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Rhoads and Morley families photograph albums, approximately 1880-1930

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 1587 Series 3 Sub-Series 3

Scope and Contents

These albums include family albums such as a honeymoon album, albums of famous people portraits, and family portraits. Also included are albums from the Rhoads family trip to San Francisco and New Mexico. Note that Frances Cook Rhoads was often nicknamed Fanny or Fannie. There are also Morley family albums made from the 1926 to 1928 in Mexico. Note that Sylvanus G. Morley is nicknamed Vay, Frances Rhoads Morley is nicknamed Fritz, and Dorothy Rhoads is nicknamed Jojo. There are also references to two artists who joined them, Jean Charlot and Lowell Houser. Dated approximately 1880 to 1930.

Dates

  • approximately 1880-1930

Creator

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 use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Sylvanus (Vanus or Vay) Griswold Morley was born June 7, 1883 to Benjamin F. Morley and Sarah Eleanor Constance De Lannoy. Sylvanus attended school at Harvard University, where he received bachelors and masters degrees in archaeology. In 1908, he married Alice Gallinger Williams, and they had one child, Alice Virginia Morley. Sylvanus and Alice got divorced around 1914. After finishing school, Sylvanus worked with the Carnegie Institute and investigated the ancient Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula. He also visited sites throughout Mesoamerica, including Copan, Tikal, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal. His interests included heiroglyphics, monumental architecture, and the Classic and Postclassic Maya. In 1927, Sylvanus G. Morley married Frances Rose Lou Rhoads, and she began to accompany him on excavations and they owned houses in Mexico and Sante Fe. In 1946, Morley wrote The Ancient Maya, a large volume detailing Maya archaeology. Sylvanus died on September 2, 1948 and Frances died March 15, 1955.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

The Franklin Koons and Frances May Cook Rhoads family lived in Pekin and Rock Island, Illinios. Franklin Koons Rhoads was born October 23, 1867 in Pekin, Illinois to Samuel Rhoads and Anna Koons. Frances (Fannie) May Cook was born around 1880 to John Spafford Cook and Sarah Dexter. Franklin and Fannie got married April 27, 1892, and they had two children, Dorothy Mary and Frances Louella. Dorothy was born March 19, 1895 and Frances was born September 8, 1898. The family lived in Illinois for many years, near other family members. Frances May died March 28, 1924 and Franklin died March 27, 1943 in Rock Island, Illinois. Dorothy and Frances moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico in about 1920, and Dorothy lived there until 1986, when she died. In 1927, Frances married Sylvanus Morley, and spent her remaining years between Mexico and Sante Fe. Dorothy was a children's book author, and spent time with her sister in Mexico. The family had a Maya godchild named Dorita, who was featured in one of Dorothy's books. Frances died in 1955 and Dorothy died in 1986, both in Sante Fe. Both Franklin and Frances were amateur photographers, and took hundreds of photographs on family trips and other events.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Frances Louella Rhoads was born September 8, 1898 to Franklin Koons and Frances May Cook Rhoads of Pekin and Rock Island, Illinios. Frances had one older sister, Dorothy, and the family lived in Illinois for many years, near other family members. Dorothy and Frances moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico in about 1920, and Dorothy lived there until 1986, when she died. In 1927, Frances married Sylvanus Morley, and spent her remaining years between Mexico and Sante Fe, and would accompany him on excavations. The family had a Maya godchild named Dorita, who was featured in one of Dorothy's books. Sylvanus died in 1948 and Frances died in 1955 in Sante Fe.

Extent

From the Collection: 67 cartons (67 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English