David W. Amram Jr. photographs from Mexico

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sova.nmai.ac.193

Culture: Chamula Maya; Tzeltal Maya; Bachajón Tzeltal Maya; Ixtatán Chuj Maya; K'iche' Maya (Quiché); Huixteco Maya [Chiapas]; Oxchuc Tzeltal Maya (Occucero); Ladino Saltillo; Lacandon Maya

Summary: This collection includes 156 photographs made by David W. Amram Jr. in 1933-1934 among Mayan communities in Mexico.

Biographical / Historical: David W. Amram Jr. (1902-1990) was born in Pennsylvania and had many different jobs throughout his life. As a young adult, he worked as a merchant ship radio operator. He learned Spanish and was self-taught in archaeology and cartography. During the 1930s, he worked for the Academy of Natural Science and the American Geographical Society mapping the Chiapas jungle and living with Mayan descendants. Amram discovered a grasshopper on his trip, the Lethus Maya Amrami, named after himself. During World War II, he worked for the Board of Economic Warfare in Mexico and the Army Signal Corps. In the 1960's he was a bookseller, specializing in rare and out of print books. He continued learning about Native people and folk music, which inspired him to play congas and bongos with folk bands around Philadelphia. Amram passed away in 1990.

Type: Collection descriptions; Archival materials; Photographic prints; Copy negatives

Citation: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); David W. Amram Jr. photographs from Mexico, image #, NMAI.AC.193; National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center, Smithsonian Institution.

Processing Information: Collection record written by Mattie Lewis, Archives Technician in 2025.

Rights: Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiphotos@si.edu. For personal or classroom use, users are invited to download, print, photocopy, and distribute the images that are available online without prior written permission, provided that the files are not modified in any way, the Smithsonian Institution copyright notice (where applicable) is included, and the source of the image is identified as the National Museum of the American Indian. For more information please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use and NMAI Archive Center's Digital Image request website.

Scope and Contents: This collection contains 135 2x3 inch black and white photographs and 77 copy negatives taken by David W. Amram while working for the American Geographical Society in the Chiapas jungle. The photographs depict dwellings, scenery, and Mayan people. Image numbers P10528 - P10555, P11262 - P11341, P11401 - P11411, P11537 - P11553, P11963 - P11985. Negative numbers N36546 - N36547, N36587 - N36643, N36669 - N36672, N36719 - N36724.

Restrictions: Access to NMAI Archives Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).

Separated Materials: In addition to the photographs, David W. Amram donated many items to MAI. Item numbers 18/7465 – 18/7471, 18/7494 – 18/7506, 18/8053 – 18/8110, 18/8181 – 18/8184, 18/8240 – 18/8256, 19/0116 – 19/0161, 19/0328. A selection is linked here: Napkin, 18/6364 Bag, 18/6367 Jar, 19/0150

NMAI.AC.193

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sv4e1656ea3-4b34-45fb-9a00-bb6cfa08872e

NMAI.AC.193

NMAIA