
11(formerly 1A)C.B. Waite photos #4-6861901-1904 and n.d.38 items
14. Type of Mexican country home corridorn.d.
16. Upper corredor Mexican homeDec. 1, 1904
127. Near Irimbo, Michoacán and Pacific Ry. Mex.n.d.
127. copy 2
135. A little Mexican nurseJune 1, 1901
138?. A Mexican Indian with his load, Mexico CityDec. 1, 1904
140*. Wholesale loads of Mexican basketsn.d.
141*. Maguey or pulque hacienda, near City of Mexicon.d.
143. The Molino del Rey, near Chapultepec, Mexicon.d.
183. In an Mexican patio making drawn workDec. 1, 1904
187. Mexican parihuelas with furnitureDec. 1, 1904
187. copy 2
192. Tehuantepec woman, house dressMar. 13, 1901
193. Tehuantepec woman, velvet and gold [dress]n.d.
194. Tehuantepec street costume [man with two women]Mar. 13, 1901
1132. Cinco de Mayo decorations, City of Mexicon.d.
1140. Plazuela de Guardiola, Calle de S. Francisco, Mexico CityDec. 1, 1904
1185A. Selling flowers at market near cathedral, Mexico CityDec. 1, 1904
1185B. Flower market near cathedral, City of MexicoDec. 1, 1904
1205. Tomb of Juárez, Mexico CityDec. 1, 1904
1220. Aqueductbuilt in 1603, City of Mexicon.d.
1263. Funeral car, Panteón Dolores, Mexico CityDec. 14, 1904
1263. copy 2
1263. copy 3
1266. Funeral car for adult, City of MexicoDec. 14, 1904
1283*. Maximillian's coach of state, National Museum, City of Mexicon.d.
1295*. Palenque cross in National Museum of Mexicon.d.
1296. Relics of Juárez in National Museum, Mexicon.d.
1440?*. Tehuantepec women and native costume
1500. [caption faded; group of bullfighters, picadores, et al]date faded
1548. Banderillas with firecrackers (from sketch)Dec. 1, 1904
1631. View from mill, Atequiza Haciendan.d.
1632. View of Hacienda Atequiza, Mexicon.d.
1633. Church on Hacienda de Atequiza, Mexicon.d.
1634. Store and dwelling, Hacienda Atequizan.d.
1653. Hacienda of Don Félix Quero,? Mich. [description faded]date faded
1662. [of a painting of] Hidalgo, the father of Mexico[Ôs] independencen.d.
1686. Tlaxcala; street and corn cribsDec. 14, 1904
12 (formerly 1B)C.B. Waite photos #719-14911901-1907 and n.d.42 items
1719. Street in Aguascalientes, MexicoDec. 14, 1904
1720. Irapuato, Mex. Strawberry Station, Mex. Cen. Ry.Dec. 14, 1904
1723. León, MexicoDec. 14, 1904
1748. Interior, Theatre Juárez, GuanajuatoDec. 14, 1904
1749. Guanajuato; water carrier in street.Dec. 14, 1904
1749*. copy 2
1752. Organo cactus hedge in MexicoDec. 14, 1904
1764. Street in Guadalajara, Jal., MexicoDec. 14, 1904
1765. Plaza and cathedral, GuadalajaraDec. 14, 1904
1768. Public water fountain, GuadalajaraDec. 14, 1904
1774. Street in Chapala, MexicoDec. 14, 1904
1790. Zocalo and palaca, Guadalajara, Jal.Dec. 14, 1904
1939. Royal palms at Cuernavaca, Mor.n.d.
1985. Fountain under the mango trees, Cuernavacan.d.
1986. A bit of the Jardín Borda, CuernavacaDec. 26, 1904
11011. La Poblanitan.d.
11014?. La Sitala (La Sitala, en La Jota)Dec. 26, 1904
11017. La coca del Jarabe
11031. Iguala, Guerrero, under the tamarindo treesn.d.
11034. Iguala, Guer.; the baby burroMay 31, 190?
11041. Sn. Juan River, Vera Cruz; water carriersDec. 26, 1904
11160. Cock fightDec. 18, 1907
11216. Indian fruit vendor, Santa Fé, Mexicon.d.
11216. copy 2
11222. El Arbol de la Noche Triste, Mex.n.d.
11271. Calzada up the hill of Guadalupe, Mex.Dec. 26, 1904
11302. Tetzcotzinco hill, where the king of Texcoco had his palacen.d.
11303*. Ruins of water fountain called Queen's bath on Tetzcotzingon.d.
11303. copy 2
11306. Street market in Puebla, MexicoDec. 26, 1904
11336. Coasting down Popocatepetl, MexicoDec. 26, 1904
11439. La Coca. Tehuantepec. Church costume.n.d.
11439. copy 2
11441. Tehuanas con huipilesFeb. 20, 1901
11444. Grinding corn in TehuantepecFeb. 20, 1901
11445. The Tehuantepec marketFeb. 20, 1901
11448. The pumpkin market, TehuantepecFeb. 20, 1901
11452*. A hot country washing placen.d.
11474. A Mexican Indian traveler in ChiapasNov. 15, 1901
11489. Jaltipan Indian mother and childJan. 2, 1905
11490*. Jaltipan Indian woman washingn.d.
11491. Jaltipan Indian family est. Vera Cruzn.d.
13 (formerly 2)C.B. Waite photos #1539-2416, and unnumbered1905-1907 and n.d.44 items
11539.
Bananas growing in Tabasco, Mex.
Jan. 2, 1905
11540.
Field of sugar cane in Mexico
n.d.
11609.
Sombreros in marketplace, City of Mexico
n.d.
11609.
copy 2
11610?.
[partially cut away]? mules [loaded with timber] being driven? to Mexico City
Jan. 2, 1905
11612.
Hot country laborer, Mexico
n.d.
11613.
Hot country house, Mexico
n.d.
11617?*.
Carboneros; charcoal vendors, City of Mexico
n.d.
11618.
Vendor of ollas, Mexico
Jan. 2, 1905
11620.
Cargador in City of Mexico
n.d.
11626.
Tejedora, Mexico [orig. 165? Note: Waite's name is not printed on photo, but it is stamped on back side.]
n.d.
11628.
A family in Mexico [rural setting]
n.d.
11643.
Making tortillas in Mexico
n.d.
11643.
copy 2
11649.
Mexican lavandería
Jan. 2, 1905
11650.
Mexican water carrier at fountain
Jan. 2, 1905
11650.
copy 2 [faded]
11665.
Mexican washing place
n.d.
11703.
Doing the washing in Mexico
Jan. 2, 1905
11703.
copy 2
11705.
Market on the ground floor, Mexico
n.d.
11720.
Lovers playing the bear in Mexico
Jan. 2, 1905
11722.
Chicken and turkey vendors, Mexico
Jan. 2, 1905
11728.
Our charcoal men in Mexico
n.d.
11730*.
Brasero; a Mexican kitchen [worn]
n.d.
11737.
Guitarist, Mexico City [added to this in pencil: “(oval) - Souvenirs and Curiosidades - Colección Nuevo 1”; none of this is on photo.]
n.d.
11742.
Vendor of petates or rush mats
n.d.
11772.
Corn husks for tamales in Mexico
n.d.
11772*.
copy 2 [damaged]
11783.
A moving furniture store in Mexico [Indian carrying a load of wicker chairs]
n.d.
11786.
Pulque gatherer near City of Mexico
Jan. 2, 1905
11787*.
Here's looking at you, in Pulque
n.d.
11797.
Tehuantepec women [in costume], (rear view)
n.d.
11797*.
copy 2
11851.
Sumidero cascade, Mex. Ry.
n.d.
11870.
Apizaco, the cane station, Mexico
Jan. 2, 1905
12416. [cane weaver; young girl matting cane stalks]Dec. 19, 1907
Unnumbered photographs (in Folder 3)
1[pathway among the cypress trees; description cut away]Dec. 1, 1904
1Tehuantepec? [Faded. See No. 1797 of Tehuantepec women in native costume.]
1Tehuantepec woman [in] house dress.Mar. 13, 1901
1[Oaxaca street scene; woman leading burro, atop which rides a girl holding large baskets. In background: business of Vicente Gallardo, “gran surtidor de telas y ornamentos sacerdotales,: housed in building with a three-arch entrance.]n.d.
11000?. [M.C. & P.? R. R? “a view in Puente de Ixtla”]Dec. 28, 1904
1[woman and child of Oaxaca?]date faded
1[... crater of volcano Popocatepetl, Mexico; see No. 1336, also of Popocatepetl; also one of Schmidt lantern slides.] Number torn n.d. away.All rights of copying reserved; this picture must not be copied or published without written permission of C. B. Waite, Photographer, [“Views of Mexico for Sale”], San Juan de Letrán No. 3, Mexico City [also San Juan de Letrán No. 5] [also: 1 St. San Cosme 8-1/2, Mexico City]. “Es Propiedad Depositada.”
*Also stamped as property of Sonora News Company, Mexico.
Note: Copies of Waite's prints No. 40, 205, 283, and 1222 are found also in the Tabasco Rubber Plantation Photographs.
Assorted photographs
Miscellaneous photos #1 - 30n.d.33 items14 ( formerly 3)
1. Water man of Juanacatlan, No. 948, by Cox & Carmichael, Photographers, 1a Independencia No. 4, Mexico City
2.
Rag picker, No. 162
3.
“Feliz,” No. 762
4.
Untitled, No. 772
5.
Untitled, No. 1018
6.
Guadalajara, No. 1446
6.
copy 2 of No. 1446
7.
[Scott's?] unnumbered photo of women washing, in the same setting as that of No. 6 above (No. 1446)
8.
Untitled, No. 1480
9.
La Viga Canal - unloading, No. 1712
10.
Torreón, No. 2445
11.
Untitled, No. 2524
12.
Untitled, No. 2935
13.
Untitled, No. 2989
14.
Untitled, No. 2990
15.
“Fruit Carrier,” number torn away
Sonora News Company
16.
Street in Tehuantepec, No. 291, [name of photographer partially cut away]
17.
Jamiltepec Indian with his load, No. 419
17.
copy 2 of No. 419
18.
Hauling freight in Vera Cruz, No. 629
19.
Traveling in the state of Chiapas, No. 630
19.
copy 2 of No. 630
20.
Market scene, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, No. 652
21.
Hennequin plantation in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, No. 900
22.
[Women with children, at temporary food stand; unnumbered, brown-tone print]
“Típicos” - La Rochester, Mexico, D.F.
23.
[Woman with children]
24.
[Kitchen scene]
25.
Woman and girl wearing the Tehuantepec-style headdresses; Tip. 53]
26.
[Performer, in costume, with guitar]
27.
[Young farmer behind plow-team]
28.
[Small market, smiling vendors, on unidentified cobblestone street]
29.
“Plazuela de la Soledad, San Miguel de Allende, 21 de Junio de 1904?” [year erased]
30.
Male dressed in colorful Indian attire (color added to photo by hand, it appears)
Small prints (Foto-Valdes)
n.d.
23 items
2
5 (formerly 4B)
Unidentified; printed Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México, by “Foto - Valdes revelado e impresión.” Include panoramic shots, street scenes, rooftops, public fountains, churches, monuments, and plazas/markets. Approximately 2-1/8” × 3-1/8″.
Guatemala/Mexico (undated and unidentified)
38 items
n.d.
2
6 (formerly 5)
1.
Mixtec year sign, dated inscription at Cuilapan
2.
copy of No. 1
3.
copy of No. 1
4.
Mexico: group scene, “Fiesta at Amatlán (Cordobo).”
5.
Residence [?]
6.
Guatemala: children in front of church school
7.
Outdoors scene, unidentified
8.
“Santa María de Jesús” (church facade)
9.
Esquipulas, Guatelama: street vendors?
10.
Santiago de Atitlán: street scene
11.
Chichicastenango street
12.
Chichicastenango market scene
13.
similar scene, same sit?
14.
Chichicastenango: steps at church entrance
15.
Guatemalan family [?]
16.
Young boy
17.
Market scene
18.
Public fountain [?]
19.
Group scene
20.
At edge of lake
21.
[?] Lago de Atitlán
22.
[?] Lago de Atitlán
23.
Pátzcuaro [?]
24.
Street scene
25.
Street intersection: horse-drawn carriage
26.
Street scene
27.
Women beside dwelling with thatched roof
28.
Similar scene
29.
Woman weaving
30.
Prehispanic site
31.
Teotihuacán
32.
Unidentified site
33.
Siqueiros painting, s/“Mex Feb. 1930”
34.
Unidentified stela
35.
Unidentified stela
36.
Street corner, Guatemala?
37.
Thatched-roof dwellings
Postcards of Mexico and Guatemala
Miscellaneous postcardsn.d.
38 items
2
6 (formerly 5)
Postcards of Mexico, arranged by states
n.d.
26 items
2
7 (formerly 4A)
1.
Distrito Federal
Xochimilco, D.F. No. 37, Hugo Brehme, photographer
2.
Guanajuato
Guanajuato, Gto., panoramic view; Azo postcard.
3.
Momias del Panteón Municipal; Azo postcard.
4.
San Miguel Allende, Gto., No. 23
5.
México
Tepotzotlán. [Convento]; Vitava postcard [see G917.25 R6647e, p. 236]
6.
Tepotzotlán [another view of convent]; Vitava postcard
7.
Michoacán
Pátzcuaro, Calle de Buenavista, No. 16, by Valdés; Gevaert postcard [see folder 6]
8.
Pátzcuaro, panorama de. No. 39, by Valdés (Gevaert) [see folder 6]
9.
Lago de Pátzcuaro, No. 64 (EKKP)
10.
Uruapan. Portal A. F. Mercado (58) (Gevaert)
11.
Taller de pintura indígena (75) (EKKP) [see No. 138]
12.
Uruapan. Plaza Fr. Juan de Sn. Miguel (115) (Gevaert)
13.
Uruapan. [plaza] vendedora de legumbres (124) (Gevaert)
14.
Uruapan. Portales (125) (EKKP)
15.
Uruapan. Taller de pintura indígena (138) (Gevaert) [see#75]
16.
Uruapan. Plaza Juárez (139) (EKKP)
17.
Uruapan. Plaza Juárez (140) (Gevaert)
18.
Uruapan. “Tipos Tarascos” (148) (EKKP)
19.
Uruapan. Tipos Tarascos [elderly woman, seated on sidewalk] (150) (EKKP)
20.
Uruapan. Camino cerca La Charanda. (170) (EKKP)
21.
Uruapan. Calle A. Obregón
22.
Morelos
Vista parcial, Cuernavaca. Viveros, photographer, No. 47, Agfa postcard
23.
Querétaro
Querétaro. Palacio Federal. J. T. Patiño, ph. (Gev.)
24.
Querétaro. Interior view of Santa Clara, No. 59, J. T. Patiño, photographer (Gevaert)
25.
Querétaro. Interior of Santa Rosa, No. 56, J. T. Patiño, photographer (Gevaert)
26.
Unidentified group. Agfa postcard. [Headdress worn by women in center of marching group is that of the Tehuantepec women.]