Skip to main content

Gates, William, 1863-1940

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1863 - 1940

Biographical History

William Gates (1863-1940) was an author, linguist, archaeologist, collector, publisher, museum director, and president of the Maya Society.

Citation:
His Rural education in Mexico and the Indian problem, 1935: t.p. (William Gates)

LC in RLIN, 2-26-87 (hdg.: Gates, William Edmond, 1863-1940; usage: William Gates)

Weeks, J.M. Mesoamerican ethnohistory in United States libraries, c1990: t.p. (William E. Gates) p. 9, etc. (b. 12-8-1863; grad. of Johns Hopkins Univ.; owned printing business 1887-1905; became collector of Mesoamerican historical & linguistic mss.; d. 4-24-40 in Baltimore)

Found in 100 Collections and/or Records:

William Gates collection of Zoque source materials, 1672-1733

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 8 Sub-Series 2 Sub-Series 29
Scope and Contents

Contains photocopies, compiled by Gates between 1898 and 1940, of source material in the Zoque language.

Dates: 1672-1733
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers / William Gates collection of Mesoamerican source materials / William Gates collection of source materials on grammars and vocabularies of native languages

William Gates collection of Zoque texts, 1696-1709

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 9 Sub-Series 28
Scope and Contents

Contains photocopies of Christian texts from Gates' collection of texts in the Zoque language.

Dates: 1696-1709
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers / William Gates collection of texts in native languages

William Gates collection on the Popul Vuh, 1521-1940

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 9 Sub-Series 21 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains photocopies, manuscripts, and typescripts from Gates' collection of Popul Vuh-related texts in Quiché.

Dates: 1521-1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers / William Gates collection of texts in native languages / William Gates collection of Quiché texts

William Gates correspondence, 1899-1947

 Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence between Gates and book dealers and colleagues. Most of the materials relate to Gates efforts to either sell or purchase publications for his Mesoamerican research. Materials date from between 1899 and 1947.

Dates: 1899-1947
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers

William Gates ethnohistorical materials in European languages, 1521-1940

 Series — Box 104: Series 10 [Barcode: 31197232492600], Folder: 3, 3A, 4, 4A
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains photocopies, typescripts, and manuscripts from Gates' collection of ethnohistorical materials in European languages, primarily Spanish with some German and English texts.

Dates: 1521-1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers

William Gates glyph studies, 1898-1940

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains hand-written, typed, and photographic notes on various Mesoamerican codices and glyphs in addition to an extensive card file for glyph identification. The notes were compiled by Gates both in the field and in California and Baltimore between the years 1898 and 1940.

Dates: 1898-1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers / William Gates research notes

William Gates illustrations and drawings, approximately 1898-1940

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 11 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains drawings of people and ruins in Latin America.

Dates: approximately 1898-1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers / William Gates photographs, postcards, and other material

William Gates institutional affiliations, 1912-1940

 Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains writings related to Gates' institutional affiliations with the Aryan Theosophical Society, the San Diego Museum, and the Department of Middle American Research at Tulane University. While his work with the Department of Middle American Research at Tulane University was directly related to the study of Mesoamerica, Gates' affiliations with the Aryan Theosophical Society and the San Diego Museum were not related to the study of Mesoamerica.

Dates: 1912-1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers

William Gates maps, drawings, and other material, 1890-1940

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 8 Sub-Series 2 Sub-Series 30
Scope and Contents

Contains a book on ancient mexican art, as well as maps and drawings of various ruins.

Dates: 1890-1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers / William Gates collection of Mesoamerican source materials / William Gates collection of source materials on grammars and vocabularies of native languages

William Gates mementoes, 1920-1940

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 7 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains Gates' mementoes related to his life's work and collection sales. Items span the years 1918 to 1940.

Dates: 1920-1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Gates papers / William Gates personalia

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.