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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 85 Collections and/or Records:

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

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

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

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

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

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

William Gates Mesoamerican astrology and calendric studies, 1898-1940

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 3 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains notes on Mesoamerican astrology and calindrics compiled by Gates between the years 1898 and 1940.

Dates: 1898-1940

William Gates Mesoamerican language studies, 1898-1940

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

Contains notes, compiled by Gates between 1898 and 1940, on the grammars and vocabularies of various Mesoamerican languages including Tzeltal, Quiché, Maya, and Motul.

Dates: 1898-1940

William Gates papers on collecting activities, 1898-1940

 Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains items related to the collecting activities of William Gates during the years 1898 to 1940, including book lists, bibliographies, book orders, and a catalog of purchased books, all of which being related to his research of Mesoamerican language groups.

Dates: 1898-1940

William Gates research notes, 1898-1940

 Series
Identifier: MSS 279 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains Gates' research notes, produced both in the field (Southern Mexico and Guatemala) and in Baltimore and California, between the years 1898 and 1940, on various codices, early Mesoamerican vocabularies and grammatical studies, as well as astrological and calindrical studies. Many of the notes are in organized into lengthy charts and tables.

Dates: 1898-1940