William Gates collection on Maya medical literature, 1930-1940

Sub-Series

Identifier: MSS 279 Series 6 Sub-Series 19 Sub-Series 8

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Contains plant lists, classifications of ailments, Maya medical vocabulary, and notes relating to Gates' 1930-1940 study of Maya medical literature.

Dates

Creation: 1930-1940

Creator

Maya Society (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from William Gates papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Administrative History

From the Series:

The Maya Society was established by William Gates on July 21, 1930 in Washington, D.C. The society was dedicated to the collection of research and publications on the Indians of Central America, particularly the Maya, as well as the publication of research on the topic. An earlier society by the same name was previously established by Gates in Virginia in 1920.

Extent

30 folders

Language of Materials

Multiple languages

Additional Description

General

Gates' interest in the field of Maya medicine began during his stay at Tulane when he had Ralph Roys do a preliminary study published under the title "Maya Ethno-Botany." Under Gates' supervision Elizabeth Stewart was to have reworked all of the material for a future publication. The following materials never reached a final form. Included are the materials used to prepare the text. The actual manuscripts used and their typescripts are located in the section on texts in native languages.