Archives

The Chaco Archive contains original field records, photographs, slides, and reports for park projects, maps, and manuscripts of Chaco-related archaeological research, and copies of earlier field notes and reports for work done by other institutions.

 

The Vivian Archive

The Vivian Archive is an assembled collection of historic field school records, field notes, park documentation, journals, reports, maps, photographs, and correspondence. The initial component contained the files of Gordon Vivian, a former archaeologist at Chaco Canyon, and director of the Ruins Stabilization Unit headquartered in the Canyon. Later additions include some park administrative files, donations of historic publications, memorabilia, and more contemporary information relevant to Chaco Canyon of historic figures, former staff, and students.

 

Chaco Project Records

This extensive collection documents the archaeological work of the Chaco Project (1970-1985). In 1971, the Chaco Center, an official NPS unit headquartered at the University of New Mexico, was established, under the direction of the NPS Southwest Regional Office. During the 1970s, the Chaco Center conducted archaeological research under the rubric of the Chaco Project. Field work included two surveys (transect and inventory) and 30 tests and excavations of archaeological sites, from the Archaic through the Navajo occupation of Chaco Canyon. In addition, extensive analytical research projects were conducted on a variety of topics. Records include site files, excavation and survey field notes, analyses of artifacts, computer generated data sheets, reports, photographs and slides, maps, and drafts of the publications produced by the Chaco Project.

 

Additional Lands Survey Records

This collection contains the records of the Chaco Additions survey, 1983-1984, under the direction of Robert P. Powers. The primary objective of the survey was to carry out a 100% inventory of previously unsurveyed areas added to Chaco Culture National Historical Park in 1980. A total of 6,288 acres, including all of the Kin Klizhin, Kin Bineola, and Chacra Mesa parcels, and a portion of the South Addition were surveyed. A total of 957 sites and 183 isolated occurrences were recorded. This collection contains archaeological site forms, analysis forms, aerial photographs, reports and correspondence related to this project.

 

1980-1984 Loop Road Project

Between 1980-1984, various testing, excavation, and mitigation projects were undertaken by the park in association with re-routing and widening the Interpretive Loop Road in the main canyon. Most of the work was done by archaeologists from the Southwest Regional Office, but Chaco Project personnel assisted at one small site. All sites were backfilled and recovered materials analyzed completely.

 

Park Historic Photo Collection

The Historic Photograph Files (1929-1975) were constructed over time by park staff, and most of the photographs appear to have been taken by park staff. The range of topics include Visitor Center museum exhibits, park biology, park infrastructure, natural and manmade disasters (flooding, the fall of Threatening Rock, road washouts, pipeline breaks, vehicular accidents), erosion control efforts, park archaeology, NPS Visitor Center and residence construction, and New Mexico images.

 

Ruins Stabilization Records, 1933-1976

In 1937 Frank Pinkley, Superintendent of the former NPS Southwestern National Monuments, organized a Mobile Ruins Stabilization Unit (RSU) with a field station in Chaco Canyon National Monument. The unit’s mission was to stabilize and repair the large number of sites in the southwest that were rapidly deteriorating. The unit was set up as a program of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), with a crew of 25 Indian CCC enrollees. Standardized recording forms were created in 1937 and maintained throughout the unit’s existence. These forms, together with photographs showing the work done in each room at each site, created stabilization records for each room that was treated. Records for the yearly work done at the park were bound into volumes with original photographs pasted onto captioned pages.