Collection Summary
Rodolfo R. Schuller
Papers
1492-1915
1492-1915
MSS39131
Schuller, Rodolfo R.,
1873-1932
3,500
items
22 containers
11.6 linear feet
Spanish
Portugese
German
English
Mexican
Central
South American Indian
Collection material in
Spanish, Portugese, German, English, and Mexican,
Central and South American Indian
languages
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Americanist and
linguist. Chiefly files comprised of copies of documents from various
repositories, original manuscripts, and notes based on Schuller's linguistic
research in Mexico and Central and South America, including archaeological and
ethnographic material, clippings, maps, and photographs.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Frič, Alberto Vojtěch, 1882-1944. Alberto Vojtěch Frič papers.
Hartt, Charles Frederick, 1840-1878. Charles Frederick Hartt papers.
Schuller, Rodolfo R., 1873-1932.
Subjects
Archaeology--Central America.
Archaeology--Mexico.
Archaeology--South America.
Cartography.
Ethnology--Central America.
Ethnology--Mexico.
Ethnology--South America.
Indians of Central America--Languages.
Indians of Mexico--Languages.
Indians of South America--Languages.
Linguistics--Central America.
Linguistics--Mexico.
Linguistics--South America.
Places
Amazon River Region--Discovery and exploration.
Brazil--Discovery and exploration.
Central America--Maps.
Latin America--Discovery and exploration.
Mexico--Maps.
South America--Maps.
Occupations
Linguists.
Provenance
The papers of Rodolfo R. Schuller, Americanist and linguist, were
purchased by the Library of Congress in 1913 and delivered to the Library in
three installments between 1913 and 1915. A portion was transferred to the
Manuscript Division from the Latin American, Portuguese and Spanish Division in
1976.
Processing History
The papers of Rodolfo R. Schuller were outlined in topical order by
Howard F. Cline in 1960. The collection was expanded and revised in 1996. The
finding aid was revised in 2009.
Additional Guides
An item list using the descriptions written by Schuller when he
delivered the papers to the Library, with an addition by Karen Linn Femia, is
available in the Manuscript Reading Room.
Transfers
A cartographic bibliography and many maps have been transferred to the
Geography and Map Division where they are identified as part of the Rodolfo R.
Schuller Papers.
Other Repositories
Other papers of Rodolfo R. Schuller can be found in the Carl A. Kroch
Library of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., and the Latin American Library of
Tulane University, New Orleans, La.
Copyright Status
It is the researcher's responsibility to determine requirements of
domestic copyright laws and international treaties and conventions.
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Rodolfo R. Schuller are open to research. Researchers
are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many
collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Rodolfo R. Schuller, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1873, Dec. 25
Born Rudolf Riemel Schuller near Vienna, Austria
circa 1893
Came to the Americas
1899
Defended his doctoral dissertation, school unknown
1904
In Montevideo, Uruguay. Spent time in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
either before or after Montevideo
1906
1907
Published several articles in Santiago, Chile
1908
Worked on the border dispute between Peru and Bolivia
1909
Employed by the library of the Museum Emilio Goeldi, Belém
do Pará, Brazil
Nominated a corresponding member of the Brazilian Historic
and Geographic Institute while in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1911
Developed project for the National Library, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
Traveled to Madrid and Seville, Spain
1912
Attended the Eighteenth Congress of Americanists, London,
England
Resigned his position at the Museum Emilio Goeldi because
the state government of Pará, Brazil, could no longer pay his salary
1913
Attended the Nineteenth Congress of Americanists, Washington,
D.C., as a delegate from the National Library, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1914
Probably in Bahia, Brazil
circa 1915
1917
In Chicago, Ill.
1917
1921
Returned to and lived mostly in Vienna, Austria, following the
severance of diplomatic relations between the United States and Austria
1921
circa 1929
Lived in Mexico City and researched indigenous groups for the
Mexican government; affiliated with the Anthropology Department, National
University of Mexico
1925
Visited San Salvador
1926
In New Orleans, La.; returned to Mexico
1928
Visited San José, Costa Rica, and Guatemala
1929
Worked at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
1932, Jan. 18
Died while attending a conference, Barranquilla,
Colombia
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Rodolfo R. Schuller (1873-1932) span the years
1492-1915. Almost all documents dated earlier than the twentieth century are
handwritten copies of documents made by Schuller between 1908 and 1915. The
original documents resided in repositories in Europe and North and South
America. In addition to copying documents, Schuller created an extensive
bibliography. The historical documents pertain to native languages and cultures
of Latin America, cartography, and the discovery and exploration of the New
World. Original research and field notes by Schuller, mostly concerning
linguistic matters, and many lengthy, unpublished manuscripts by Schuller are
also included among his papers. Documents are in Spanish, Portuguese, German,
and English as well as Central and South American Indian languages. The papers
are particularly strong in Brazilian/Amazonian topics.
When the Schuller Papers came to the Library of Congress, they were
kept in the order in which they arrived. In 1960 Howard F. Cline, director of
the Hispanic Foundation, outlined a topical order for the papers. The present
arrangement is based upon the Cline outline and incorporates a large
bibliographic card file that had been separated from the rest of the collection
in 1913.
The papers are divided into two series: a
[
Linguistic
File
](ling) and a
[
Non-linguistic
File
](nonling). Items in the first series pertain to one or more native Latin
American languages. Although items occasionally compare two or three languages,
this is not evident from the container list alone, and the appendix should also
be consulted. The Non-linguistic File is a mixture of historical, cartographic,
anthropological, and bibliographical material.
The Schuller Papers also contain material from anthropologist Alberto
Vojtěch Frič (1882-1944) who worked mostly in the Amazon region of Brazil (see
items 34, 39, 78-93, 108 and 178). Included are unpublished manuscripts, a
collection of myths, ethnographic notes, and photographs. Item 208 is a
collection of original letters, 1871-1878, written by American geologist
Charles Frederick Hartt (1840-1878). See also items 35, 41.7, 51, and 95 for
Hartt's notes on linguistic matters.
Biographical information on Schuller is both scarce and incomplete.
The information used for the Biographical Note was taken from Museu Paraense
Emilío Goeldi,
Inventário Analítico do Fundo Rudolf Schuller
(Belém,
1987), pp.84-86.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in two series:
-
[
Linguistic
File, circa 1500-1915
](ling)
-
[
Non-linguistic File, 1492-1915
](nonling)
Container List
Container
Contents
1-6
Linguistic File,
circa 1500-1915
circa 1500-1915
Copies of documents from various repositories, original
manuscripts, and notes based on Schuller's linguistic research.
Arranged in three sections: general, Mexico and Central America,
and South America. Organized alphabetically therein by name of language or
location.
1
1-7
General,
1595, 1788, 1869, 1912-1913, undated
1595, 1788, 1869, 1912-1913, undated
(7
folders)
1
Mexico and Central
America
1
General,
1608, 1874-1883, undated
1608, 1874-1883, undated
1
8-10
General,
1608, 1874-1883, undated
1608, 1874-1883, undated
(3
folders)
1
[11]
General,
1608, 1874-1883, undated
[See items 197-205]
1608, 1874-1883, undated
1
12-15
General,
1608, 1874-1883, undated
1608, 1874-1883, undated
(4
folders)
1
Groups and
languages
1
16
Black Carib,
1833, 1913
1833, 1913
1
17
Chiapeneca,
1883, undated
1883, undated
1
18
Cholti,
1913
1913
1
19-21
Chorotega; Mangue,
1842, 1874, 1910-1912, undated
1842, 1874, 1910-1912, undated
(3
folders)
1
21a
Huave,
undated
undated
1
21b
Ixil,
1913
1913
1
22
Matagalpa,
1855, 1874, undated
1855, 1874, undated
1
23-26
Maya,
1866-1868, undated
1866-1868, undated
(2
folders)
1
27
Nahuatl,
1913
1913
1
28
Quiché,
1854, 1912
1854, 1912
1
29-30
Talamanca,
1867, 1895, undated
1867, 1895, undated
1
31
Tzotzil,
1869, 1912
1869, 1912
1
32
Xinca,
1868, 1913
1868, 1913
1
33
Zapotec,
1871, undated
1871, undated
2
South America
2
34-40
General,
circa 1500, 1550, 1905-1915, undated
circa 1500, 1550, 1905-1915, undated
(7
folders)
2
Groups and
languages
2
41.1
Achagua, Colombia,
1912, undated
1912, undated
2
41.2-41.3
Amaga, Peru,
1912, undated
1912, undated
2
41.4-41.7
Amazonas, general,
circa 1680-1787, circa 1874, 1910-1912, undated
circa 1680-1787, circa 1874, 1910-1912, undated
(3
folders)
2
41.8-45a
Amuéscha, E. Peru,
1908, undated
1908, undated
(5
folders)
3
46-47
Argentina, general,
1746, 1912, undated
1746, 1912, undated
(2
folders)
3
48
Atacama, Chile,
1557, undated
1557, undated
3
49
Betoya, NE Brazil, S.
Colombia,
undated
undated
3
50
Bolivia, general,
1883, 1913
1883, 1913
3
51-60
Botocudo/Camacan, Brazil,
1824-1825, 1852, 1867-1868, 1889, 1912-1913, undated
1824-1825, 1852, 1867-1868, 1889, 1912-1913, undated
(8
folders)
3
61
Camé, Brazil,
1868, undated
1868, undated
3
62-64
Campa, E. Peru,
1870, 1907-1908, undated
1870, 1907-1908, undated
(3
folders)
3
65
Caraja,
undated
undated
4
66-68
Carib-Aruác, general,
undated
undated
(3
folders)
4
69-70
Cariri/Kiriri, Brazil,
1911-1914
1911-1914
(2
folders)
4
71
Cayapa/Colorado, Ecuador,
1892, 1913
1892, 1913
4
72
Chipaya/Curuahé, Brazil,
1913
1913
4
73
Cholona, Peru,
undated
undated
4
74
Comenchingon and Sanviron,
undated
undated
4
75
Cueva, Colombia/Panama,
undated
undated
4
76
Haitano,
1875, undated
1875, undated
4
77
Inapari, Peru,
1903
1903
4
78-93
Kaingan/Caingangue, Brazil,
1909, undated
1909, undated
(6
folders)
4
Mapuche/Araucano, Chile,
1906-1907, undated
1906-1907, undated
4
94a
(1
folder)
5
94b
(1
folder)
5
95
Mundurucu and Maue, Brazil,
undated
undated
5
96-97
Peru, general,
1819, 1908-1909, undated
1819, 1908-1909, undated
5
98
Piró, Peru,
undated
undated
5
99-100
Quechua,
1908, undated
1908, undated
5
101
Saliva,
1745, 1911
1745, 1911
5
102-104
Tacana, Bolivia,
1859-1863, 1910-1911
1859-1863, 1910-1911
5
105
Tehuelche, Patagonia,
undated
undated
5
106
Tiatinagua, Peru,
undated
undated
5
107-111
Tupi/Guaraní,
1740, circa 1897, 1912, undated
1740, circa 1897, 1912, undated
(3
folders)
5
112
Twaka, Panama,
1871, undated
1871, undated
5
113-114
Uruguay, general,
1532, 1692, 1866-1881, undated
1532, 1692, 1866-1881, undated
(2
folders)
5
115
Venezuela, general,
1886, 1913
1886, 1913
5
Xebero,
circa 1760, 1912-1913, n.d.
circa 1760, 1912-1913, n.d.
5
116-118
(3
folders)
6
119-121
(2
folders)
6
122
Yaghan, Patagonia,
1883, 1915
1883, 1915
6
123
Yahua, Amazonas,
1870, undated
1870, undated
6
124
Yamiaca, Peru,
1903, undated
1903, undated
6
125
Yengahiba, Peru/Brazil,
1681, undated
1681, undated
6
126
Záparo, Amazonas,
1870, 1913
1870, 1913
6-22
Non-linguistic File,
1492-1915
1492-1915
Copies of documents from various repositories, original
manuscripts and notes, maps, photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings,
and a bibliographic card file.
Arranged in three topical sections: discovery and exploration,
Luso-Brazilian material, and miscellany.
6
Discovery and
exploration
6
127-129
General,
1492-1565, 1912-1915, undated
1492-1565, 1912-1915, undated
(3
folders)
6
Cartographers and cartography,
circa 1504-1529, circa 1536-1550, 1573-circa 1579, 1656,
1749, 1759, 1886-1892, 1914-1915, undated
circa 1504-1529, circa 1536-1550, 1573-circa 1579, 1656,
1749, 1759, 1886-1892, 1914-1915, undated
6
[130]
[Transferred to Geography and
Map Division in 1940]
6
131-132
[Transferred to Geography and
Map Division in 1940]
(2
folders)
6
[133]
[Missing]
6
134-135
[Missing]
(2
folders)
7
136-147
[Missing]
(12
folders)
7
[148]
[Transferred to Geography and
Map Division in 1961]
7
149
[Transferred to Geography and
Map Division in 1961]
(1
folder)
8
Individual figures
8
150-151b
Columbus,
1513-1515, 1915, undated
1513-1515, 1915, undated
(3
folders)
8
152
Cabral,
1501, undated
1501, undated
8
153-157
Díaz de Solís, Juan,
1512-1516, undated
1512-1516, undated
(2
folders)
8
158
Ordaz, Diego,
1532, undated
1532, undated
8
159-160
Pinzón and Lepe,
1501-1510, 1892-1894, 1912, undated
1501-1510, 1892-1894, 1912, undated
(2
folders)
8
161-162
Santa Cruz, Alonso,
1503-1570, 1911-1912, undated [Some items from
No. 161 were transferred to Geography and Map Division circa 1940]
1503-1570, 1911-1912, undated
(3 folders)
9
163
Teixeira,
undated
undated
9
[164-165]
[Missing]
9
166
Vespuccius, Americus,
undated
undated
9
Luso-Brazilian
materials
9
167-178
General,
1512, 1555, 1626-1641, 1780, 1910-1912, undated
1512, 1555, 1626-1641, 1780, 1910-1912, undated
(7
folders)
9
Amazon region,
1532, 1614-circa 1642, 1766, 1911-1912,
undated
1532, 1614-circa 1642, 1766, 1911-1912,
undated
9
179-187
(6
folders)
10
188-193
(4
folders)
10
Miscellany
10
Bibliography
10
194-196
Notes,
undated
undated
(3
folders)
11
Card files,
circa 1913
circa 1913
11
197
Latin American Indian
languages
11
198
Photographic
reproductions
11
Various
subjects
11
199
Part A
12
199
Part B
13
199
Part C
13
History of western
hemispheric discovery
13
200
A-J
14
200
K-Z
15
201
Linguistics and
lexicology
15
202
"Documents"
15
203
"Anonymous"
15
"Bibliographia
Americanum"
15
204
Part A
16
204
Part B
17
204
Part C
17
Miscellaneous
17
205
Part A
18
205
Part B
19
206
Checklists,
1913-1915
1913-1915
19
207
"Deutsche Kulturarbeit in
Süd-Amerika," by Schuller,
undated
undated
19
208
Hartt, Charles Frederick,
correspondence,
1871-1878, undated
1871-1878, undated
19
209
Mexican immigration in Yucatán,
1618, undated
1618, undated
19
210
"Miscellanea Sudamericana," by
Schuller,
undated
undated
19
211
Mútis, Don José Celestino,
biographical material,
1808, 1912
1808, 1912
19
Newspaper clippings,
1891, 1907-1915, undated
1891, 1907-1915, undated
19
212
(2
folders)
20
212
(5
folders)
21
Notes and collected material,
1583, 1904-1915, undated
1583, 1904-1915, undated
21
213
(6
folders)
22
214-217
(4
folders)
22
218
Nuño García de Torreño,
undated
undated
22
219
Petition of Don Blas Zapata,
undated
undated
22
220
"Presillg Zeytung," study
material for German pamphlet,
undated
undated
22
221
Scrapbook,
1908-1913, n.d.
1908-1913, n.d.