Books and Manuscripts

A collection of correspondence from 19th-century American anthropologist Samuel George Morton, to his friend and "headhunter", U.S. diplomat, Marmaduke Burrough

"You must rob some graves for me..."

Philadelphia, 1834-45. Comprising 13 autograph letters, signed by American anthropologist Samuel George Morton (1799-1851), to United States Consul to Veracruz, Mexico, Marmaduke Burrough (1797-1844), and others. Size and condition vary, but generally in near-fine to fine condition; each creased from old folds and with some scattered wear; some original wax seals intact. Lot also includes an autograph letter, signed by American scientist Walter Rogers Johnson to Morton, as well as an autograph letter, signed by R.P. Morton, to Burrough.

This decade-spanning correspondence highlights an intriguing, and troubling, window into the work and culture of the scientific community in Philadelphia--and beyond--during the mid 19th-century. Significantly, these letters trace the long relationship between Morton and one of his numerous "headhunters", who assisted him in amassing his well known, and now controversial, collection of human skulls.

Over the course of his career as a scientist in Philadelphia, Morton amassed what is considered one of the largest collections of human skulls in the world. The collection, deemed his "American Golgotha" by his colleagues, was used by Morton to record volume and size variations across the world's different ethnic groups. By the time of his death in 1851 his collection numbered over 1,000 skulls from all over the world, and was gathered with the help of approximately 135 international contacts that he made while working at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP)--including Burrough.

Morton's work on skull volume contributed to scientific racism in the United States, and was used to justify racial inequality, white supremacy, and slavery. Using the human skulls gathered for him by Burrough, as well as numerous American explorers, doctors, and missionaries, Morton tried to show that racial difference is reflected in cranial volume and size, and that these factors contributed to a race's intellectual capabilities. As author and historian Ibram X. Kendi writes concerning Morton's work: "Morton wanted to give scholars an objective tool for distinguishing the races: mathematical comparative anatomy. He had made painstaking measurements of the 'mean internal capacity' of nearly one hundred skulls in cubic inches. Finding that skulls from the 'Caucasian Race' measured out the largest in that tiny sample, Morton concluded that Whites had 'the highest intellectual endowments' of all the races. He relied on an incorrect assumption, however: the bigger the skull, the bigger the intellect of the person." (Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, 2016). Morton's works on craniology, especially his Crania Americana (1839) and Crania Aegyptiaca (1844), were completed over the span of this collection, and are alluded to in these letters.

Burrough played a major role in Morton's international web of "headhunters". As a fellow member of the ANSP, and as a diplomat in India and Mexico, Burrough routinely assisted Morton throughout his career and collected an untold number of human and animal specimens for his research. As these letters indicate, besides gathering artifacts and remains, Burrough also helped to facilitate professional exchanges--of goods, introductions, and resources--with Morton's many colleagues, including some members of the ANSP. As historian Ann Fabian describes the relationship between Burrough, Morton, and its significance to his skull collection: "Acquaintances, like diplomat and showman Marmaduke Burrough, helped expand the collection's range. Burrough donated five skulls from India--skulls of two 'Bengalee children,' two 'Bengalee men,' and a 'Young Hindu Woman, burned with her husband near Calcutta.' However interesting these specimens, Burrough helped give the collections its real direction with the donation of the skull of an ancient 'Chimuyan' from Peru, Morton's first Native American specimen." (The Skull Collectors: Race, Science, and America's Unburied Dead, 2010). The frequency of these letters, and the sometimes short intervals between them, suggest a mutually enthusiastic exchange.

In order to acquire human skulls, no means was seemingly too low or unethical for Morton. Grave robbing, practiced at this time to supply human "specimens" for scientific research--and often targeting marginalized community's burial grounds--was one such method endorsed by Morton in these letters. In his letter of July 14, 1835 (included here), he pleads for Burrough to rob graves so he can get the skulls of Mexican Native Americans. Overall, these letters record the transmittal of just over 20 human skulls from Burrough--and shipped through a channel of various interlopers--to Morton, and include a skull described as being of Bengali origin, as well as those belonging to indigenous peoples from various places in Mexico.

Morton's "American Golgotha"--presumably including the 20-plus human skulls mentioned in these letters--was originally stored at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. In 1966 it was transferred to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology where, until 2021, it was on display, and used for teaching. The University of Pennsylvania has pledged, and is currently in the process of, repatriating some of these skulls from their plundered origins.

Comprising:

1. Philadelphia, December 8, 1834. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton conveys various news to Burrough, including the recent death of American scientist and Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia founder, Thomas Say (1787-1834), and reports on the collection Say bequeathed to the Academy. Morton also reports the delivery of a skull from the Bengali region, as well as of an alligator skeleton.

2. Philadelphia, June 8, 1835. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton sends Burrough a copy of Walter R. Johnson's biography of German-American botanist Lewis David de Schweinitz (1780-1834), and informs him about the recent arrangement of Schweinitz's herbarium that was donated to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences by curator Charles Pickering. Morton goes on to inform Burrough that skulls Burrough sent have not yet arrived, and urges him to find skulls of "Mexican Indians." He continues by writing of his intention to "commence a work in which I propose to compare the crania of the Aborigines of N. & S. America, both in respect to physical & national characteristics."

3. Philadelphia, July 14, 1835. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. A fascinating, and disturbing letter in which Morton, desperate for skulls of Mexican origin, urges Burrough to rob graves. Morton informs Burrough of the recent acquistion of 20 skulls of Malay origin, and his desire to begin work on his Liber Craniorum. This is hampered by Morton's want of skulls of "the Mexican race", and he pleads to Burrough, "Let me beg you to obtain me some of the skulls of these people. I will most cheerfully defray the expenses. You must rob some graves for me." Morton also touches on a recent transaction involving ____ skulls conducted with American conchologist Isaac Lea (1792-1886) and states a principle he holds regarding the pursuit of scientific knowledge, "that when a man is engaged in the pursuit of any particular branch of science, every one should endevour to aid him."

4. Philadelphia, ca. June-July, 1835 (Received July 12, 1835). Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton updates Burrough on the state of Burrough's family affairs, and informs him of the recent visit and dinner with a William Dickehut of Baltimore. Dickehut, as Morton informs, has agreed to collect skull samples, and forward them to Burrough, for Burrough to send. Morton goes on to ask if Burrough can obtain "Indian crania" as the Academy has "but one Mexican in this city, brought by Mr. Poinsett" (scientist Joel Robert Poinsett, 1779-1851).

5. Philadelphia, August 5, 1835. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton conducts business on behalf of the Academy. In a postscript he once again pleadingly asks Burrough for skulls, "P.S. Don't forget the Mexican skulls. No matter what they cost--I will glady pay for them. If my Book of Skulls is ever published--and I trust the day is not far distant--I shall dedicate it to a few friends who have mainly assisted me--& to yourself among them."

6. Philadelphia, September 23, 1835. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton updates Burrough on various business involving his colleagues, friends, and family, and heaps praise upon Academy President and naturalist William Maclure (1763-1840), "the Academy is his monument..."

7. Philadelphia, May 16, 1839. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton writes of Academy business, including the procurement of skulls from Mexico with the assistance of Academy president William Maclure and a Joseph Smith. He informs Burrough that he cannot complete lithographs of the skulls until they arrive.

8. Philadelphia, June 12, 1839. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. A letter of introduction from Morton for Academy founder, and first president, John Speakman.

9. Philadelphia, June 13, 1839. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton informs Burrough of the arrival of a box of skulls from Mexico, and how they will be useful to his work. He writes of Academy president John Maclure and his stay in Mexico, as well as Morton's and John Speakman's upcoming trips to Veracruz.

10. Philadelphia, September 30, 1839. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton thanks Burrough for his subscription to his new book, and informs Burrough of recent Academy business, including news of some kind of controversy involving William Maclure and the Academy, "Mr. M has inveigled the Academy into a dilemma which may perhaps involve the Institution in great difficulty. If, however, he expects to coerce the members into Fanny Wrightism*, he has mistaken his men; for we will soon abandon the new building, outlay & all, than submit to such abominable requisitions."

11. Philadelphia, November 30, 1843. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton writes of hearing that Burrough has returned safely from Veracruz to his home in Mt. Holly, New Jersey, and wishes him well after being informed of him being unwell. He goes on to suggest various medical treatments.

12. Philadelphia, December 16, 1844. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to Mrs. D. Taylor. Morton writes of Academy business, as well as the recent death of his friend and above correspondent, Marmaduke Burrough.

13. Philadelphia, March 20, 1845. Autograph letter, signed by Morton to Mrs. D. Taylor. Morton writes of financial matters, and the settlement of her brother's estate.

14. Philadelphia, January 10, 1844. Autograph letter, signed by R.P. Morton to M(armaduke). Burrough. Morton writes to Burrough, shortly before the latter's death, about family affairs.

15. Philadelphia, ca. February, 1844. Autograph letter, signed by Walter Rogers Johnson, to Samuel George Morton. Secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Walter Rogers Johnson, writes to Morton about recent resolutions adopted by the Academy pertaining to the death of his friend and fellow Academy member, Marmaduke Burrough.

*Fanny Wright (1795-1852) was a Scottish born activist who advocated universal education, the emancipation of slaves, birth control, equal rights, sexual freedom, legal rights for married women, and liberal divorce laws. The term "Fanny Wrightism" was a slang term at the time for a dangerous extremist.