Collection GB 0097 SELIGMAN - SELIGMAN, Brenda Zara, d 1960, and SELIGMAN, Charles Gabriel, 1873-1940, anthropologists

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0097 SELIGMAN

Title

SELIGMAN, Brenda Zara, d 1960, and SELIGMAN, Charles Gabriel, 1873-1940, anthropologists

Date(s)

  • 1890-1975 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

29 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Charles Seligman, 1873-1940, was educated at St Paul's School. He qualified as a doctor and became Director of the Clinical Laboratory at St Thomas's hospital, and also treated shellshock victims during World War One. He became interested in tropical diseases and it was for this reason that he went on his first expedition to Borneo and the Torres Straits. Whilst there, he developed an interest in anthropology and the rest of his life was devoted to this discipline. He also attempted to combine disciplines, using psychology to explain anthropological problems. He first taught at the London School of Economics in 1910, and was appointed to the Chair of Ethnology of the University of London in 1913, the first of its kind at the University. He retired in 1934, and was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor. Brenda Seligman, d 1960, accompanied her husband on anthropological expeditions and published material in her own right. Like her husband she acquired her knowledge of anthropology whilst working in the field. She was particularly interested in kinship and the lives of women and children.

Archival history

GB 0097 SELIGMAN 1890-1975 collection 29 boxes Seligman, Charles Gabriel, 1873-1940, anthropologist
Seligman, Brenda Zara, d 1960, anthropologist
Charles Seligman, 1873-1940, was educated at St Paul's School. He qualified as a doctor and became Director of the Clinical Laboratory at St Thomas's hospital, and also treated shellshock victims during World War One. He became interested in tropical diseases and it was for this reason that he went on his first expedition to Borneo and the Torres Straits. Whilst there, he developed an interest in anthropology and the rest of his life was devoted to this discipline. He also attempted to combine disciplines, using psychology to explain anthropological problems. He first taught at the London School of Economics in 1910, and was appointed to the Chair of Ethnology of the University of London in 1913, the first of its kind at the University. He retired in 1934, and was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor. Brenda Seligman, d 1960, accompanied her husband on anthropological expeditions and published material in her own right. Like her husband she acquired her knowledge of anthropology whilst working in the field. She was particularly interested in kinship and the lives of women and children.

Fieldwork notes of expeditions to Borneo and the Torres Straits, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and the Sudan along with Brenda Seligman's work on kinship, and both Charles' and Brenda's publications on anthropology; extracts from the work of other anthropologists and correspondence between the Seligman's and other colleagues; notes and photographs by Dr Neil Munro relating to his anthropological work with the Ainu and correspondence relating to the editing by Brenda Seligman of this work; material relating to Charles Seligman's work as a doctor treating shellshock during World War One, noting the patients' symptoms, treatment given and response to treatment; correspondence concerning Jewish identity; and papers relating to Charles and Brenda Seligman's interest in Chinese porcelain, journals of their visits to China and Japan and correspondence with friends and family.

This collection is arranged in 16 sections:

  1. Fieldwork notes, 1898-1922.
  2. Kinship, 1917-1935.
  3. Material published by others, 1898-1922.
  4. Correspondence relating to expeditions, 1886-1938.
  5. Japan and the Ainu, 1929-1962.
  6. China, 1911-1940.
  7. Lectures, 1905-1959.
  8. Articles, 1903-1961.
  9. Miscellaneous anthropological material, 1906-1950.
  10. Medicine, 1898-1918.
  11. Jewish identity, 1928-1947.
  12. Family correspondence, 1905-1961.
  13. Brenda Seligman's writings, 1920-1965.
  14. Diaries, 1912-1962.
  15. Miscellaneous material (relating to Charles Seligman), 1903-1975.
  16. Collected extracts on subjects of interest to Charles and Brenda Seligman, 1907-1945.

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COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE LIBRARY
English

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Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 29, 2002 29 May 2002 Anthropology Anxiety disorders Ceramic art China Diseases East Africa East Asia Ethnic groups Indonesia International conflicts Japan Jews Malaysia Mental diseases Munro , Neil Gordon , 1863-1942 , orientalist Neuroses Oceania Oceans Pacific Ocean Papua New Guinea Pathology Plastic arts Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Psychiatry Psychopathology Religious groups Seligman , Brenda Zara , d 1960 , anthropologist Seligman , Charles Gabriel , 1873-1940 , anthropologist Shell shock South Asia South East Asia South Pacific Sri Lanka Sudan Torres Strait Tribes War World War One (1914-1918) World wars (events) Wars (events)

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Fieldwork notes of expeditions to Borneo and the Torres Straits, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and the Sudan along with Brenda Seligman's work on kinship, and both Charles' and Brenda's publications on anthropology; extracts from the work of other anthropologists and correspondence between the Seligman's and other colleagues; notes and photographs by Dr Neil Munro relating to his anthropological work with the Ainu and correspondence relating to the editing by Brenda Seligman of this work; material relating to Charles Seligman's work as a doctor treating shellshock during World War One, noting the patients' symptoms, treatment given and response to treatment; correspondence concerning Jewish identity; and papers relating to Charles and Brenda Seligman's interest in Chinese porcelain, journals of their visits to China and Japan and correspondence with friends and family.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

This collection is arranged in 16 sections:

  1. Fieldwork notes, 1898-1922.
  2. Kinship, 1917-1935.
  3. Material published by others, 1898-1922.
  4. Correspondence relating to expeditions, 1886-1938.
  5. Japan and the Ainu, 1929-1962.
  6. China, 1911-1940.
  7. Lectures, 1905-1959.
  8. Articles, 1903-1961.
  9. Miscellaneous anthropological material, 1906-1950.
  10. Medicine, 1898-1918.
  11. Jewish identity, 1928-1947.
  12. Family correspondence, 1905-1961.
  13. Brenda Seligman's writings, 1920-1965.
  14. Diaries, 1912-1962.
  15. Miscellaneous material (relating to Charles Seligman), 1903-1975.
  16. Collected extracts on subjects of interest to Charles and Brenda Seligman, 1907-1945.

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Conditions governing access

OPEN

Conditions governing reproduction

COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY THE LIBRARY

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Fully Listed

Allied materials area

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Existence and location of copies

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Publication note

Notes area

Note

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

British Library of Political and Economic Science

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Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area