Dates: 1924 -1942

Biography:

Moreau Browne Congleton Chambers

Moreau B. C. Chambers was born in Winchester, Kentucky, on May 24, 1909, the son of Orra Browne and James Whitfield Chambers.  The family eventually settled in Clinton, Hinds County, Mississippi.  In 1932, he graduated with special honors at Mississippi College. In 1934, he served as curator and field archaeologist for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History from 1927-1942. Chambers used Civilian Conservation Corps funds for his projects.  Later, he received his Master's degree in history from Duke University (1942). Chambers often worked with Smithsonian (USNM) ethnologist Henry Bascom Collins Jr., and later became University Archivist at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from 1967 to 1973, after serving as supervisor of the Archaeological Laboratory for Colonial Williamsburg and Chief Historian for the U. S. Department of State.

He married Ruth Evelyn Hanners (1908-1988), the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alva Ross Hanners of Montclair, New Jersey. The couple had a son, James R. Chambers. Moreau B.C. Chambers died on June 10, 1994 and was interred in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. 

 

Scope and Content Note:

Correspondence between Moreau Chambers and colleagues from 1924–1942. Includes letters to and from Henry Collins, James Ford, Otto Geist, Carl Guthe and Dunbar Rowland. The correspondence discusses excavations in Bentonia, Canton (Gross Mound), Natchez (Fatherland), Pocahontas village site and others in Mississippi. Also in the collection is correspondence relating to Chambers' work in the Shiloh Military Park, the 1931 Alaska expedition with James Ford, application for employment with the National Park Service, requests for archaeological publications and application to graduate programs at Harvard University and Duke University.

Inventory of letters:

1924-1927
Charles D. Walcott to Moreau Chambers, June 14, 1924.
H. W. Dorsey to Moreau Chambers, March 19, 1926.
Charles D. Walcott to Moreau Chambers, May 14, 1926.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, June 21, 1926.
J. Walter Fewkes to Moreau Chambers, June 30, l926 Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, August 5, 1926.
Ambriod Company to Moreau Chambers, August 25, 1926.
Moreau Chambers to William Newman, September l5, l926 J. Walter Fewkes to Moreau Chambers, October 27, 1926.
C. G. Abbot to Moreau Chambers, February 17, 1927.
Henry B. Collins to Moreau Chambers, April 25, 1927.
Arthur S. Riggs to Moreau Chambers, March 26, 1927.
Ben Lumpkin to Moreau Chambers, April 26, 1927.
C. G. Abbot to Moreau Chambers, April 28, 1927.
Moreau Chambers to E. N. Lowe, May 2, 1927.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, August 19, 1927.
Ben Lumpkin to Moreau Chambers, August 27, 1927.
A. Wetmore to Moreau Chambers, September 8, 1927.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, November 3, 1927.

1928
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, January 29, 1928.
C. G. Abbot to Moreau Chambers, February 29, 1928.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, March 13, 1928.
Moreau Chambers to Henry Collins, March 1928.
C. G. Abbot to Moreau Chambers, May 26, 1928.
Arthur Riggs to Moreau Chambers, June 1, 1928.
Franklin Fisher to Moreau Chambers, June 5, 1928.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, June 20, 1928.
Moreau Chambers to Mrs. M. E. Folks, June 25, 1928.
Mrs. Sonia Diatz to Moreau Chambers, July 20, 1928.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, August 2, 1928.
H. W. Dorsey to Moreau Chambers, August 20, 1928.
S. G. Loeb to Moreau Chambers, August 28, 1928.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, December 6, 1928.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, December 14, 1928.
T. J. Turpin to Jim _____, December 24, 1928.
Moreau Chambers to T. J. Turpin, December 28, 1928.

1929
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, January 4, 1929.
C. G. Abbot to Moreau Chambers, January 11, 1929.
C. H. Pepper to Moreau Chambers, January 20, 1929.
Henry Donovan to Moreau Chambers, January 18, 1929.
Henry Donovan to Moreau Chambers, January 24, 1929.
Moreau Chambers to The Oxford University Press, April 6, 1929.
C. G. Abbot to Moreau Chambers, April 12, 1929.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, April 19, 1929.
Moreau Chambers to Henry Collins, April 28, 1929.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, May 28, 1929.
C. G. Abbot to Moreau Chambers, July 5, 1929.
Moreau Chambers to Miss Bennett, July 7, 1929.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, August 4, 1929.
Moreau Chambers to Cashier, Madison County Bank, August 26, 1929.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, October 21, 1929.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, December 9, 1929.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, December 16, 1929.
C. H. Pepper to Moreau Chambers, December 21, 1929.

1930
Henry Collins to James A. Ford, January 18, 1930.
Henry Collins to James A. Ford, February 8, 1930.
Henry Collins to James A. Ford, March 6, 1930.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, March 18, 1930.
Warren K. Moorehead to Moreau Chambers, May 9, 1930.
Dunbar Rowland to Whom it May Concern, May 23, 1930.
James A. Ford to Moreau Chambers, June 15, 1930.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, June 16, 1930.
F. K. Conn to Moreau Chambers, July 3, 1930.
F. A. Anderson to Moreau Chambers, July 24, 1930.
Watson Davis to Moreau Chambers, July 31, 1930.
James A. Ford to Moreau Chambers, August 1, 1930.
James A. Ford to Moreau Chambers, August 3, 1930.
M. W. Stirling to Moreau Chambers, December 11, 1930.
F. K. Conn to Moreau Chambers, December 11, 1930.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, December 12, 1930.

1931
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, February 6, 1931.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, March 27, 1931.
George Buckley to Moreau Chambers, May 12, 1931.
Henry Collins to Mrs. Chambers, May 13, 1931.
J. W. Chambers to Moreau Chambers, May 15, 1931.
Henry Collins to James Ford, May 15, 1931.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, August 3, 1931.
Sam Troutman to Moreau Chambers, August 5, 1931.
Sam Troutman to Moreau Chambers, August 24, 1931.
James Ford to Moreau Chambers, September 8, 1931.
J. W. Chambers to Moreau Chambers, September 13, 1931.
Mrs. Chambers to Moreau Chambers, September 13, 1931.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, October 20, 1931.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, October 23, 1931.
James _____ to his Mother, December 27, 1931.

1932
Ray (Mickey) to Moreau Chambers, January 3, 1932.
R. M. Gilmore to Moreau Chambers, January 4, 1932.
C. G. Abbot to Moreau Chambers, January 11, 1932.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, January 28, 1932.
J. E. Graf to Moreau Chambers, February 25, 1932.
Ray (Mickey) to Moreau Chambers, March 14, 1932.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, April 12, 1932.
James _____ to Moreau Chambers, May 19, 1932.
Otto Geist to Moreau Chambers, June 13, 1932.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, July 26, 1932.
Moreau Chambers to James Ford, September 22, 1932.

1933
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, July 6, 1933.
Carl E. Guthe to Moreau Chambers, July 17, 1933.
Dorothy Lindfors to Moreau Chambers, July 17, 1933.
Dorothy Lindfors from Moreau Chambers, July 25, 1933.
Dorothy Lindfors to Moreau Chambers, August 9, 1933.
Moreau Chambers to Carl E. Guthe, August 21, 1933.
Carl E. Guthe to Dunbar Rowland, August 29, 1933.
Carl E. Guthe to Moreau Chambers, September 1, 1933.
Otto Geist to Moreau Chambers, September 30, 1933.
L. L. Posey to Greek L. Rice, October 3, 1933.
Dunbar Rowland to Harry Hulen, October 3, 1933.
Moreau Chambers to Carl E. Guthe, November 3, 1933.
Carl E. Guthe to Moreau Chambers, November 11, 1933.
Moreau Chambers to Otto Geist, November 14, 1933.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, November 23, 1933.
Moreau Chambers to Henry Collins, November 28, 1933.
Extract from Journal of Moreau Chambers, 1931.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, December 5, 1933.
Otto Geist to Moreau Chambers, December 6, 1933.
Moreau Chambers to Henry Collins, December 10, 1933.
David L. DeJarnette to Moreau Chambers, December 11, 1933.
J. B. Berry to Moreau Chambers, December 11, 1933.
Moreau Chambers to H. W. Dorsey, December 28, 1933.

1934
Carl E. Guthe to Moreau Chambers, January 3, 1934.
C. G. Wilder to Moreau Chambers, January 6, 1934.
C. G. Wilder to Moreau Chambers, January 15, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to C. G. Wilder, January 19, 1934.
Invitation to Moreau Chambers, January 30, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to A. Wetmore, February 1,1934.
Moreau Chambers to John R. Swanton, February 1, 1934.
W. S. Webb to Moreau Chambers, February 2, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to W. S. Webb, February 4, 1934.
John R. Swanton to Moreau Chambers, February 5, 1934.
Mary Folse to Moreau Chambers, February 6, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Alfred Tozzer, February 12, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Mary Folse, February 14, 1934.
Alfred Tozzer to Moreau Chambers, February 16, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to W. H. Sumrall, February 20, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to J. T. Wallace, February 20, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Alfred Tozzer, February 24, 1934.
W. H. Summrall to Moreau Chambers, February 22, 1934.
Harvard University to Moreau Chambers, February 23, 1934.
J. T. Wallace to Harvard University, February 23, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to W. S. Webb, March 7, 1934.
S. C. Dellinger to Moreau Chambers, March 9, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to J. R. Swanton, March 10, 1934.
Thorne Deuel to Moreau Chambers, March 12, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Thorne Deuel, March 14, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to S. C. Dellinger, March 14, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to W. S. Webb, March 16, 1934.
James Ford to Moreau Chambers, March 19, 1934.
J. R. Swanton to Moreau Chambers, March 20, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Louis Jiggitts, March 22, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to James Ford, March 24, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Alfred Tozzer, March 24, 1934.
Louis M. Jiggitts to Moreau Chambers, March 26, 1934.
S. C. Dellinger to Moreau Chambers, March 27, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to F. M. Setzler and H. Collins, March 29, 1934.
Harvard University to Moreau Chambers, April 2, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Verne E. Chatelain, April 3, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Frank H. H. Roberts, April 3, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Lawrence Mayo, April 5, 1934.
F. H. H. Roberts, Jr., to Moreau Chambers, April 11, 1934.
Alfred Tozzer to Moreau Chambers, April 12, 1934.
F. M. Setzler to Moreau Chambers, April 12, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to James Ford, April 16, 1934.
Lawrence Mayo to Moreau Chambers, April 16, 1934.
J. Brewton Berry to Moreau Chambers, April 20, 1934.
Ronald Lee to Moreau Chambers, April 23, 1934.
F. M. Setzler to Moreau Chambers, April 23, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Otto Geist, April 24, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to James Carpenter, April 24, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Carl Guthe, April 24, 1934.
Ronald Lee to Moreau Chambers, April 24, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Fay-Cooper Cole, April 24, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Henry Collins, April 27, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Alexander Lesser, April 27, 1934.
Fay-Cooper Cole to Moreau Chambers, April 28, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Thorne Deuel, April 30, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Harold Ickes, April 30, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Frank Setzler, April 30, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to "Sir" (voucher for travel), April 30, 1934.
Alexander Lesser to Moreau Chambers, April 30, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to U.S. Geological Survey, May 1, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Alexander Lesser, May 2, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to D. Appleton and Company, May 2, 1934.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, May 3, 1934.
Carl Guthe to Moreau Chambers, May 3, 1934.
National Park Service to Moreau Chambers, May 4, 1934.
E. K. Burlew to Moreau Chambers, May 5, 1934.
Ronald Lee to Moreau Chambers, May 8, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Ronald Lee, May 9, 1934.
Verne E. Chatelain to Moreau Chambers, May 11, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Carl Guthe, May 13, 1934.
R. A. Livingston to Moreau Chambers, May 14, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, May 15, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Verne E. Chatelain, May 16, 1934.
J. W. Provine to Senator Hubert Stephens, May 16, 1934.
D. B. Easterling to Harold Ickes, May 17, 1934.
Jimmie Carpenter to Moreau Chambers, May 19, 1934.
Verne E. Chatelain to Moreau Chambers, May 22, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Olaf Hagan, May 24, 1934.
Hubert D. Stephens to Moreau Chambers, May 28, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Ronald Lee, May 28, 1934.
Olaf Hagan to Moreau Chambers, May 30, 1934.
Harold Ickes to D. B. Easterling, June 2, 1934.
Harold Ickes to Hubert Stephens, June 2, 1934.
Verne Chatelain to Moreau Chambers (telegram), June 4, 1934.
Verne Chatelain to Moreau Chambers, June 4, 1934.
Hubert Stephens to Moreau Chambers, June 5, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Verne Chatelain, June 5, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Ronald Lee, June 5, 1934.
D. B. Easterling to Moreau Chambers, June 5, 1934.
Thorne Deuel to Moreau Chambers, June 12, 1934.
Verne Chatelain to Moreau Chambers, June 14, 1934.
Otto Geist to Moreau Chambers, June 16, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, June 17, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, June 18, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Thorne Deuel, June 18, 1934.
Carl Guthe to Moreau Chambers, June 19, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, June 20, 1934.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, June 23, 1934.
Ronald Lee to Moreau Chambers, June 21, 1934.
_____ (University of Chicago) to Moreau Chambers, June 25, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, June 25, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, June 25, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, June 30, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Hubert Stephens, July 2, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, July 3, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Henry Collins, July 4, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, July 5, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, July 8, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, July 9, 1934.
Lewis Chapman to Moreau Chambers, July 15, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, July 16, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Lewis Chapman, July 17, 1934.
Hubert Stephens to Moreau Chambers, July 18, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, July 19, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, July 24, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, July 25, 1934.
M. R. Smith to Moreau Chambers, July 30, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, July 31, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, August 3, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, August 8, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, August 8, 1934.
Dunbar Rowland to Moreau Chambers, August 9, 1934.
M. R. Smith to Moreau Chambers, August 9, 1934.
M. R. Smith to Moreau Chambers, August 15, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, August 23, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Lawrence Mayo, September 23, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Carl Guthe, September 24, 1934.
Carl Guthe to Moreau Chambers, September 28, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Ronald Lee, October 1, 1934.
Otto Geist to Moreau Chambers, October 5, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Deuel Thorne, October 22, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Henry Collins, October 23, 1934.
Moreau Chambers to Stanley Riggs, October 29, 1934.
Alberta Watson to Moreau Chambers, October 31, 1934.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, November 6, 1934.

1935
William Webb to Moreau Chambers, January 7, 1935.
Moreau Chambers to Alexander Lesser, January 8, 1935.
Alexander Lesser to Moreau Chambers, January 10, 1935.
Alexander Lesser to "Dear Fellow Member," n.d. Moreau Chambers to "Church," January 20, 1935.
C. P. Russell to Moreau Chambers, March 26, 1935.
Mickey Gilmore to Moreau Chambers, April 1, 1935.
Moreau Chambers to C. P. Russell, April 4, 1935.
Moreau Chambers to Raymond Gilmore, April 13, 1935.
Moreau Chambers to Arthur S. Riggs, May 6, 1935.
Carl Guthe to "Dear Teocentlist," May 16, 1935.
Dunbar Rowland to "Whom it may….," June 10, 1935.
Arthur Stanley Riggs to Moreau Chambers, June 13, 1935.
Arthur Stanley Riggs to Moreau Chambers, June 28, 1935.
Thorne Deuel to Moreau Chambers, July 18, 1935.
Church Wilder to Moreau Chambers, July 22, 1935.
Moreau Chambers to Rev. Henry Hawkins, July 29, 1935.
H. G. Hawkins to Moreau Chambers, July 20, 1935.
Moreau Chambers to Dunbar Rowland, September 19, 1935.

1936
Moreau Chambers to William S. Webb, January 1, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Lucien Beckner, January 1, 1936.
Lucien Beckner to Moreau Chambers, January 30, 1936.
T. M. N. Lewis to Moreau Chambers, February 2, 1936.
Georg Neumann to Moreau Chambers, February 3, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to T. M. N. Lewis, February 10, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Georg Neumann, February 13, 1936.
William Webb to Moreau Chambers, February 12, 1936.
T. M. N. Lewis to Moreau Chambers, February 13, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to William Webb, February 21, 1936.
Calvin S. Brown to Moreau Chambers, February 27, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Calvin S. Brown, March 5, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to William Webb, March 17, 1936.
William Webb to Moreau Chambers, March 19, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Henry Collins, March 21, 1936.
Henry Collins to Moreau Chambers, March 27, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Ronald Lee, April 20, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to George Greenway, May 1, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to William Webb, May 9, 1936.
William Webb to Moreau Chambers, May 11, 1936.
Ronald Lee to Moreau Chambers, May 15, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to George Greenway, May 26, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Ronald Lee, June 1, 1936.
Ronald Lee to Moreau Chambers, June 9, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Ronald Lee, June 17, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Mrs. John Trotwood Moore, August 22, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Ludie Kinkhead, November 5, 1936.
Moreau Chambers to Mrs. Jouette Taylor Cannon, November 6, 1936.

1937-1939
Moreau Chambers to Col. Lucien Beckner, March 9, 1937.
J. A. Hopkins to Moreau Chambers, February 28, 1938.
Charles Sydnor to Moreau Chambers, February 21, 1939.

1940-1942
Charles Sydnor to Moreau Chambers, April 19, 1940.
Moreau Chambers to Charles Sydnor, February 5, 1942.
Charles Sydnor to Moreau Chambers, February 20, 1942.
Moreau Chambers to Holland Holton, March 16, 1942.
Holland Holton to Moreau Chambers, March 19, 1942.
Moreau Chambers to Charles Sydnor, April 24, 1942.
Moreau Chambers to Holland Holton, May 2, 1942.
Charles Sydnor to Moreau Chambers, May 5, 1942.
Holland Holton to Moreau Chambers, May 8, 1942.
Moreau Chambers to his mother, May 20, 1942.
Moreau Chambers to Holland Holton, May 21, 1942.
Holland Holton to Moreau Chambers, May 30, 1942.
Moreau Chambers to Rev. Jean Delangez, June 22, 1942.
Jean Delanglez to Moreau Chambers, June 26, 1942.
Val H. Sessions to Moreau Chambers, October 12, 1942.
Charles Sydnor to Moreau Chambers, October 12, 1942.
William D. McCain to Moreau Chambers, October 15, 1942.